37th Annual Quilt Show

By Jubilee P. Reid

On Tuesday, October 1^st the McMinn County Living Heritage Museum, in alliance with the Heritage Quilt Guild of McMinn County, opened their 37^th Annual Quilt Show. Titled “Quilted Creations,” this approximately 125-piece collection will be on display through October 30^th. Sponsored by Denso Manufacturing Inc., this show was judged by Barbara Arnold who awarded thirty-five awards as well as many honorable mentions.

Five newly created unique awards were presented at this year’s event. Prominent members of the community were asked to choose their favorite quilt from among those on display. Former museum director Ann Davis chose the quilt for the Ann Davis Legacy Award which commemorates the many years she spent as director and her support of the quilt guild. This legacy award will continue to be awarded at the annual quilt show. The quilt for the first Mayor’s Choice Award was selected by McMinn County mayor, John Gentry. Athens City mayor, Steven Sherlin, chose the quilt for the second Mayor’s Choice Award. President of Tennessee Wesleyan University, Tyler Forrest, selected the quilt for the Bulldog Award. The quilt for the Cherokee Award was chosen by Margaret Arjomandi, an administrative assistant at the McMinn County High School.

One of the quilts in the show is a Great Smoky Mountain National Park themed fall-colored quilt made by members of Heritage Quilt Guild. Titled “Pride of Tennessee,” this beautiful quilt won the Judge’s Choice Award and a 1^st place category ribbon. Visitors can purchase tickets for a chance to win this quilt for $2 apiece or $5 for three tickets. The drawing will be held on December 3^rd and the quilt can be mailed to an out-of-town winner. This is a rare opportunity to own an award-winning quilt!

The Heritage Quilt Guild of McMinn County was founded in 1990 at the request of then director Ann Davis. Aside from hosting the annual quilt show, the guild is involved in many activities including making quilts for local charities. Some of these charity quilts are on display throughout the show. Everyone is welcome to attend the guild’s meetings. These are held at the museum on the first Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. 

There is no extra charge to see the show, only standard museum admission which is free for members, $5 for adults and $3 for students and seniors. Visitors to the museum are invited to vote on their favorite quilt; at the end of the show, the quilt with the most votes will receive the Viewer’s Choice award.

Taking place at the museum during the show is the Tennessee Quilt Study Group meeting. Facilitated by certified quilt judge, appraiser, and historian Cynthia Stuart, this group will meet on Wednesday, October 16^th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This free event is open to all, and the program will include various presentations related to quilt history. Attendees are welcome to bring one or two antique quilts to show and receive information on.

Come visit the museum during October to see this incredible display of quilts and vote for your favorite one!

Listed below are the award winners who were announced at the Awards Ceremony on Saturday, September 28^th:

Best in Show: Laura Metz, “Celtic Solstice”

Excellence in Hand Workmanship: Linda Bosket, “Usagi “Rabbit” Meets Sashiko”

Excellence in Machine Workmanship: Beryl Newsome, “Funny Flower”

Best Use of Color and Design: Kimberly Wilson, “Hazy B”

Judge’s Choice: Heritage Quilt Guild, “Pride of Tennessee”

Ann Davis Legacy Award: Joy Wegand, “Pineapple Party”

Mayor’s Choice 1: Terry Moore, “The Shared Blocks Among Us”

Mayor’s Choice 2: Mavis Reynolds, “Tumalo Trail”

The Bulldog Award: Penny Cross, “Pineapple Quilt”

The Cherokee Award: Janet Green, “Dignity of Earth & Sky”

Large Pieced Bed: 1^st Place – Kimberly Wilson, “Bright Lights, Big Roundabouts”; 2^nd Place – Terry Moore, “Sweet Pineapple Heat”; 3^rd Place – Penny Cross, “Pineapple Quilt”; Honorable Mentions – Joy Wegand, “Indigo Way-Cheddar”; Tama Gallagher, “Over the Rainbow”; & Richard DeArk, “Jane’s Fairy Dust Garden”

Medium Pieced Bed: 1^st Place – Heritage Quilt Guild, “Pride of Tennessee”; 2^nd Place – Linda Bosket, “Metallica Bargello”; 3^rd Place – Carol Johnson, “Hexavaganza”; Honorable Mentions – Kimberly Wilson, “Mr. & Mrs. Pacman”; & Leighann Bergherm, “Save A Horse”

Small Pieced Bed: 1^st Place – Linda Bosket, “Peacock”; 2^nd Place – Norma Barham, “30’s Replica Sampler”; 3^rd Place – Sharon Lange, “The Joy of Stargazing”; Honorable Mention – Janet Meeks, “Grand Canyon Anniversary”

Large Wall Hanging: 1^st Place – Laura Metz, “Celtic Solstice”; 2^nd Place – Carol Johnson, “Imagine”; 3^rd Place – Caroline Ernest, “Tornado Quilt”; Honorable Mention – Joy Wegand, “Pineapple Party”

Small Wall Hanging: 1^st Place – Kimberly Wilson, “Hazy B”; 2^nd Place – Marti Blount, “The Wedding”; 3^rd Place – Patricia Purdy, “The Present”; Honorable Mention – Toni Stevenson, “Watch Me Grow!”

Appliqué: 1^st Place – Janet Meeks, “Bouquet from Friends”; 2^nd Place – Bren Wilson, “Rich’s Tree”; 3rd Place – Janet Meeks, “Happy Birthday, USA”; Honorable Mention – Alicia Smith, “Sunflowers”

Group: 1^st Place – Linda Bosket, “Pizza Box Block Sampler”; 2nd Place – Terry Moore, “The Shared Blocks Among Us”; 3rd Place – Janet Brown, “Strawberry Lane”; Honorable Mention – Cade Carmichael, “Pup Pup’s Quilt”

Mixed Techniques: 1^st Place – Toni Stevenson, “Jamison’s Birthday”; 2nd Place – Janet Green, “Dignity of Earth & Sky”; 3rd Place – Tama Gallagher, “Down Under the Sea”; Honorable Mention – Janet Green, “Howard’s Sisters’ Garden”

Miscellaneous: 1^st Place – Marti Blount, "Bountiful Harvest Table Runner"; 2^nd Place – Michael Tomes, “Crows in the Corn Table Runner”; 3^rd Place – Nancy Palmer, “Purple Travel Bag”; Honorable Mention – Kathy Nagel, “Mom, One of the Jolly Girls”

Guild Challenge: 1^st Place – Janet Brown, “Celebrate Summer”; 2^nd Place – Jubilee Reid, “Holiday Hearth”; 3^rd Place – Beryl Newsome, “Keep on Truckin’”