Crazy for Quilts

the Green Country Quilters Guild is presenting “Quilt Crazy”.

Members of the Green Country Quilters Guild are preparing for the upcoming Quilt Crazy event, June 4-5 at the Tulsa Fairgrounds. (L to R): Sue Swanner, Susie Semler and David Shirk.

Are you crazy for quilts? Then you will be excited to learn that the Green Country Quilters Guild is presenting “Quilt Crazy” on Friday and Saturday, June 4-5 in the Exchange Center of the Tulsa Fairgrounds.

“This will be the biggest quilt show in Oklahoma,” says Susie Semler, chairman of Quilt Crazy. “We will have 58,000 square feet and over 400 quilts to be judged, with 45 vendors.” At 1 p.m. there will be a small quilt auction, featuring an assortment of appliqué embellished small quilts and wall hangings.

On Saturday, Jim Gatling, who is famous for his “save it and use it” quilt designs, will offer a free lecture, and Susie is especially excited about this. Jim is known for using everything from rolling pins to cookie cutters to buttons in his decorative quilts. “Jim not only specializes in quilt embellishment, but he has such a witty personality that it is a joy to attend his lectures,” says Susie.

Quilters will be excited to learn about the event’s classes, which will be held on Friday, June 4 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Susie is also happy to report a special class being held Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. by Lola Jenkins, famous for her beautiful portrait quilts. “Ms. Jenkins is self-taught,” Susie says. “It is just amazing what you can learn in one of her classes.” Class details and sign-ups are available online at ­www.greencountryquiltersguild.com.

This year’s event has four sponsors. The premier sponsor is The Quilt Sampler, who will host the “Best of Show” and “Amateur Machine Quilting.” The Quilt Sampler is the largest quilting supply store in the state, with over 5,000 bolts of fabric. The Quilt Sampler offers Bernina and Praff Sewing Machine sales and service, creative quilting classes for all levels of quilters, expert quilting advice, and the latest in patterns, books and notions for quilters. Another main sponsor is SewFlakes, located on historic Main Street in Broken Arrow. SewFlakes is a fashion sewing and quilting supply store, carrying a wide variety of fabric supplies and Bernina Sewing Machines. Other sponsors include B-Sew Inn, a store specializing in Baby Lock Machines, notions and supplies, and The Cotton Patch, a fabric and quilting supply store that also offers classes. Discount coupons and information on Quilt Crazy are available at all sponsor locations.

Proceeds from Quilt Crazy will benefit Woman Build, an organization much like Habitat for Humanity but operated entirely by women, and Project Woman, which provides free mammograms, referrals and other care for women in need.

The Green Country Quilt Show has been going for over ten years, and Susie Semler expects a big turnout of all ages. “We have a lot of young people come in wearing quilted, embellished or embroidered jackets, vests and jeans,” she says. “And a lot of people are surprised to find that men are involved in this guild as well.”

As much as she loves quilting, it is this people factor that keeps Susie involved with this project from year to year. “I love what I’m doing,” she says with a smile. “The people I intermingle with is what I love the most – my show is never nice and quiet. We have fun.”

Quilt Crazy will be held June 4-5, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days at the Exchange Center of the Tulsa Fairgrounds. For more information, call Susie Semler at (918) 619-6534 or go online to ­www.greencountryquiltersguild.com. 

For more information, contact

Green Country ­Quilters Guild

(918) 619-6534

www.greencountryquiltersguild.com