QuiltCon is an annual event organized by the Modern Quilt Guild, a community of modern quilters worldwide. Each year the show is held in different locations. 2024 was n the beautiful Raleigh, North Carolina. Moda Fabrics had an exhibitors booth showcasing Moda’s Bella Solids including some of the new bright palette.
Pattern- Beasley Hollow by Lori Danelle of She Makes Joy
QuiltCon features a variety of activities such as workshops, lectures, demonstrations, Vendors booth and an assortment of industry exhibitors and a quilt show. The focus is on modern quilting, which often involves bold colors, geometric shapes, and innovative designs. Quilters from all skill levels, from beginners to experts, attend QuiltCon to learn new techniques, gain inspiration, and connect with others who share their passion for quilting.
I attended 2 lectures. We need to talk about Bertha by Mary Fons. Anytime I see Mary’s name on a class or lecture listing, I sign up. She is incredible and this lecture did not disappoint. (description from brochure-
She called them her “sculptures in cloth”. In the mid-20th century, while other quiltmakers stitched Grandmother’s Flower Garden and Churn Dash bed quilts, Bertha Meckstroth was reverse-appliquéing bats, crosses, and Aramaic text into quilts made for the wall. Anticipating by some 50 years the emergence of the art quilt movement, Bertha made nearly 200 of these iconoclastic objects, finished with spider web, angel wing, and feather motifs. For all her artistic triumphs, however, Bertha’s tale is a tragedy: When she died in a Chicago sanitarium in 1960, her will — which explicitly stated her quilts should be kept together — was ignored. Nobody cared what a “spinster” wanted, after all. The bank contested the will and won, scattering Bertha’s life’s work to the wind. For the past two years, Mary Fons has been tracking down the quilts of Bertha Meckstroth and her investigation is paying off. In this debut lecture, Mary will present her extraordinary findings, including intel from primary sources and never-before-seen images. This fascinating, true story of a woman wronged isn’t over yet.
ASL services provided through generous support from HandiQuilter.
Mary, also known as Quilt Nerd. and has written about Bertha in an issue of Quiltfolk.
This lecture was so introspective for me. Bertha died in 1960 and in her will she requested for all 89 of her quilts to be kept together and left money to make sure her wishes were followed. for more of this story you will have to read Mary’s article in Quiltfolk, but the thing that hit home for me is that Bertha had inventoried every quilt she had made. I do such a bad job of this!! As I listened to Mary’s talk and how she was able to research this incredible woman and her story was mainly because everything was documented. I have got to improve on this!
The second lecture was from the keynote speaker, Jacquie Gering. ( more this lectures in a separate post.)
The quilt show at QuiltCon is a highlight of the event, showcasing stunning modern quilts created by members of the Modern Quilt Guild as well as other quilters from around the world. These quilts often push the boundaries of traditional quilting with their contemporary aesthetic and artistic expression.
Just a few of my favorites!
I seemed to take lots of pics of rainbow like quilts.
I look back at the pictures of quilts that I took. Was I influenced by color, design, pattern or quilting?
YES, YES, YES and YES.
I can’t ever imagine making anything so grand but could not help but be influenced by the creativity shown at this show.
As in any show the judging and winning quilts are up for speculation. The best of show sent chills down my spine and was the topic of much conversation.
What We Will Use as Weapons: A List of School Supplies by Ginny Robinson @minnowpeck
Ginny is a teacher and she asked other teachers in the Us what they would use to defend students in the event of a school shooting. The quilt is shaped like a door and has everything from pencils to jugs of paint and many more items that were sent in as answers to Ginny’s question. Imagine bringing a stapler to a gunfight are the words in the description that really got to me.
This was the back of the quilt with an automatic rifle. Ginny’s art and comment of never wanting to see this in our schools.
Not that I am partial but some of my favorite quilts were in the Moda booth including Stars Above pattern by Megan Collins
This was made with Moda’s Bella Solids and background fabric from Amarilys Henderson’s Playground collection..
Pattern- Radical Cassettes by Love Sew Modern. This version took on a country feel using Moda’s bandana toweling on the cassettes.
Overall, QuiltCon is a celebration of creativity, community, and the art of quilting in the modern age. It’s a fantastic opportunity for quilters to come together, learn from each other, and celebrate their shared love of the craft. This show is so much fun and the energy is so inspiring. Mark your calendars now for next years show in Phoenix, Arizona, Feb 20-23rd.
Enjoy!