Monday, January 14, 2013

Bed Turning

 I attended several lectures 
during the
Tucson Quilters Guild Quilt Show
 One of my favorites
and a first for me
was a 
Bed Turning
 Have any of you watched a Bed Turning before?
Quilts are stacked deeply on a bed
before the presentation.
 Hosts turn back each quilt individually
while a presenter gives an oral history
of the quilt.
 Marilyn Winthrow describes a Bed Turning as
"A way of introducing quilters and non quilters to the
beauty of antique or unique quilts in
an interesting or different way."
 The presentation at the Tucson show only
lasted 30 minutes
and was offered multiple times through out the day.
Set up near the Vendor booths
it was easy to run over and view
at a convenient time.
  I especially enjoyed hearing a short history of each quilt,
many from the 
1800's through the early 1900's
This one reminded me of the
Great Granny Quilt Along
I just participated in last year.
 A Ruby Short McKim Bible quilt
 A McKim quilt is on my someday list of 
quilts I would love to make.
 Many of these quilts 
came from the private collections
of prominent Tucson quilters.
This wonderful vintage piece
was on loan from
I think a Bed Turning is a great way 
to keep the presentation of many 
quilts within a small time frame.
It allowed ample opportunity 
for pictures
and yet sped the showing along.
I'm taking this idea back 
to my guilds!

7 comments:

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

I saw one once at a quilt lecture in St. Charles MO that I went to - it does go faster doesn't it and yet you see everything.

•stephanie• said...

bed turnings are so much fun.
and that must be a great great great great great great great great granny square quilt!
wow ~ lots of squares!

Gayle said...

I've never heard of a Bed Turning either, but what a great idea! Looks like they had some really great quilts to share - there's just something about the old ones that I love.....

Lois Evensen said...

I've never heard of it before, either, but it looks like lots of fun to watch. :)

FYI: I'm having a terrible time with your blog word verification. :( Can't read those things.

life in red shoes said...

I love this, what a perfect way to showcase quilts!

Glenna @ Hollyhock Quilts said...

Looks like they showed some wonderful quilts. Bed turnings have been around a long, long time. They are a great way to see great quilts without having to hang each one!

Jana said...

What a fun way to show off quilts!