Quilt show a 'special' event

Event continues Sunday

By Sarah Reinecke, Journal staff | Sunday, June 15, 2008

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Francine Dodson says she is too old to serve in the military anymore, but she has found another way to serve and support the troops.

Dodson, of Denham Springs, La., makes patriotic quilts, which are then sent to people who have served and were injured. She said there are different sizes to choose from; the only guide is that a quilt must be red, white and blue, but she can use a design of her choice.

"Then, they are given the quilt and hundreds of women across the United States are doing it," Dodson said.

"I teach American history, so it makes me feel awesome. It makes me feel good that I can return something."

Dodson, who has been quilting for 20 years attended the Black Hills Quilters Guild's 34th annual quilt show Saturday.

The show started Friday and ends at 4 p.m. today. Carol Doyle, registration chairwoman, said nearly 600 quilts were on display in Rushmore Hall at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, and there were 20 vendors. Doyle said she expected about 1,000 people to attend the show and said people there are tourists and out-of-town visitors.

There are quilts on display from the Rapid City area, North Dakota, Nebraska and other states throughout the country, Doyle said.

Many quilts were made by members of the Black Hills Quilters Guild, but Doyle said anybody can display their quilts.

"We encourage nonmembers to show their quilts, I think that's what makes our show special, because we have such variety."

Some quilts are on sale by members of the Black Hills Quilters Guild, and there are also quilts for sale for the Guild's charity, "Project Warmth." All proceeds from that sale will go back into buying materials to make charity quilts.

One visitor to the show, Gordon White, drank a cup of coffee while his wife wandered.

White said he and his wife are on their way to an international Airstream travel trailer rally in Bozeman, Mont., and his wife heard about the quilt show, so they decided to go.

"We also travel from quilt shop to quilt shop so my wife can buy fabric," White said. "Wherever we are traveling, we find fabric shops, quilt shops."

His wife started quilting about 10 years ago, and White said he has "resisted the urge to pick up a cutter and start making a quilt."

Even though White admits he doesn't have the eye for color that his wife does, he enjoys being along for the ride and seeing the quilts and the shops.

"Some guys apparently grouch at their wives every time they want to stop, but I don't," White said.

"We meet interesting people. There are no two quilt shops the same, so it's kind of fascinating for me to be along and watch and see."