Camp Sherman hosts its own quilt show

Tonye Phillips and Susan Shaull at work on a quilt during the Camp Sherman show. photo by Conrad Weiler More than 600 people visited Camp Sherman's historic Community Hall for the annual summer Pine Needlers quilt show last Friday, July 9.

Colorful quilts were hung from the rafters, on walls and the loft overhang as locals, out-of-staters and foreign visitors mingled with each other and the quilts throughout the day. Quilt tags described each quilt and told of the love and joy each quilt brought to the maker and other family members.

Dorothy Ellsworth made the "Three Little Pigs" quilt during World War II while awaiting the birth of her son, Michael. She traveled around many Army bases with her husband Russell, finishing the appliqué and embroidery work on her lovely quilt.

Martha Cathcart displayed an outstanding antique "Crazy Quilt" made by Maria Wetherall in 1887. It has been passed down through several Cathcart generations as a family treasure and still displays vibrant colors and well-preserved silk, wool and velvet fabric.

"This is my kind of show and I love the antique quilts," said Patty Best of Alberta, Canada. Her friend Donna-Mae Lovatt, from Edmonton, Alberta, agreed. "I also like the men serving the food inside the hall."

These men were the newly created "Pine Nuts," a group of Pine Needler spouses who volunteered to make and sell the food with proceeds going to the fund for refurbishing the aging Community Hall.

Dressed in new Pine Nuts shirts and caps, they prepared wrap sandwiches, desserts and beverages -- which must have been good as they collected over $900 for their efforts.

Martha Cathcart looks at a sleeping bag quilt. photo by Conrad Weiler

Sylvia Hauser Goerg, of Schenectady, New York exclaimed over Helen Mason's Sun Bonnet Sue quilt: "I love it," she said. "The amount of time she must have put into her effort from fabric purchased in the 1960s."

A group of 20 English ladies rented a bus from Sisters to visit the Camp Sherman show.

"They were so excited to be here and enjoyed the show," said Pine Needler Sue Shaull. "They were in quilting classes most of the week in Sisters and appreciated getting out to our show."

Some of the more intricate quilt works on display were "Stars" done by Carole Vageltag and "Optical Illusions" by Janice Demers.

"I used a special ruler for getting the correct star angles," said Vageltag.

Jake Willoughby displayed her quilt sleeping bag that she uses for granddaughter visits. She has two bags when her four- and six-year-olds visit.

Beth VanCampen displayed her artistry with hats and scarves she had woven. Another colorful creation of hers was a child's red snowflake wool helmet and matching worsted wool sweater.

Marsha Plows was doing a brisk business selling her "Knitter's Knapsack" bags. These were originally used to carry boat props and now carry quilters' materials. She also has a line of carry bags called "Eco Bags" that are recycled feedbags.

Other outstanding quilts were Kathy Bourdage's "American Tribute" in red, white, and blue materials, a "Vintage Basket Quilt" purchased in a flea market by Carole Neal, and Kim Addison's hand-quilted "Cottage Flower Garden."

Afternoon visitors to the show were treated to the gentle guitar music of Doug Phillips wafting among the hall's hanging quilts.

Andrea Balosky, presently studying languages in India, had a quilt up for raffle with money going to SEEDS, a Tibetan relief group offering support for the Dalai Llama. Her bags of fabric were also on sale.

The Pine Needler potholders sold like hotcakes. They served many vistors as a remembrance of the show.

Show proceeds go to support local students and community needs.

This year, $500 Pine Needler scholarships were given to Alan Dale and Bill Young, local Camp Sherman students.