How did a loudmouth like me end up in charge of a Silent Auction?

It's almost here - the biannual Squanicook Colonial Quilt Guild "Autumn Festival of Quilts", where myself and my fellow Squanicookies put on a show we'd challenge any other guild to better. Okay, maybe that's a bit over the top, but really, we do put on a pretty darn good show and if you are in the area of Townsend MA next weekend, September 24 and 25, follow the awesome signage all around northern Middlesex county and get yourself to the gym of North Middlesex Regional High School and see what I mean.

One thing we do as part of our show is a Silent Auction of small quilted items donated by our members so that we can raise some money for our guild (let's be honest, this show is our one and only money maker and it only happens every two years, so we do all we can to make it successful). The Silent Auction was added to the show several years ago and has been a popular event, both with visitors who don't quilt themselves and want the chance to win something they couldn't make, and with quilters who for sure COULD make these items, but want to take the easy way out and buy them instead. Either way, it's fun and another cool way to showcase the cookie talent.

This year I am in charge of the Silent Auction, which is a bit of an oxymoron if you know me, but they let me do it anyway. Probably because no one else was volunteering. As part of my duties as SA chair, I got to collect some of the items up for auction at our last meeting and I want to share a few with you to see if I entice anyone to come make a bid.

First up is a cute embroidered and quilted Christmas wallhanging made by Shirley Harrison. Shirley is well known in our guild for her stunning craftsmanship, and this piece is no exception. I love the diagonal striped border, and at risk of Shirley hating me for all time, I have to admit that one reason I love it is because the stripes do not line up with like stripes at the corners. They DO line up perfectly with other stripes, as I would expect no less of Shirley, but I love that there are different patterns lining up as it adds some scrappy interest. Isn't the whole thing just too cute?


Here we have a dancing pinwheels doll quilt made and quilted by Cathie Shoemaker. Cathie is one of our very own premier, award winning long arm quilters, and you can bet the quilting on this is no exception. Some doll will be very lucky to sleep under this creation.


I apologize to the maker of this quilt, but I don't remember who gave it to me. If you let me know I can edit this post and give you credit! To make up for my lack of remembering, I will announce that this is my favorite of all the items I received. I love the colors and the simple pattern and the craftsmanship is lovely. Another lucky doll or little girl will love this.


Again, I forget who gave me this absolutely awesome wool candle mat. The saddest part of my forgetting is that I had like a 10 minute conversation with this person wherein I exclaimed over its beauty and she wondered if I was for real with my gushing. I am for real. I love this thing, and I can't even touch wool without cringing. This does not mean I don't love the look of wool stuff, and I truly love the look of this. Doesn't your Yankee candle deserve a mat like this? Oh, you bet it does.


Last up is a gorgeous bow-tucks bag donated by Marie Anderson. You can't see them, but Marie sewed some buttons to the bottom to give the bag some "feet", and therefore it won't get as dirty on the bottom as it might when the winner sticks it on the floor of the car or under the pew at church. Isn't Marie brilliant?

September 24 and 25, North Middlesex Regional High School in Townsend MA. Be there and bid!