Quilters celebrate a successful Bloomin’ Quilt Party at the barn

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BROOKINGS – The Brookings Area Quilters Guild held their eighth biennial Bloomin’ Quilt Party on Saturday, Aug. 3, at the Bennett Barn, owned by Mike and Theresa Bennett of Aurora.

Approximately 350 guests and guild members enjoyed a perfect outdoor day with music, food, fellowship and leisure atmosphere at the quilt party.  Guests journeyed from cities and towns in Alaska, California, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas and even Hemmingford, Quebec, Canada.  

An estimated 180 quilts and other quilted items were displayed at various locations around the Bennett Barn. The quilts were hung on clotheslines and over railings and fences. Quilts could be found in Theresa’s quilt studio, hung on ropes among the trees and even on the fence surrounding the outdoor comfort station.  

The Quilt Boutique sold many handmade items from guild members along with gently used patterns, books and magazines. The guests were also able to purchase quilt raffle tickets for either the barn party drawing or for the guild’s spring show in May.

Guests were delighted to feast on a large buffet of assorted desserts, snacks, sandwiches, and vegetable and fruit platters along with lemonade and water. They had the choice of sitting inside the barn to eat or under the lean-to or canopy to enjoy the cool breeze and music. 

Prairie Highlander Bagpiper Jerry Cooley filled the grounds with Scottish tunes. The Plum Crazy Band delighted the guests with their upbeat notes and pleasant vocals. New to the musical roster was Volga’s own blues guitarist/singer, Kyle Knutson.

The day ended with the highly anticipated drawing for nine raffle items. The garden flower quilt (made by guild member Ida Slocum and quilted by guild member Sandy Gamradt) was won by Kay Wenande, Brookings. The large potted planter (donated by guild member Vikki Schaack and Medary Acres) was won by Jesse Schmidt, Lake Benton. The concrete leaf garden ornament (made and donated by Linda Whitaker) was won by Dorothy Ishol, Brookings. A quilt kit was won by Beverly Krog, Lake Benton. Timeless Treasures patterns were won by Jeanne Fuller, Clark; Phyllis Pates, Volga; and Robin Sorbe, Brookings. Puzzles were won by Sharon Krier, Brookings, and Teresa Pomrenke, White. The quilt kit, patterns and puzzles were all donated by Theresa Bennett.

The next Brookings Area Quilters Guild event will be the spring quilt show on May 2 and 3, 2020.  “Keeping Warm in South Dakota XII: All Creatures Near and Far” will be held at the Swiftel Center in Brookings. The BAQG featured quilter will be Rose Horner. There will be a formal luncheon with speaker. For further information, visit the guild’s website at www.brookingsquiltguild.com or “like” them on Facebook.