A big Thank-You goes out to our wonderful guests, who took the time to vote. After all, it is your say that determines the winners.
This year’s Awards were given out by Mary Sue Budrow. We give her this honor because she tirelessly counts and re-counts the ballots.
Awardees described their experiences.
· Beginners. Janet Forrest, Love Hearts. Janet is a friend of Robyn Slakey, who said she helped Janet put the sleeve on the back. Janet started this in 2007 and finished it this year.
· Needle Art. Sue Wilmer, Navajo weaving pattern in needlepoint.
Sue moved to Mountain Ranch in 2012, finally having time for things she wanted to do. Her mother was a seamstress, and she learned sewing from her. Sue has two daughters. When Sue was called for jury duty, she got a small cross-stitch kit on violets to work on (she was not selected for the jury). Sue got a pattern book with Beatrice Potter illustrations for all the alphabet letters. She completed the alphabet and built a quilt from the blocks for grandchildren. Her first needlepoint was a chair cover, which she entered in the QF. She has always loved Southwestern patterns, and she worked on this one from 2019 to 2022. Her husband mounted it on a background, and it hangs on their wall. They have been married for 63 years.
· Wearable Arts. Two winners: Lori Wisheropp’s Green jacket started as a sweatshirt that she should have gotten two sizes larger. Joanne Padelford’s Bolero Jacket was made from fat quarters Barbara Cleveland gave her. At first, she didn’t like it, but now it is her favorite that she wears all the time.
· Small Wall Hanging. Three winners: Valerie Conrado, Single Tree of Life, made from things she got from the free table. Cindy Clark, Gracie (the giraffe), made at a class taught by Candy Gutierrez. Mary Sue recalled a class by Sandra Mollon that she and Cindy took together last weekend in May, when they awoke to a snowy landscape. Cindy drove in snow for the first time and got them safely home. Lori Wisheropp, Alaskan Fireweed, with a photo background and the single flowering plant in front and free-motion quilting. Taught in a class by Candy. Lori starts most of her works on her computer.
· Large Wall Hanging. Three winners: Candy Gutierrez, Courage to Bloom. Candy said this was inspired by the quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson that she always places on her label in the back of her work, “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” Karen Beeding, Cool Zanzibars. Karen was not present to discuss this work of art. Becky Scholl, Living in Liberty. It took hand and paper piecing, both of which she enjoys, and includes 54 little houses.
· Medium Bed Quilts. Five winners: Eileen Roberson, Scrappy Charmer. Lyn Wilder pattern, first time for Eileen making feathers. Sue Gonzales, Don’t Worry – Bee Happy! This was a mystery quilt: you receive clues as a block every month, and the final clue is the block placement. Sue hand-quilted it. Lori Wisheropp, Ocean life. Her daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Hartman, asked her to make this. It became a King-sized quilt, which Lori divided into two quilts. She quilted it herself. The next two were not present: Debbie Sweeten, Summer on the Delta, and Cindy Barkley, Enchanted Butterfly Brook.
· Large Bed Quilts: Mary Sue Budrow, Comfort and Blessing. This purple sampler is from her stash during COVID. Diane VanEgmond, Quilters Cottage. Diane is friends with Mary Sue. She lives in the valley and is very active in her local guild. Her family, including three children, lived on her father’s dairy farm. Her father originally bought that house for $600 and then paid another $600 to move it to the farm. Diane is welcome to visit us and contribute to our QF any time! Cindy Barkley, All Roads Lead to the Sea, is not here today. Lynn Wilder won for two quilts: Timeless (made with colors from men’s ties) and Gentry’s Mill. Lynn is not here because she went to her granddaughter’s wedding on Sunday.
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Best of Show: Charlotte Beech, Asterism. “Aster” means star, and an asterism is a group of three or more stars. Every block has a star in the middle. Each one is different. Charlotte often tried to hide the star shape, but it is always there.
· Member Challenge: Depict something you like about Calaveras County. Two winners: Joanne Padelford, Eagle Over New Melones Lake. This is based on a photo her granddaughter took of an eagle in flight over the lake, with mountains on the far shore. Maggie Souza, The Four Seasons. Grandma Moses effect, showing what we like to do throughout the year.
