CHASSELL - As the Copper Country Strawberry Festival enters its 63rd year as a fundraiser for the Chassell Lions Club, the Portage Quilt House will be sponsoring its seventh annual quilt show during the festival, with all proceeds going to the Copper Country Humane Society.
The show, which has raised about $13,000 for the CCHS in the past six years, will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday in the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church on U.S. 41 in Chassell. Admission is $4, which all goes to the CCHS.
"People are very surprised at the quilting talent level up here, and it's a great operation, and a great way to support the humane society," Joanne Moros, co-owner of the Portage Quilt House and one of the event organizers, said.
In addition to quilts of all sizes and colors, the show will feature dresses, jackets, purses, wall hangings and more - around 120 items in all, maxing out the available space in the church. There will also be a quilter's rummage sale selling patterns and materials at the show and snacks will be available.
A different quilter is featured every year. This year it will be June Michaelson and her vintage doll collection with a variety of outfits on display.
Every year heading into the event, the Quilt House sponsors quilting challenges, including one that requires quilters to use an eighth of a yard of fabric in a quilt design no larger than 46 by 60 inches.
The show has also featured a raffle in past years, and will run one again this year for a queen-sized quilt made by Moros.
Unlike previous years, however, the raffle will continue through Oct. 15, with the hopes of raising even more money for the CCHS. Tickets can be purchased at the show, the Portage Quilt House and Hilltop Restaurant in L'Anse.
While the show has held steady in terms of items displayed, the proceeds and interest in the show have continued to grow, with $2,000 to $3,000 raised annually.
"It's a really wonderful event, and the variety of colors is always an amazing thing," Moros said.
The Portage Quilters, formed in 1985, came up with the idea for the show, and it started in 2005 as a way to bring Copper Country quilters together while rallying behind a good cause. The humane society was interested in the fundraiser, and an annual event was born.
"Quilting is alive and well," said Moros, who pointed out more than half a dozen quilting groups in the Keweenaw. Portage Quilters boasts more than 20 members, while the Superior Stitchers based out of L'Anse and Baraga have the biggest group at 40 members. Groups also meet in Calumet, Ontonagon and near Lake Linden.
