Quilts on display for seventh annual show

Quilts keep you warm, add color to a room and can show off a family's heritage. At the River Heritage Quilter's Guild Quilt Show, they raise money for breast cancer, show off craftsmanship and teach a bit of history, piece by piece.

Quilts at the River Heritage Quilter's Guild Seventh Bi-Annual Quilt Show will be judged on features including workmanship, design and overall appearance. About 100 quilts, finished since 2006, have been divided into eight categories and will be displayed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 27, 28, at the Arena Building. Admission is $5. The show also has opportunity quilts from prior shows on display, more than 50 donated miniature quilts and wall hangings for a silent auction, a bed turning featuring at least 50 family quilts presented by a local guild member, quilt appraisals by appointment and quilts from a recent contest the guild entered and won.

Quilters in the guild take on new quilt challenges regularly to heighten their knowledge, enhance technique and stay motivated. In August the River Heritage guild entered the international American Quilter's Society Quilt Expo and contest at Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville and won $1,000 for second place in the gift bag challenge, a guild entry of multiple quilts that contributing members said either challenged them in composition, technique or both.

The mini quilt silent auction will raise funds to help support breast cancer.

"The generous hearts of quilters and quilt lovers is my favorite part of the show weekend," said auction coordinator Linda Tansil. "Our quilt guild has several breast cancer survivors, including me who had it twice."

Back in 2002 a new award was presented at the show in memory of guild member Tenna Henning, who died after a six year battle with breast cancer. The award, sponsored by her husband, Bill Henning, awards $100 for excellence in machine quilting.

This year the auction will benefit the Susan B. Komen Foundation to help find better ways to detect and treat breast cancer. Last year, the guild made a $1,670 donation to Bosom Buddies, a Southeast Missouri Hospital program. Half the quilts will be auctioned off Saturday. The other half will be displayed and auctioned off Sunday. Bidding closes at 3 p.m. both days and the minimum bid is $5.

Another of the silent auction quilts up for bid at the River Heritage Quilter's Guild show. The proceeds benefit the Susan B. Komen Foundation.

Tansil said the average quilt size ranges from potholder size to 36 inches. Bidders need not be present to win. Quilts can be picked up later in the week or they can be mailed to out-of-towners.

Visitors to the show will see quilts that are pieced together by hand or on a sewing machine, appliqued, constructed by small and large groups. Some are made to display on a wall or use on a bed. The theme this year -- baskets -- is open for interpretation by the imagination and talent of those entering, and has its own category. A youth category will be awarded by ribbon only and is restricted to those 18 and under.

Local guild member Vickie Howard will be presenting bed turnings at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. both days. During the bed turning, about 50 quilts in her family collection will be lifted from a bed while Howard tells about each quilt's history.

"Prioritizing which quilts to show is a hard job. There are so many beautiful quilts and memories from the quilts that it's hard to choose," she said.

Submitted photo Another of the silent auction quilts up for bid at the River Heritage Quilter's Guild show. The proceeds benefit the Susan B. Komen Foundation.

Howard said her mom, the late Dorothy (Inez) Layne of Diehlstadt, Mo., learned to quilt when Howard was a baby. "She quilted while I took a nap."

"One of the first things I learned from my mom is you don't put a quilt on the back porch and let the puppy sleep on it," Howard said.

The quilts in the bed turning were made by Howard and her mother and include different perspectives on the same pattern, block and fabric. Howard plans to show a quilt of her own and a similar one made by her mother.

"Another thing I learned from my mom is you don't need a pattern," Howard said. She will display quilts demonstrating that.

submitted One of the silent auction quilts up for bid at the RHQG show. The proceeds benefit the Susan B. Komen Foundation.

Diehlstadt's quilt frame will be set up for visitors who want to try quilting.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611 ext. 133