Many quilts displayed

No two quilts were alike. More than 50 of them were hanging from the ceiling on display, yet they were all unique in their own way.

On Friday and Saturday the Island Pavilion was transformed into a great place for quilts, vendors and a residents to walk through and look at them.

"It's above what we had the last couple of years," Rene Moore, Quilting on the Green Committee chairperson said.

Susie Hermansen, Quilting on the Green Committee member, said the quilt show had at least 20 more quilts on display than last year.

Most of the quilts displayed were called pieced quilts, which is just as it sounds. A quilter will take pieces of fabric and put them together into a patterned quilt, Moore said. Other popular quilts at the show were embroidered, embellished, wall hangings or mixed techniques.

Some of those in the show didn't want their quilts judged and so they were hung up as exhibition only.

Others were not only judged by other quilters, but by the mayor. Joleen Wright's quilt called "Majestic" was given the Mayor's Choice award. This quilt depicted an elk in a mountain scene, but it was designed to make it look as though one was seeing the elf through a window.

Best of Show went to Alice Kay Arnett and her quilt called "Spanish Lace." This quilt was very colorful and was made to look like various pieces of lace were placed on the quilt.

Over the years, the quilt show has see many trends come and go; and this year was no different.

Viewer's Choice, which was voted on by those who attended the show, went to Teresa Nixon and her quilt called "Vintage Onyx."

A new trend for quilters is combining art with quilting. Sometimes a quilter will paint on the fabric and then sew it or sew pieces of fabric to make a picture of something like an owl or hummingbird.

A possible dying trend, for example is this year the show only had one entry that was hand embroidered or hand quilted.

"It's a dying art," Moore said. "To sit down and take the time is almost non existent."

The committee is also concerned with the lack of youth entries too. This year, not a single entry was from a youth sewer.

Moore said committee members are often trying to get their kids and grandkids get into sewing, so the art will continue. The committee members have been encouraged by the attendance at the recent community-hosted sewing classes.

A new exhibit for the quilt show was the Honor Hearts area, which is an idea committee member Robin Avery came up with. Quilters were encouraged to design and sew a heart for someone who is special to them or for someone who made a big difference in their lives. Moore said these are for everyone not just those who have family or friend who is deceased.

After the show, these heart squares are given back to those who made them and they can either keep them or give them to the person they made them for.

"We did it initially as a fundraiser," Moore said.

What was great about the heart squares is some were designed by youth and sewn by someone they know.

Even though there are so many quilts to see and vendors to visit, Moore liked the friendships she made with other quilters.

"The camaraderie that is found in quilters," Moore said. "They are always willing to help and encourage each other."

Not only are the other quilters helpful, but the vendors are always willing to give quilters tips and help them with new ideas.