Hanging the Monthly "Quilt Show"

September Calendar Quilt, by Kim Schaefer

I am lucky to have a wonderful space in my upstairs hallway to display my quilts.  I try to change the display every month to reflect the change of seasons, and so they all get a chance to be out of the closets!  (most of them anyway) 
 By the way, the monthly calendar quilts I'm doing this year are for my office.

So I started today by changing the display for September.
This process actually takes me about an hour every month. I have some of the quilts rolled or stacked in order of use, but not all of them.  So first I have to decide which quilts I am using for each month's display.  This month I had some help.

George decided none of these were right for this month!

 I don't take everything down, I sort of start with one I know I'll be using then go from there.  It ends up being a bit like hanging a quilt show, since I have to find the right "fixtures" (dowels) for each quilt.  The hangers I have are based on the first set of quilts I hung here, never realizing I'd be changing it so often!

The flower in this picture is a sort of giant "Kanzashi" flower I was inspired to make when I  made the sunflowers for the quilt show. 



It hasn't found a permanent home yet.  It just sits in this pitcher- part of a very old set from a "commode"/ washstand in my grandmother's house.  ( I even have the chamberpot!)

The final display.  Not the most interesting display I have throughout the year, I admit.  But even the designer's of calendar quilts can only come up with back to school for September.
The cat in the quilt here represents my Liza, who I lost last spring.  This piece was made for a Museum Quilt Guild challenge.





To save the Earth this week, I will remind you to use the smallest appliance or utensil needed for the job.  Use the microwave for small items, instead of heating up the oven for one baked potato.  Your crock pot can make a great pot roast and will use a LOT less energy.  Heat up a piece of pizza in a frying pan for a crispy crust, rather than the oven.
How can quilters can use this idea? Do you have a clover mini iron? Use that to press one or two seams rather than heating up your full sized iron!

I am grateful for:
A kitty on my lap again. (I hope she outgrows the love of chasing my yarn when I knit though)
Loving and supportive friends
Football season starts this week!
Potato salad for dinner
Putting things in perspective