The Ogallala Quilt Festival is set for April 9-10 with lots of classes, lectures and other events to enjoy.
Exhibitors and quilters are looking forward to a great festival after last year’s was canceled due to the pandemic and the “Color Remix” theme promises to be the best ever.
This year, Dimmitt Night will be held on April 6 to give the locals a preview firsthand and at no charge from 5:30 to 6:30.
Ogallala members will be honoring Doris Lust’s 100th birthday and her quilts will be placed at various locations around town for viewing. Lust continues to enjoy her quilting hobby.
Featured teach this year will be Susan K. Cleveland from Minnesota. Cleveland’s quilts have received many awards in international competitions since 1997. In 2010, she was named Minnesota Quilter of the Year. Her quilt, Flowered & Feathered Frenzy won first place at AQS Paducah 2017 and first place at IQF Houston 2016. She began a 2-year term on the board of the International Quilt Association in October 2019.
Cleveland invented the Groovin Piping Trimming Tool and the Prairie Pointer pressing tool. In October 2019, she published her 96- page book ‘Dynamic Dresdens.’ The same year, two Dynamic Dresdens Rulers she designed were launched.
Classes by Cleveland will be held on April 8-10 during the festival. Those interested must had pre-registered and have a confirmation to attend. Class registration deadline is March 24.
The festival judge this year is Sherry Massey. Massey began quilting in 1980 and is honored to be Oklahoma’s first NACQJ Certified judge. She is a member of the Edmond Quilt Guild. She is the registrar for the Oklahoma History Center where a collection of more than 400 quilts is housed.
Other events include the Ogallala Awards Dinner on April 8 at the Dimmitt Cafetorium. The is $17 for both the dinner and the program. The program only is $10. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. There will be a Mix & Mingle prior to the dinner from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Reservations are required for the dinner which will begin at 7 p.m. The deadline for reservation is March 24.
Fantastic Friday is scheduled for April 19 at the DHS Cafetorium and will feature the Susan K. Cleveland “My Electric Quilt Pageant.” The OQS Live Quilt Auction will also be held. Dinner and program are $17; program only is $10. Reservations are required. Doors will open at 6 p.m.; dinner begins at 7 p.m. The deadline for reservations is March 24.
Some featured exhibits at the festival will include Quay-Z Quilters at the Senior Citizens Center; featured quilter Wendell Tucker at the Methodist Church; Collage & Color lecture by Meredith Eaton at the DHS Activity Center; Sacred Threads Special Exhibit at the Methodist Church.
Judged quilts at the festival will be in several categories including theme quilts, miniatures, modern, machine embroidery, pieced, applique, mixed technique, wall, art, specialty and challenge and in two groups – professional and amateur.