Best in Sew, Columbia River Gorge Quilt Show Announces Winners
Celebrity Judge Robbie Denning takes a look at quilts entered into the 2021 Columbia River Gorge Quilt Show.
By Cole Goodwin
Columbia River Gorge Quilters’ Guild (CRGQG) has announced the winners of its annual quilt show.
Quilters from around the gorge brought their best work from their sewing tables for judging this year. Competing quilts ranged from traditional block quilts to modern textile art.
Charlotte’s Medallion, by Anne Marie Martin, took best in show, Dirty Daisies, by Doris Nyholm won Judge's Choice, and the Viewer’s Choice award went to First Run, Jean Ludeman by Patricia Sharp, Charlene Opperman, Andi Hobgood, Jean Ludeman, and Darlene McKinney of Hoodland Piecemakers.
Last year the show was virtual due to the pandemic but this year the show was held in person at the Hood River County Fairgrounds on October 8th-9th. Because last year's show was virtual, quilters were allowed to repeat submissions from last year if they desired.
Columbia River Gorge Quilters’ Guild and Beyond the Block kept things interesting this year by also exhibiting several challenge projects done by members of the guild, including Groupscapes and Black & White Plus One.
Groupscapes is the first collaborative challenge by Beyond the Block members. Working independently, both artistically and geographically, groups of four women interpreted a scene from the Columbia River Gorge. Each member of the group worked from the same inspiration photo that had been divided into equal “slices.” The choice of fabrics, techniques, and style was completely up to each artist. The four separate slices were then brought together to create the image.
Black & White Plus One challenged quilters to use only black and white fabric plus one other color of their choice. One artist used the challenge to showcase recent racial justice movements with two pieces titled I Can’t Breathe and Say Their Names.
The show also featured a President’s Thank You Quilt made by CRGQG members who each worked on individual blocks for the quilt and passed the quilt around in secret in order to surprise outgoing Guild President Kim Vogel. Vogel had served as the Guild’s President for six years. Blocks were assembled into a top by Jean Stone and quilting was done by Tomme Fent. The quilt was then presented to Vogel as a surprise during a Zoom meeting in February of 2021. Vogel's husband (who was in on the surprise) brought it out for her to see during the meeting.
The Winners of the 2021 Quilt Show
Charlotte’s Medallion, by Anne Marie Martin
BEST OF SHOW
Charlotte’s Medallion, by Anne Marie Martin - Large and old-fashioned-looking quilts are my favorite to make. And I pleased my husband because his favorite color is blue.
Dirty Daisies, by Doris Nyholm
JUDGE’S CHOICE
Dirty Daisies, by Doris Nyholm - This was my quilt inspired by designs in the book “Stitched Textiles: Flowers.'‘
First Run, by Patricia Sharp, Charlene Opperman, Andi Hobgood, Jean Ludeman, and Darlene McKinney from the Hoodland Piecemakers
VIEWER’S CHOICE
First Run, Jean Ludeman for Five Hoodland Piecemakers - Patricia Sharp, Charlene Opperman, Andi Hobgood, Jean Ludeman, and Darlene McKinney from the Hoodland Piecemakers agreed to replicate, with permission, the original watercolor called First Run painted by Steve Ludeman. The painting is an artist’s interpretation of the ski area at the Historic Timberline Lodge at Mt Hood, Oregon. The painting photograph was enlarged and divided into 5 sections. Each person created their version of a section of the painting. Some fabrics were shared and others were each quilter’s choice. Each person also quilted their own panel. It was a great challenge and reward.
FIRST PLACE WINNERS
Crimson Crown, by Anne Marie Martin
LARGE PIECED
Crimson Crown, by Anne Marie Martin - Hooray! My stash of USO’s (un-started objects) is somewhat lighter!
Dance Like No One is Watching, by Vickie Van Koten
WALL PIECED
Dance Like No One is Watching, by Vickie Van Koten - A celebration of Joy!
Gettysburg Summer, by Elaine Kirby
APPLIQUÉ
Gettysburg Summer, by Elaine Kirby - It took 13 months to appliqué all the flowers, do the embroidery and beading. Then, I spent eight months hand quilting the quilt. While quilting, I listened over and over to The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara, the story of the Civil War battles at Gettysburg, PA. I named the quilt to honor the memory of the thousands and thousands of men who were killed in the battles on July 1, 2, and 3, 1863.
Move Over Lawrence, by Vickie Van Koten
MIXED TECHNIQUE
Move Over Lawrence, by Vickie Van Koten - A trip to Egypt some 40+ years ago gave me the gift of a lifetime journey of study, fascination, and curiosity for all things Egyptian. What a wonderful ride!
Aster Falls, by Doris Nyholm
ART QUILT - REALISTIC
Aster Falls, by Doris Nyholm - As I visit my son on his journey, I discover new inspiration, such as this waterfall from Glacier National Park.
Rhythm Of The Forest by Daera Dobbs
ART QUILT - CONTEMPORARY
Rhythm Of The Forest by Daera Dobbs - Grass Widows are the first of the wildflowers to appear in the Gorge. The basalt cliffs, waterfalls, draws, Ponderosa Pines, and trails on both the north and south sides of the Columbia River are inspirational. Hand-carved stamp, commercial and hand-dyed fabric.
More Photos from the Quilt Show
About Columbia River Gorge Quilters’ Guild
The Columbia River Gorge Quilters’ Guild is a charitable organization started in August 2007, as a means to provide educational opportunities through programs and workshops, hold an annual quilt show in the Columbia River Gorge, encourage and maintain high standards of design and techniques in quilting, and encourage philanthropic quilting for the benefit of the community.
“Our members come from all corners of the Gorge and produce work in every genre of quilting, including traditional, folk, modern, and art quilting. An affiliated group, Beyond The Block: Art Quilters of the Gorge, choose to focus their creative energy on art quilts and are actively exhibiting work at libraries, museums, and galleries, both as a group and as individuals,” said Kathleen Roulet, of Columbia River Gorge Quilters Guild.
The Columbia River Gorge Quilters’ Guild reaches out to quilters on both sides of the Columbia River from Goldendale, Washington, to Portland, Oregon.
