Wolfe Country Quilt Show and Garden Walk
I’ve wanted to attend the Wolfe Country Quilt Show and Garden Walk for several years but something always came up. This time I planned ahead and my friend Mary and I went to Bennington, Nebraska on Saturday, July 16.
What we found was worth the three hour drive. So many quilts. Abundant flowers and a perfectly overcast day with no rain.
We arrived early to beat the heat and were there for about two and a half hours. We bumped into many quilters and others we knew so the chatting stretched our time a little.
It seemed like there were more quilts around every corner.
And then we’d come to a flower bed. Lilies, coneflowers, petunias, bee balm.
The Wolfe Country Quilt Show and Garden Walk is in its tenth year, we learned from Doug Wolfe, who with his wife Teri puts on the event. I was starstruck when I met them and I failed to get a photo.
Doug is (mostly) the gardener and Teri is (mostly) the quilter. I suspect their jobs overlap, however.
I didn’t have a chance to ask a lot of questions but it seems the quilts are mostly borrowed, and there was a lovely variety of styles and techniques.
Mary and I both had our favorites and we discussed what we liked and why, always fun with a friend.
It seems the Wolfe’s purpose is simply to share their love for quilts and flower gardens with others. An army of volunteers helps hang the quilts in the wee hours of show day. More volunteers stand by in case of rain, ready to whisk quilts to safety if need be.
At least two guilds were involved: Omaha Quilters’ Guild had a raffle quilt on display, and Omaha Modern Quilt Guild had a special exhibition of “modern traditional” quilts.
This quilt caught my eye. It’s a variation on Drunkard’s Path by Heather Akerberg and it was part of the Omaha Modern QG exhibition.
I could look at those color combinations all day. Aren’t they smashing?
The quilting by Karen McTavish was also lovely. Here’s what Heather wrote about her piece.
Isn’t that a sweet childhood memory?
There is no charge to attend the show or to park. And the spirit of cooperation and friendly helpfulness was unmistakable.
It’s funny how certain colors appeal to different people. Bubble gum pink does it for me. Mary said that coral always ignites her curiosity.
Mary loved this quilt with the black background, and we wondered if they used black batting to avoid bearding issues.
I looked at this quilt by Danielle Smith for a long time. There’s a tension between the old-fashioned florals and the solid colors, and I’m all for tension. It’s much more interesting than matching.
Here’s a closer look.
I think I should stop there for now but I’ll continue this with final thoughts next time. Until then, quilt on.
Tags: modern quilt guild, quilt guild, quilt show, scrap quilts, wolfe
Alycia Quiltygirl
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Gosh that looks like a fun time!! all those happy quilts and gorgeous flowers!!
that barn is super bright – impressive!
Kaye Mattson
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Thanks for the pictures from the Wolfe quilt and garden show! Did Scott Flanagan have a quilt there? The last quilt pictured by Danielle Smith was awesome. The design, fabrics chosen, and the quilting make a very unique quilt. The Wolfe family is certainly to be congratulated for continuing to put on this wonderful event!
Diane Harris
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Yes, I saw at least one of Scott’s quilts there. You were right, Kaye—the day was wonderful in every way!
Lynn Roginski
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That looks like a fun day! Do you know if they’ve set the date for 2023?
Nancy Wells
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It’s always the 3rd Sat in July, so July 15. Teri puts a call out for quilts to all the area guild (and nonguild) members and individuals respond if they have something to show. Fremont’s Prairie Piecemakers also have their raffle quilt on display. Did you check out the featured quilter display by the house and notice the outhouse in the field below the barn? Beautiful, wonderful day!