Column #30
Using Quilts to Spotlight Natural Fibers
The theme for TDA's 2008 competition was "Toast a Rising Star," which highlighted Texas' wine and grape-growing industry. The quilt was designed and constructed by Terri Vogds and quilted by Johanna Iaia, both of Denton. The 2008 quilt sponsors included: Hobbs Bonded Fibers of Waco, Joy's Fabrics & Quilts in Godley, P&B Textiles of Dallas, Tandy Leather Factory in Fort Worth, and the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers' Association. Photo courtesy of the Texas Department of Agriculture.
What do wine grapes, historic ranches, rural community life, kids’ nutrition, and floral plants have in common? They’re all past themes of the Texas Department of Agriculture’s (TDA) biennial Quilt Block Competition. The contest was designed in 1997 to promote Texas’ diverse natural fiber industry, which includes not only cotton and wool, but also leather, cashmere, mohair, and alpaca.
Themes for the contests originate in the TDA’s Marketing and Promotion Division. Then, with the help of sponsoring fiber-related businesses, 100 packets of materials are assembled. Each packet contains Texas-produced natural fibers, at least six of which must be included in the finished block. Contestants can add only three additional fabrics to the provided assortment, but embellishment with pearl cotton, embroidery floss, silk ribbon, or beads is allowed.
The blocks may be an original design or an adaptation of a traditional pattern, and may be pieced, appliquéd, or utilize a combination of both techniques, either by hand or machine. In addition to the pre-determined theme, TDA also specifies the size of the finished block.
“We try not to put too many limitations on contestants’ creativity,” says Mary York, TDA’s State Coordinator for Marketing Campaigns. “After each competition, we are always just amazed by the imagination and talent of the quilters who submit blocks. We’ve had entries from kids to seniors, novices to experts, and both men and women. It has really been popular and so much fun for everyone!”
Packets are given out on a first-come, first-served basis, and out of the 100 entries, 24 finished blocks are chosen by a panel of judges. The winning blocks are then pieced together into a quilt top by Texas quilter Terri Vogds and quilted by volunteers.
The quilt is unveiled with much fanfare in TDA's Food and Fiber Pavilion at the State Fair of Texas in September, with winning contestants in attendance. The quilt becomes a part of TDA's quilt collection and traveling natural fiber exhibit.
The 2010 theme is “Texas Wildlife: Adventure Awaits” and it is intended not only to highlight the state’s abundant wildlife resources but also “to spotlight one of TDA's newest programs, the GO TEXAN Wildlife Initiative, designed to support the businesses and organizations that promote Texas' diverse and extensive wildlife industry,” according to TDA sources.
Although it is too late to enter a block in the 2010 contest, the popularity of the event ensures that there will likely be a new competition in 2012. For more information, see the Texas Department of Agriculture website.
The winners of the 2008 quilt block competition are shown with the completed quilt. The winners are always invited to the unveiling of the quilt in TDA's Food and Fiber Pavilion at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas in September.
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Archived blogs:
Column 78: Ollie Steele Burden’s Quilt Blocks
Column 77: Quilting with AMD
Column 76: Maverick Quilts and Cowgirls
Column 75: The Modern Quilt Guild—Cyberculture Quilting Ramps Up
Column 74: The Membership Quilt—Czech Quilting in Texas
Column 73: Maximum Security Quilts
Column 72: Author: Terri Thayer
Column 71: The Christmas Quilt
Column 70: New Mexico Centennial Quilt
Column 69: Scrub Quilts
Column 68: “Think Pink” Quilt Raises Funds for Rare Cancer Research
Column 67: Righting Old Wrongs.
Column 66: 100 Years, 100 Quilts - More on the Arizona Centennial.
Column 65: Arizona Centennial Quilt Project
Column 64: Capt. John Files Tom’s Family Tree
Column 63: The Fat Quarters
Column 62: Quilt Fiction Author: Clare O’Donohue
Column 61: Louisiana Bicentennial Quilt
Column 60: The Camo Quilt Project.
Column 59: Thread Wit
Column 58: Ralli Quilts
Column 57: Preschool Quilters
Column 56: The Story Quilt
Column 55: Red and Green Quilts
Column 54: On the Trail
Column 53: Quilt Trail Gathering
Column 52: True Confessions: First Quilt
Column 51: Quilted Pages
Column 50: Doll Quilts
Column 49: More Than a Quilt Shop
Column 48: Las Colchas of the Texas-Mexico Border
Column 47: Literary Gifts
Column 46: A Different Way of Seeing
Column 45: Sampling
Column 44: Hen and Chicks
Column 43: A Star Studied Event
Column 42: Shoo
Fly Pattern
Column 41: Awareness Quilts
Column 40: Tivaevae
Column 39: UnOILed UnspOILed Coast Quilt Project
Column 38: Katrina Recovery Quilts
Column 37: Quilted Vermont
Column 36: The Labyrinth Quilt—A Meditative Endeavor
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