Hey everyone! I’m finally back in WI after a nice week away with Darci and Val, just in time for the next big snowstorm to roll in. I’ve been told I was lucky enough to miss some serious rain over the last couple days… Blech! Needless to say, that little short-lived weather snafu turned everything into a muddy, sloppy mess. I can hear the skiers and snowmobilers crying from here! Rain in January is not something we “normally” see. In fact, we’re more used to sub-zero temps this time of year, which from what I hear, will be back in the next week and a half. Can’t wait. As for right now, we’re waiting on even more rain tonight and then four to eight inches of snow depending on where you’re at. I’ll be glad to get the snow cover because I will take snow over mud and slushy slop any day of the year. By the looks of the current radar, I’m going to get my wish.
I didn’t get back into town until late last night, so today has been a lot about getting back into the swing of normal things. I didn’t even try to get up early this morning. Instead, I decided to let nature take its course and wake up when I felt like it… Still, even with permission my mind had me up-and-at’em pretty much right away. After I got unpacking from my trip out of the way, I ran some errands and then stopped into Primitive Gatherings to take care of a few preparations for my LIVE show tomorrow. One of the things I needed to do was pick the winners for the Meet Me in the Garden prize drawing, which I will be announcing tomorrow during STITCH with Lisa Bongean. Thank you to everyone who submitted a photo of your finished quits! Val and I had a lot of fun with this sew-along, and we appreciate everyone who joined us along the way. It was a lot of work but the end results are truly worth it! Meet Me in the Garden is a stunning work of art that we can all be proud of. Easily an heirloom quilt by far!
I know you’re probably super anxious to know who our lucky winners are for the Meet Me in the Garden drawing, but you’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out. Sorry! I’m a meanie, I know… In the meantime, I thought that since we’re already in the spirit of shining the spotlight on award-winning hard work and talent, it would be a good time to do another Primitive Gatherings Winner’s Circle post. So without further ado let’s turn our attention to the first quilt of the evening, brought to us by Pam Kearns. She entered her quilt, “Warm Winter Blessings“ into the 2019 Northwestern Michigan Fair in Traverse City, Michigan and won the Sweepstakes Ribbon, which was the highest ranking award in its category.
This was Pam’s first-ever entry into a state fair competition and she is super proud of it. As she should be – great work Pam! I love this quilt because it covers all the bases for winter decorating. You can put it out as soon as the snow starts flying and keep it on display until spring hits. “Warm Winter Blessings“ makes the perfect gift for the snowman lover in your life, or to keep for your own collection. Easy enough to get done quickly, and fun enough to look at for months on end. Finished “Warm Winter Blessings“ measures 54″ x 65″ – a nice size for a bed cover or draped over the back of your favorite arm chair.
Next up we have a quilt done by Marvi LeClair of Douglas, Wyoming. She entered her quilt Heirloom Rose in the 2021 Wyoming State Fair and received Best of Show for her hard work on this quilt, which she did during the lockdown in 2020. 
Just wow Marvi! Everyone knows I’m a huge sucker for wool appliqué, and I can tell you that she absolutely earned every “stitch” of that Best of Show award the judges gave her. Heirloom Rose definitely requires not only skill, but a considerable time commitment. On the same hand, one of the reasons I love this quilt is because the amount of stitching you choose to do on each block is entirely up to you. I also love the depth the appliqué layers create. Each flower is uniquely done with expert accuracy. They almost look real! If you’d like to give Heirloom Rose a whirl, click the link above and we’ll hook you up! Bonus alert – there are both a scrappy version and an urban version to choose from!
Ahhh, that’s always so much fun! You have no idea how proud I feel to see other’s showing off their talent with my designs. It’s truly humbling and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. That’s why I want to continue to do a Primitive Gatherings Winner’s Circle post at least once a month, because I think you all deserve to be recognized for your hard work and talent! That being said, if you have an award winning PG quilt in your personal collection I would absolutely LOVE to see it! If you’d like your quilt shown here on the blog please email a photo of it along with your name and state your from to my trusty blog manager Heidi at: heidin@primitivegatherings.us. Please include the story behind the quilt you made, why you chose it, and any bumps in the road you may have encountered throughout the process. Please also include any information you have on the contest/show that it was in so we can make sure to give you proper and accurate credit.
Sheesh, I just looked outside and it’s dark already. I guess that’s my que to go figure out what to make for dinner… Don’t forget to set your reminders for my LIVE show tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. CST. I’ll tell you about my trip out west, plus announce our Meet Me in the Garden prize winners. Don’t miss it! Not entered in the Meet Me in the Garden contest but still want to be eligible for a nice little prize? Make sure to leave me a comment both here on the blog and during my show. That’s really all it takes for a chance to win! Have a great night and I will see you all LIVE tomorrow! ~Lisa
