On May 8th and 9th, I had the pleasure of judging for the Rogue Valley Piecemakers in Grants Pass, Oregon for the first time. Members submitted over 200 quilts–a healthy number–in 19 categories. Best of show was created by Yvonne Cook, a master quilter whose work I have met before. In April 2016, I awarded Yvonne’s quilt, “Hearts and Hands,” the National Association of Certified Judges’ Award of Merit at the Umpqua Valley Quilters’ Guild show in Roseburg.
Cathy Penland, guild chair, and Susan Tresner, show chair, took me to Jordan Fabrics on the way to the airport. Who should be there but Yvonne buying some batiks for a quilt for her daughter. I was delighted to meet Yvonne in person recalling her NACQJ Award of Merit quilt, and because I had just judged her Best of Show winner. However, the show hadn’t opened and the winners were to be surprised. Everyone who assisted during judging was sworn to keep results confidential, and I almost let Yvonne’s win slip out. I stopped myself at the last moment and changed what I said into something else. Whew! I’m not sure how I would have ever lived that down.
Here’s Yvonne at the show in front of her prize-winning quilt.
Yvonne Cook, Best of Show, 2017 Rogue Valley Piecemakers
Here are Susan and Cathy respectively at the quilt shop.
Susan Tresner, show chair and Cathy Penland, guild president
Jordan Fabrics has a deep supply of batiks, specializes in pre-cut table runners, and is amassing a collection of toy sewing machines–all a good reason to visit the shop. Cathy and Susan remarked how lucky they were to have such a great local quilt shop.
