Annual Quilt Show highlights ‘talented quilters among us’

By Karen Donato-Duff
Staff Writer
    If you missed Houlton’s three-day quilt show during Potato Feast Days you missed a lot. The many members of the quilting community transformed two floors of the Houlton Lodge of Elks into a quilter’s dream world. The dozens of quilts came from far and near to be on display for the hundreds of attendees.
Pioneer Times Photograph/Gloria Austin
THE SETTING — Flowers and furnishings enhanced the quilt display held during Houlton’s Potato Feast Days.
    Along with the quilts were beautiful flower arrangements and furnishings to add to the overall ambience of the show. Several quilting shop owners from Maine brought material and supplies to sell during the event, as well.
    To highlight the event, a reception was held on Friday evening to honor two local quilters, Arline Dickison and Aileen Smith. Their families and friends gathered to enjoy a social time and admire their many years of crafting.
    Karen Gallop, a member of the local quilting guild introduced these special women and gave a history of their passion for quilting and the membership within the quilter’s guild. She commented on the similarity of their names and that it was a bit difficult to keep them straight—she thought maybe if she referred to them as “Dickey and Smitty” it might be easier. Laughter filled the room with that suggestion! The ladies were also honored by comments from their daughters as they spoke lovingly of the many hours and many quilts of comfort made during their childhood.
    In addition to the honored guests, Sieglinde Schoen-Smith, an award-winning quilter and illustrator from Carlisle, Penn. was in attendance. She brought copies of two of her books and was available to autograph them. She was inspired to make a quilt that depicted her favorite childhood book, “Mother Earth and Her Children” by Sibylle von Olfers. It has since won Best in Show at two prestigious quilt shows and was on display during the quilt show here. It took a year and one day from start to finish. She made the quilt as therapy over her son’s death.
    Kim Hazlett shared that Mrs. Shoen-Smith’s parting words said it best, “My son was a special person who always made everyone smile. I notice that my quilt makes everyone smile as well, and when I look in each person’s eyes I see my son’s smile.”
    The quilt show received rave reviews and many stated that the Houlton quilt show rivals the Pine Tree State Quilt Show in Augusta. Quilters came from throughout Maine, New Hampshire and Canada.
Contributed photo
COUNTY QUILT REVISED — Joanne Carpenter of Houlton won first place in the small quilt category with her quilt entitled,  “County Quilt revised”
    The Friends and Needles Quilt Guild has been in existence for over 25 years. The past few years the guild has seen tremendous growth in membership activities, and contributions to the community. Meetings are held monthly from September through June and each meeting involves door prizes, fat quarter raffles, and sometimes — food. Several Saturday workshops are planned this year, and in February they will all join together to support the Project Linus effort on Make a Blanket Day. They have distributed over 600 quilts/blankets to date, to children living in the County.
    If you are interested in joining this group please send a note to Jean Kervin, 976 Calais Road, Hodgdon, ME 04730 to receive a membership form.
    Winners of “Viewers Choice” of the quilt show are: Large Quilts: first place, LouAnn Ritchie for Peace Cranes; second place, Marilyn Prince for Summer Lake Log Cabin; third place, Lauren Harvey for Summer’s End; and Honorable Mention, Tammy Ritchie for Mary’s Quilt.
Contributed photo
FIRST PLACE — Louann Ritchie of New Limerick stands beside her award-winning quilt entitled, “Peace Cranes”.
    Small quilts: first place, Joanne Carpenter for County Quilts revised; second place, Tammy Ritchie for Seasons; third place, Tricia McCarthy for Giraffic Park; and honorable mention, Marilyn Prince for Carpenter Star.