Judy Bryan is the winner of the Best of Show award in the 2016 Dolores Mountain Quilters Guild show, held Friday and Saturday at the Dolores Community Center. Linda Towle is the second-place winner.
Bryan’s quilt is titled “Fire Island Hosta,” and Towle’s is “Southwest Memories.” Both quilters live in Cortez. Quilts were judged by the public in six categories.
According to Judith Swain, of the guild, 130 quilts were exhibited, and 722 people attended the show over the two-day biennial event, according to ticket sales.
The winner of the raffled quilt “98 Stars” is Vicky Kuykendall, of Blanding, Utah.
The show included a quilters’ boutique sale featuring reasonably priced fabrics, pin cushions, hot pads, bags, lap quilts, and unique gift items. The items are all handmade by guild members.
Revenue from the raffle and boutique sales goes to public service and nonprofit organizations, including The Piñon Project, the Dolores Fire Department, K-9 Search and Rescue, local schools, Hospice of Montezuma, nursing homes, Social Services, The Nest and Habitat for Humanity.
The event raises between $3,000 and $5,000 every year for local organizations, said Diana Donahue, event organizer and member of the quilters guild. Tallies from this year’s event are expected to become be available this week.
“Our mission is too keep the art of quilting alive and to give back to the community,” Donahue said. “Expect a marvelous variety of quilts at the show.”
The Dolores Mountain Quilters is the largest in the area, boasting 80 to 90 members. In 1998, it had just 13 members.