Getting to Know You Interview #1

The Quilters' Guild Acadienne Silver Thimble Award is presented annually to a guild member who has exhibited the following characteristics during his/her involvement with the guild:

gave willingly of his/her time;

contributed to the sustained growth, expansion and success of the guild;

motivated member enthusiasm;

enhanced his/her fellow guild members' enjoyment of the guild. 

Judy Garber is the tenth QGA member to join this elite group.  Over the years, she has served as president, treasurer, auction committee chair and lotto block committee chair.  She is currently serving on the Board as 1st Vice President, Chair of Program. 

Can you identify this pattern?

Judy's quilting story began when she inherited a quilt made by her maternal grandmother.  Future plans are to replicate her grandmother’s quilt pattern using more modern fabrics.
















Although Judy has done paper piecing, applique and tried modern quilting, she definitely loves traditional blocks learned in her first class 14 years ago.  Judy has quilted a few quilts on her domestic machine, but readily admits that she prefers  "quilting by check". 


The muted colors of 1800's fabric calls to Judy. The Rocky Mountain Quilting Museum in Golden, Colorado has an impressive amount of 18th and 19th century antique quilts that span approximately 120 years, and encompass a large variety of styles and fabrics.  An example is this  Nine Patch Windmill Sampler with the format of a Center Medallion quilt pattern which originated in England. Most of the fabric is from the 1840's.  The creator of this quilt was most likely from an affluent family because the fabric would have been expensive to purchase.

                                                18th and 19th Century Quilts
 

Center Medallion Quilt c. 1845

Judy gets inspiration from fabrics to design her smaller children's quilts. Her larger quilts are inspired by themes, as in a lap quilt for her husband with fabrics representing all his many interests. She has designed a Saints quilt and a masculine fleur de lis.




A Tennessee girl, Judy is making a Tennessee Waltz quilt from an Eleanor Burns pattern. Can't you just hear her playing the Tennessee Waltz on the piano?

Judy says, "Joining QGA was one of the best things I ever did.  I gradually got better at all the basics and thanks to Nadine Cain, learned a lot about color while fabric shopping for auction quilts with her.  Just like my piano playing, I hope to quilt until I can’t any more!!"

Thanks to her grandmother's legacy quilt, a passionate quilter was born. Judy makes important contributions in our quilting community through her volunteerism and is a valued member of our guild. A heartfelt thank you, Judy, for everything you do for the guild and for  individual members.