10/18/2021
We are so excited to have the quilters at the OAC/Fall Craft and Market Festival this year on November 5th and 6th! Make sure you come check them out!
âThe Ouachita Quilt Show â A Tradition Continuesâ
The 39th Ouachita Quilt Show has taken place most years over its nearly 45 years existence. This yearâs show is November 5-6, 2021, in the Education Building at the Polk County Fairgrounds in Mena. The show is open Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. There is a $3.00 admission fee at the door.
There is no cost to enter an item into the show. Get your quilted items ready to take to the fairgrounds on Tuesday, November 2, from noon to 5:00 p.m. (with a pick-up time set for Saturday, 5-6 p.m.). Raffle quilt drawing will be held at the close of Saturdayâs show.
For many years, the Ouachita Quilt Show (OQS) took place during The Lum & Abner Festival but changed to coordinate with the chamber-sponsored Ouachita Arts Celebration (OAC) in the fall. This year, both events move to the education and commercial buildings at the Fairgrounds.
The Nimble Thimble Quilt Guild hosts the quilt show, but the show would not be possible without the sponsorship of the Polk County Extension Homemakers Council which is under the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. The quilt show features quilters from Polk County and surrounding areas with over 100 quilts on display every year. In recent years, a prize committee was developed. Prizes from local and national vendors are awarded and range this year from an EverSewn sewing machine for the âBest in Showâ ribbon winner to gift certificates and quilting notions for first-third place ribbons.
With 32 different categories, every quilter from beginner to experienced has a place to showcase talent and artistry. We look forward to seeing what youâve quilted since the 2019 quilt show. The complete category list is on the Ouachita Quilt Show page or our website menaquiltshow.weebly.com. For the purposes of this show, a quilt or quilted item must have three layers: the top, the backing, and a middle layer â traditionally known as batting. You donât have to be the quilt maker to show a quilt. If you were gifted a quilt when you were a child, got married, etc., you can enter it. There is also a ânot for judgingâ category for antique and vintage quilts.
This year, two vendor booths are scheduled. New this year is Material Girls, a booth featuring a quilterâs stash. Upon retirement from quilting, a local quilter donated her entire fabric stash to the hand quilting Quilt ân Chat group. The fabric was sorted and made into precuts and measured yardage. Donât miss an opportunity to shop this fabulous and exceptional priced fabric, kits, books, and notions collection. Funds from sales in the Material Girls booth will primarily support food insecurity and the local Backpack Program. The Country Store is our Extension Homemakers Councilâs regular booth of handmade items and home baked goods donated by guild and EHC club members. A baby table will include items especially for babies and toddlers. Country Store sales fund EHC projects.
The quilt show is known for its raffle quilt made by Nimble Thimble Quilt Guild members. Raffle ticket sales benefit the Single Parent Scholarship Fund for University of Arkansas Rich Mountain students. Over $20,000 have been donated in the last 10 years for this scholarship. Show your support and buy tickets: one ticket is $1, six for $5, or 20 for $10. Raffle tickets will be on sale at the quilt show November 5-6; you can contact local quilt guild or EHC members for raffle tickets in advance of the show; or visit Polk Countyâs Extension office where you can see the quilt on display at 211 DeQueen Street in Mena.
[See more] https://mypulsenews.com/polk-county-pulse-october-13-2021/
