GRASS VALLEY, Calif. April 24, 2017 – The 33rd annual edition of Nevada County’s largest quilt show will take place on Saturday, May 6 and Sunday, May 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.  More than 200 quilts, both old and new, will be displayed as Pine Tree Quilt Guild presents “Springtime in the Pines” at the beautiful Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley.  Admission is $7 with children under 12 free.  There is no charge for parking and a free shuttle operates between buildings.

Susan Hopkins and Margaret Boothby with a vintage appliqué quilt made by Dollie Turner Vant using Marie Webster’s “Cluster of Roses” pattern, very popular in the 1930’s. The quilt has been in Susan’s family for three generations and will be displayed in the exhibit “Honoring our Quilting Foremothers”.

The featured exhibit, called “Honoring our Quilting Foremothers”, will showcase 34 vintage quilts dating from the mid-1800’s to the 1960’s, chosen by committee members Margaret Boothby, Susan Hopkins and Karla Rogers.  Famous quilting foremothers like Harriet Powers, Marie Webster and Ruby McKim will be honored.  Included in the exhibit will be brief explanations of the quilts and the foremothers who created them, with committee members available to answer questions and discuss the rich history of quilt making.  Visitors will come away with a better appreciation of what women in the past were able to create and, as they view the main body of the show, to see how today’s quilts carry on that tradition.

Local owners of vintage quilts will have a unique opportunity to obtain a professional appraisal during both days of the quilt show.  Julie Silber, one of the world’s most respected quilt experts, will offer either oral or written appraisals of pre-1960’s quilts.  The written appraisals can be used to determine monetary value for insurance, charitable donation, estate assessment and current fair market purposes. Appointments are recommended to insure service, while walk-ins will be taken as time permits.  Oral appraisals are $25 and written ones cost $85.  To make an appraisal appointment, send an email to ptqg@comcast.net or call 530-575-8433.

Opportunity Quilt “Crossroads in the Pines” contains 7,600 pieces from over 200 fabrics and took 6 1/2 months to construct. It will be given away in a drawing on Sunday, May 7.

“Crossroads in the Pines” is the large 2017 Opportunity Quilt constructed by Frances O’Brien, Lois Hodges, Mary Serpa and Trudie Ferreira and quilted by Susie Hardy from a pattern by Judy Martin.   The project took 6 ½ months to complete, with over 200 fabrics used to make the 7,600 pieces in the quilt.  The drawing for this quilt will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday.  Another popular drawing on Sunday afternoon is for overstuffed baskets containing quilting items, books, fabrics and goodies of all sorts.

Fifteen vendors will sell quilting fabrics, patterns, machines and tools, as well as comfortable footwear, design walls and beads and buttons for embellishment.  Several will be giving away door prizes or have special discounts for the show.  Country Store will be filled with previously owned merchandise at bargain prices.  Scissor sharpening will be available on Sunday only for a nominal fee, with proceeds to benefit Community Service.

New to the show this year is a Boutique where members offer a wide variety of handcrafted items for sale, including dolls, tote bags, table runners, novelty pincushions, baby items and two antique quilts.  Demonstrations of interesting techniques like paint-on-fabric will inspire and inform.  Quilters Café will have delicious sandwiches, salads, drinks and homemade desserts available for purchase.

Springtime in the Pines” is non-profit Pine Tree Quilt Guild’s largest fundraiser and enables the Guild to fund informative programs and workshops and an active Community Service outreach that gives away hundreds of quilts, Christmas stockings, walker bags and pillowcases each year.  Recipients of almost 200 quilts in 2016 include victims of fire and natural disaster, veterans, homeless, foster youth, seniors, babies, and children at risk.

For more information about Guild activities and meetings, please visit our website at www.pinetreequiltguild.com