Stitchin' Post runs an 'Olympics'

The winners: Vickie Beck, Sally Brittan, Lawry Thorn and Sheena Tucker.

The first annual Stitchin' Post Olympics was held on Tuesday, March 12.

The event was the brain child of Valori Wells. Val has been an inspiration to her fellow employees and quilters since she began a workout regimen last fall.

Knowing what can happen when a person spends their day sitting at a desk or sewing machine, Val has been encouraging her fellow quilting employees to make a habit of spending a few hours each week either walking or working out at the gym. After witnessing the transformations in their mental and physical well being, Val came up with the concept of creating a series of team competitions -- all unbeknownst to the folks at the Stitchin' Post.

All employees of the Stitchin' Post were asked to attend a mandatory 7 a.m. store meeting where they were greeted with a healthy breakfast of bagels, fruit and orange juice. They were then grouped in five teams of four and given the rules of the specific events.

There was a "bundle slalom" where they raced-walked among the bolts of fabric, gathering colored bundles as they went. Speed cutting, bolt lifting and pattern climbing brought out the competitiveness among the groups. The finale was the wrapping relay where teams were given an item to locate in the Wild Hare, gift wrap it and then package it for shipping.

The gold was awarded to the yellow team, consisting of Lawry Thorn, Sally Brittan, Sheena Tucker and Vickie Beck.

The guest judges were Tate Metcalf and Ross Kennedy from the Sisters Athletic Club, along with Barbara Ferguson and John Keenan. The grand prize was a chair massage for each from Cindy Sproat of Angel Kisses.