STITCHING SQUARES

Aurora Colony Quilters are collecting squares for a 2004 fund-raising quilt to raffle.

BY DIANA SCHWEITZER

CANBY HERALD

June 25, 2003

The ninth annual block contest has begun at the Aurora Colony Museum and that means now is the time to start stitching those summer themes into blocks of fabrics.
   This year's theme is "Summer in the Garden," and suggested ideas for blocks include: flowers, vegetables, insects, birds, garden implements, birdhouses and animals.
   Anyone can participate in the contest and submit quilt blocks which will be made into a winning quilt. There is no limit to the number of submissions per person. Last year there was a record number of submissions, 62 blocks.
   Nancy Fobert, long time Aurora resident and organizer of the block contest said most of the blocks are made by local residence and travelers who have stopped in Aurora . She is always surprised and excited to see where the blocks come from, her farthest submission ever was from Illinois .
   "I have one lady from Washington who sends me a block every year," she said. "It is fun to see what comes in."
   Currently 14 blocks have been submitted and are hung on the museum wall. All submitted blocks will hang on the wall until the judging, which takes place at 4 p.m. Friday, October 10. Judges pick the top 20 blocks to be made into a quilt which is raffled to raise money for the museum.
   The Aurora Colony Quilters, a group of 12 quilters, make the raffle quilt each year. They judge the blocks first on size, then on workmanship, color and overall appearance.
   The winners receive the honor of having their block put into the raffle quilt, and receive prizes.
   Prizes include quilting related items such as fabric, quilting books, needles, cards, and marking pencils.
   The extra blocks which are not chosen in the winning 20 will be made into additional quilts and wall hangings, which Fobert said will be sold to raise money for the museum.
   "This is a real good money maker for the museum," she said excitedly. "I am real thrilled about how much the extra blocks make."
   This year a quilt made from the extra blocks sold for $800 at the Aurora Colony Historical Annual Benefit Dinner and Auction, held in May.
   "Even though your block doesn't get into the raffle quilt you are still contributing to the museum financially," Fobert said.
   There are a few guidelines for submissions of blocks.
    All blocks should have an unfinished size of 12.5 inches to finish as 12 inches.
    Blocks should be made of pre-washed 100 percent cotton fabrics.
    Markers are requested to use only washable embellishments.
   To enter blocks in the contest, bring them to the museum on Second and Liberty Streets in Aurora , or mail them to Fobert at 12273 Fry Road , Aurora , OR 97002 .
   All entries must include your name, address, phone number and name of block pattern safety pinned to the back. The deadline for submissions is 4 p.m. Friday, October 10.
   In preparation for the 31st annual quilt show, the Aurora Colony Quilters have just finished this year's raffle quilt " Americana ." The quilt in red, white, and blue is made from the winning blocks entered in 2002s contest.
   The quilting of the raffle quilt took about two months, with the group meeting every Tuesday to work on it.
   "We meet and have a good time, but we also are doing some thing for the museum," she said of the quilters activities.
   The quilt is currently on display in the museum, and will be on display at a variety of quilt shows, fairs, and stores in the area, in order to sell raffle tickets.
   Raffle tickets can be purchased at the museum for $1 a piece, six for $15, 15 for $10, or 50 for $25.
   The quilt show is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. October 8 to 12. It features new and antique quilts, demonstrations, the block contest entries and results, and coffee and quilts for sale. The raffle quilt will be on display at the show, and a winning name will be drawn at the end of the weekend.
   Quilting demonstrations will be given by Ila McCallum, and a special "Sewing Birds" exhibit will be on display.
   Also all quilts that have been made of 2002s block contest blocks will be on display.
   Flyers with contest guidelines can be picked up at the Old Aurora Colony Museum and at local quilt shops and fabric stores.
   For more information call the museum at 503-678-5754, or Fobert at 503-678-1864.

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