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Feature article
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‘Sea My Quilt’
By staff report
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Exhibit showcases First Frontier members’ talent
When Angie Cumbow heard the criteria for the First Frontier Quilters of Kingsport’s 2009 Challenge — entries must fit this year’s nautical or aquatic theme and incorporate a piece of the chosen Challenge fabric — she briefly considered stitching a scene from the beach where she visits her niece a couple of times a year.
Instead, she crafted “Fair Seas,” a quilted tribute to her Navy days aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, based in San Diego, Calif.
“I had a picture of the Nimitz cutting through the water, so I tried to make the foamy water on the bow,” Cumbow said. “I even found material that had the [Navy] seal on it.”
Judy Reed opted for a colorful quilt full of fabric fish, reminiscent of her grandchildren’s love of aquariums.
Although Cumbow’s entry wasn’t finished in time for judging, Reed won second place in the professionally quilted category for “Starfish Quilt,” her first attempt at a ribbon in the annual Challenge. Both ladies’ quilts, along with the more than two dozen other entries in this year’s competition, are on display through Nov. 23 in the second floor gallery of the Kingsport Renaissance Center.
Admission is free.
“It really brings out the artistry and shows off the talent in our group,” said John Plutchak, whose own “While Away the Hours” earned him a blue ribbon in the “other” category that includes crib quilts and wearables.
Charter member Velma Frady, who has been quilting since the 1940s, took home the Judge’s Choice award along with first place in the hand-quilted bed quilt category for “My Fantasy Sea World,” featuring mermaids and an original wave border appliqué design.
In the machine quilted bed quilt category, Alice Jewell earned a blue ribbon for the quilt she made to commemorate her son Corey’s graduation from Tennessee Tech University. Jewell found the mariner’s compass pattern in a quilting book, and set about emblazoning each of the windroses with symbols of Corey’s life — an eagle head representing his attainment of the Eagle Scout rank; the Ichthys “Jesus fish” symbol for his involvement in TTU’s Methodist ministries; and tools for his love of building.
“I’ve been in the guild a long time but had moved away for a couple of years so when I came back, I had already started the idea and it happened that they were doing the ‘Sea My Quilt’ theme so I decided to continue working on it,” Jewell said. “I just tried to put different little aspects of his personality that were of interest to him. I just tried to combine it all and make it still fit the theme.”
Second place in the machine quilted category went to Lisa Johnson for her whimsical “Owl and the Pussycat.”
Jean Hanz earned first place in the professionally quilted category for her intricate “Fishy Fantasy,” quilted by Lisa Johnson. Donna Patrick quilted Reed’s second place-winning “Starfish Quilt.” Third place went to “Sail Boats on Watauga” — Sandra Cole’s attempt at capturing the colorful reflections from Northeast Tennessee TVA reservoirs. It was quilted by Pam Sprinkle.
Beulah Rash captured first place in the wall hanging category for her “Outer Banks” quilt. Noreen Poitrast’s “Coriolis Effect” was awarded second place, and Joy Nihil used aquatic fabrics she collected during her years of sailing off the coast of Florida and the Bahamas to create her third-place quilt “Life’s a Bowl of ??”
In the “other” category, Melissa Middleton took home second place for her “Vision of the Sea” matching jacket and tote, and Patsy Hood’s “Looks Fishy” crib quilt won third.
Guests who visit the exhibit are encouraged to vote for their favorite, with the quilt that receives the most votes earning the viewer’s choice award.
The First Frontier Quilters of Kingsport meets at 9:30 a.m., the third Tuesday of each month in the fellowship hall of First Presbyterian Church, 100 Church Circle, Kingsport. Monthly meetings include programs for all skill levels, exchanges, a show and tell and workshops with regional teachers. The group also participates in ongoing community service projects. New members are always welcome.
Call 423-863-3923 or 423-753-9341 for more information.
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First Frontier Quilters of Kingsport’s 2009 Challenge
WHEN: Through Nov. 23
WHERE: Kingsport Renaissance Center’s second-floor gallery
COST: Free
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