Last weekend I had the pleasure of meeting Elizabeth Clark, the fascinating Grand Haven, Mich. quilter I profiled in today’s art and column. When she told me the story of the quilt she’s holding in the photo above, I knew I was going to love it long before she led me upstairs to see it. Every quilt has a story, and this quilt’s story is especially lovely. You can read it here.

I wrote the column to preview the Lighthouse Guild Annual Quilt Show that is from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 901 Columbus St., in Grand Haven (on U.S. 31 between Taylor and Columbus streets). I’m planning to go check it out. It sounds like its going to well worth the $5 admission.

Also, give Elizabeth’s hand-stitched hexagon bag pattern a try.

I’m working on a larger paper-pieced version that I will post instructions for later this week. This is a great portable project for summer and great way to use up scraps.

Elizabeth treated me to a mini-show of her wonderful quilt collection, a mix of heirlooms she’s made and others she picked up at estate sales. Here’s a look at some of her quilts…

While I was in Elizabeth’s studio, I noticed dozens of empty spools strung like beads, hanging from her pegboard. Of course, I was curious. Like many quilters, Elizabeth regards her empty spools like trophies and takes great pride in burning through a lot of thread each year. She has been stringing up her empty spools for the a few years now and was pleased to rattle off the years as she slipped another one around her neck. What do you do with your empty spools?