Celebrating 25 years of tradition

Back in 1998, an artisan tradition was launched when a group of industrious ladies met together in Sulphur Springs to establish a quilt guild. Those early efforts will be celebrated Sept. 22-23, during the Lone Star Heritage Quilt Guild’s annual show, themed “Let It Shine.”

Staged at the ROC of First Baptist Church, its location for the past 10 years, the quilt show will allow the Guild’s inventive light to shine with about 200 handmade quilts from vintage to modern, welcoming quilt lovers from across the state and beyond.

Billie Ruth Standbridge and Deanna Hasten are friends who became members of the new guild 25 years ago.

“Our first Guild President, Elise Brewer, was the catalyst for creating a public viewing event,' recalled Hasten. “We’ve held it for over twenty years now and it’s never lost its appeal. In fact, interest continues to grow. Hundreds flock to Sulphur Springs each Autumn to view the quilts and enjoy the demonstrations, the fellowship, and the bonding with other quilt enthusiasts. Old friends meet up and new friends are made, and for some, attending is a family tradition.'

Early efforts to nurture the fledgling show met with success.

Standbridge explained, “The extra effort to ask each visitor where they’d traveled from actually helped us gain funding. We became a 501(c)3, then, applied for and gained grant money through the state of Texas because the event could be proven to promote tourism to our town. We also gained some loyal donors. So, starting with just an idea at first and Elise Brewer’s guidance plus support from the network of quilters across Northeast Texas, we learned the fundamentals of structure and judging, and put those best practices to work from the start.”

Like many of the 60 members, current LSHQ Guild President Laura Teer’s love for quilts and quilting goes back through several generations of her family.

Award-winning husband and wife team Floyd and Wilma Moss will be the Featured Quilters at this year’s show.

Debra Hager, a second- generation quilter, oversees vendors offering fabrics, supplies, and quilts during the two-day show.

Quilt Show coordinator Jo Ella Bryant is a new quilter but volunteered her organizational skills and added new features, including quilts for sale and live country music.

Quilt shows have a unique multi-generational appeal. You’ll see families bringing grandmothers as well as the great-grandchildren to see the homespun history represented in the quilts. Winning entries will display distinctions like 'Mayor's Favorite,’ ‘Best Use of Color,’ ‘Pride of Hopkins County’, ‘Best of Show,’ the ‘Elise Brewer Founder’s Award’ and ‘Viewers’ Choice.’

You’ll see traditional and non-traditional patterns, hand-quilted entries and machine-quilted entries, and a Junior Quilters section made by youth.

Tickets are on sale now for the “Let It Shine” custom raffle quilt. The winning ticket will be drawn at the close of the show on Saturday. Proceeds from raffle are funneled to local nonprofits. Admission to the Quilt Show is $5 per adult per day; children younger than 12 are admitted free. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The ROC is locat-