Antique quilts fill courthouse

By Janice M. Howard / Style Editor for the Southern Standard

The array of vintage quilts on display Sept. 6 and 7 at the sixth annual Antique Quilt Show brought a burst of color to Fairfield Village Courthouse as a opening feature of the Warren County A&L Fair.

All entries were required to have been hand-pieced and hand-quilted prior to 1973, although many were dated from the mid-1800s to 1940s. Information included the approximate date of the heirloom, the name of its present owner and identity of the original quilt maker, if known.

Among outstanding examples of fine stitchery was the entry that won the People’s Choice Award. Claiming the honor this year, Mae Sparkman’s handiwork entered in the embroidery class was sewn in hues of blue with green and lavender on a white background.

Claiming Best of Show honors was the heirloom quilt entered by Sandra Griffith. It had been sewn in the late 1700s or early 1800s by Grandma Teeters and presented as a gift to Griffith’s husband, Bill, by the late Marietta Phifer. The pieced quilt was finished with a homespun lining.

Millie and Fred Clendenon received a blue ribbon in the Friendship quilt class. Embroidered on the quilt pieces were 120 names of residents from the Irving College community. It had been pieced and quilted by Gertie Bess about 1936 or 1939.

Another blue ribbon winner was an unquilted top that was pieced in a postage stamp design. It had previously belonged to Alice Milstead of Viola and was entered by Kevin Lawrence, its current owner.

First, second and third place winners in the various classes were as follows:

Class A – Pieced: Bill and Sandra Griffith, first; Mae Sparkman, second; Dana Griffith, third.

Class B – Appliqu?d: Mae Sparkman, first; Martha Bell, second and third.

Class C – Embroidered: Mae Sparkman, first.

Class D – No entries.

Class E – Unquilted Top: Kevin Lawrence, first; Shirley Nunley, second and third.

Class F – Most Unusual: Bill and Sandra Griffith, first; Theitis Keel, second; Dot Panter. third.

Class G – Friendship: Millie and Fred Clendenon, first; Kevin Lawrence, second; Shirley Nunley, third.

PHOTOS INFO:
Top photo: Chandra Wells, left, and Sandra Griffith accept Best of Show honors from Lena Jones, show chairperson. The heirloom entry belongs to Bill Griffith.

The People’s Choice award goes to Mae Sparkman, accepting a ribbon from Gladys Prater.

Millie Clendenon’s blue ribbon Friendship quilt boasts 120 names of folks from the Irving College community. At left, Reba Jo Newby shows the postage stamp quilt entered by Kevin Lawrence. (Janice M. Howard photos)