Almost 400 Quilts Featured at Northeast Wyoming Quilt Show

The Northeast Wyoming Quilt Show, held at the Cam-plex Wyoming Center, showcased nearly 400 quilts, drawing visitors and quilting enthusiasts from the region, Gillette News Record reports.

Among the highlights was Maggie Cosner, who displayed her very first quilt, made 37 years ago, as a testament to her quilting journey.

Cosner, the featured quilter at the event, presented over 60 of her creations. She began her quilting adventure in Worland, where, seeking a creative outlet, she enrolled in a quilting class. Reflecting on her journey, she noted that many novice quilters often hesitate to share their work, yet for her, those early quilts symbolize significant milestones in her development as a quilter.

“I brought a lot of my first quilts, where I first learned a certain technique,” Cosner said.

In total, 388 quilts were on display at the show, offering a glimpse into the diverse talents of quilters. Di Wilsey Geer from the Wyoming State Quilt Guild emphasized the value of such events, stating that they inspire creativity and highlight the possibilities within the quilting community.

“It just opens up the senses of what is available and what people are capable of doing… You’re just in awe, look at the opportunities,” she said.

Among the unique pieces exhibited was a quilt made from a woman’s uncle’s navy uniforms, as well as quilted shoes and matching earrings. One particularly creative entry featured a QR code that linked to a YouTube music video.

Rebecca Cates showcased a National Parks quilt, crafted from fabric panels given to her by her mother-in-law on her first wedding anniversary. The quilt features iconic parks like Zion, Bryce Canyon, the Grand Canyon, and Arches National Park at its center, with additional parks along the edges.

Shannon Bothwell, a young quilter from Wright, displayed a cupcake quilt inspired by her aspiration to become a baker. She started this project at age eight and completed it shortly after turning nine.

A young boy from Rapid City, South Dakota, presented a quilt composed of black, white, and gray squares, inspired by a famous photograph of Albert Einstein. His graphic designer mother helped him pixelate the image and determine the placement of the colors. He noted that the project took him two years to complete.

As attendees walked through the quilt show, many shared their personal quilting stories. Blanca Fare was inspired to start quilting after observing Officer and another friend working on a project at church. While Officer finds inspiration at the show, Fare admitted to feeling anxious about the fabric projects she has waiting at home.

“I think of all the fabric I have at my own house that I need to be working on,” she said.