By Staff
CASSOPOLIS -- "Kaleidoscope of Stars" is the theme for the 13th annual Home Arts Quilt Block contest at the 2004 Cass County Fair Aug. 2-7.
Sixty quilt kits were sold during the 2003 fair for this year's contest, with approximately 30 to 40 expected to be returned for judging on registration day.
Each year the blocks are designed according to that year's theme and are judged on creativity and workmanship.
Blocks will be on display in the Home Arts section of the Darlene B. Lowe Exhibit Complex during fair week.
Judges from Shipshewana, Ind., select six top winners and 14 honorable mentions for the new quilt, which is then commissioned into an heirloom-quality, queen-size quilt.
Six additional blocks become pillows to be sold through a silent auction during fair week.
All proceeds from the quilt raffle sales and pillow silent auction are dedicated to the Home Arts Department which helped fund the new exhibit complex.
The 2003 quilt, "Beauty of Butterflies" (shown) was won by Natalie Jackson of Decatur.
Winning quilt blocks for the "Beauty of Butterflies" quilt were made by: Sue Knapp, Dowagiac (first); Margaret Owen, Cassopolis (second); Becky Peters, Dowagiac (third); Brandon Knapp, Dowagiac (fourth); Julie Koch, St. Joseph (fifth); and Denise Higley, Edwardsburg (sixth).
Also chosen for the quilt as honorable mentions were: Ursula Barr, Dowagiac; Barb Conrad, Niles; Linda Walsh, Dowagiac; Melanie Davis, Niles; Tracie Davis, South Bend, Ind.; Mary Fosdick, Dowagiac; Linda FunNell, Niles; Kathy Hall, Cassopolis; Diane Houser, Decatur; Joy Kaler, Benton Harbor; Laurine Lawrence, Dowagiac; Pat Nash, Vandalia; Brianne Shields, Dowagiac; and Carolyn Withers, Dowagiac.
Six entires were also chosen for the pillow silent auction and were made by: Dee Kirkpatrick, Niles; Jean Knapp, Dowagiac; Barb Mesko, Cassopolis; Pat Preston, Dowagiac; Jeri Roberson, Niles; and Connie Wittorp, Dowagiac.
Raffle tickets for this year's "Kaleidoscope of Stars" quilt may be purchased during fair week in the Darlene Lowe Exhibit Complex or at the fair office, or prior to the fair by contacting Home Arts Superintendent Mary Schrader at 782-6547.
Tickets cost $1 each or six for $5.
Theme for the 2005 quilt contest is "Autumn Leaves." Kits will be available at the fair office during fair week, Aug. 2-7. Each kit costs $5. The contest is open to anyone in Cass County or any adjacent county.