When Coupeville quilt artist Sharyn Mellors was selected as a semi-finalist in the 2011 American Quilter’s Society’s international Quilt Show and Contest in Peducah, Ky., she didn’t know she should have packed her rubber waders.
Due to high water along the lower Ohio River, events at the show had to be moved from the Paducah-McCracken County Expo and the Julian C. Carroll Convention Center to stores at a local mall and various churches.
Mellors flew south for the show which was held April 27-30.
“My hotel was underwater, too, when I arrived, and instead of the suite that I booked,
I ended up in a real seedy hotel. But that’s what I get for being too uppity, I guess.”
Mellors was accepted into the competition for her quilt “The Announcement,” which she created for the occasion of her grandson’s birth.
“This is a baby quilt for my Grandson Evan,” Mellors said.
“His dad was born and raised in Hawaii, and this was the perfect way to announce the birth of his son. The quilt is all hand appliqué, hand-painted and machine quilted. The Maile leaf lei is inspired by Evan’s older sister Maile. I quilted in turtles, birds, geckos and baby foot prints all over the quilt.”
Although Mellors was among the 350 quilters who didn’t take home any of the cash prizes among the 389 entrants, she was still honored to be there.
“The quilts were amazing because, you know, these are not just your grandmother’s quilts on the bed — these are works of art. It was a wonderful experience,” she added.
Fellow island quilt artist Janet Steadman of Langley was also accepted as a semi-finalist in the contest.
Quilts were entered in the international contest from 45 American states and 15 other countries. The quilt artists employ a wide variety of techniques and design methods ranging from traditional pieced patterns to original painted and embellished motifs.
The American Quilter’s Society hosts four shows annually, each with its own quilt contest.
For more info, visit www.americanquilter.com and Mellors’ web page at www.whidbeystudios.net.
