Bainbridge Quilt Festival 2019 – Saturday, September 14, 2019 from 9am to 5pm – Downtown Bainbridge (Winslow Way), Bainbridge Island, WA
In 2013, Barbara Kirk, a local fabric store owner, along with the Bainbridge Island Modern Quilt Guild, began the first Bainbridge Quilt Festival. The quilts are displayed along Winslow Way, hung from store fronts and awnings—in 2018, over 200 quilts were displayed. Volunteers, wearing lime-green aprons and white gloves, will be available to the public to assist in viewing the detailed aspects of each quilt. In addition, they’ll have ballots available for the “Viewer’s Choice Prize”, so you can cast your vote for your favorite quilt.
Some of the participants will be offering their quilts for sale, purchases are handled directly from the quilter, and contact information can be had at the Information Booth, which will be located in front of Dana’s Showhouse (194 Winslow Way East).
In addition to the festival, a Sew-In for American Hero Quilts will be held at the gazebo at Winslow Green (the corner of Winslow Way and Madison Avenue).
“American Hero Quilts was established in 2004 to provide a recognition and an appreciation to our wounded service men and women who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. We think of each quilt as a metaphoric hug and a way to express our gratitude for their service to our country.”
A raffle will be held at 4:30pm the day of the festival at the Information Booth (you do not have to be present to win), $2.00 per ticket and 2 chances to win!
Two winners will be drawn, the first ticket drawn will win a 60” by 60” quilt, quilted by Gladys Schulz and pieced by Guild members. The second ticket drawn will win a 19” by 28” runner quilt, pieced and quilted by Marla Varner. You can view the quilts at the Information Booth. Raffle tickets can be purchased during the First Friday Art Walk (Friday, September 6th, next to Eagle Harbor Book Co. on Winslow Way), or at the Information Booth the day of the festival.
Our weather here in the Pacific Northwest, and specifically Bainbridge Island, is typically sunny and mild during the month of September. However, in the event of rain, quilts will only be hung in protected areas, away from the rain—additional space is also provided by Eagle Harbor Congregational Church.
The Bainbridge Island Modern Quilt Guild is a non-profit organization designed for charitable and educational purposes. Modern quilting incorporates function rather than decorative in its quilts. Using asymmetry in designs, relying less on repetition, reinterpreting traditional quilt patterns, and embracing simplicity and minimalism. They utilize alternative block structure and increase the use of negative space—concentrating on bold colors, graphic prints, and gray and white as neutrals. Their quilts are inspired by modern art and architecture and they frequently use improvisational piecing methods.
The BIMQG encourages the art of modern quilting by working with other guilds and groups, and teaching new quilters and other fiber artists that are interested in non-traditional fiber projects. Classes, workshops and the sharing of information are available, visit their website for more information. Monthly Sew-Ins are held the second Sunday of each month (except May which is the third Sunday), from 11am to 4pm. Meeting sites vary monthly, and updates are available on their Facebook page, or you can joint their email list for updated information.
Bainbridge Island Modern Quilt Guild and the Bainbridge Island Quilt Festival would like to thank their sponsors and supporters: Esther’s Fabrics, Quilted Strait, Old Mill Cottage Quilts, White Lotus Quilting, Winslow Green, Eagle Harbor Congregational Church, Bainbridge Branch Kitsap Regional Library, Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce, BainbridgeIsland.com, VisitKitsap, Bainbridge Island Downtown Association, Bainbridge Island Lodging Association and Bainbridge Vacation Rentals
*Images and logos used with permission by the BIMQG
