The Sunriver Resort Lodge Betty Gray Gallery presents quilts by a group representing the Mountain Meadow Quilters (MMQ) with designs honoring the late Judy Hopkins, renowned quilter, lecturer, teacher and author.
The show run until May 15, following Mother’s Day. The quilters and members of Hopkins’ family will be present at the public reception in their honor on Saturday, April 19 (Easter weekend) from 4–6pm in the gallery.
Hopkins, a 58 year resident of Juneau, Alaska, began her full-time quilting career in 1986 after winning the Alaska state Great American Quilt Contest with her Liberty entry. A quilter for many years prior to this honor, the recognition encouraged her pursuit of a 25 year history including 21 design and pattern books, 600 quilt block patterns, tools for quilting and quilt-themed jewelry.
The Big Book of Patchwork, 50 Fabulous Quilts from Judy Hopkins (Martingale), is one of her three bestselling titles (with combined sales of over 550,000 copies).
In recognition of Hopkins and her passion for quilting plus the honorary title of Queen of Quilting Blocks, Martingale created The Best of Judy Hopkins: 365 Quilt-Block Patterns Perpetual Calendar. Her best known work, the three volume Around the Block series, provided the 366 (including leap year) designs and cutting instructions for blocks featured in the calendar.
In addition to the award-winning Liberty quilt and others completed by Hopkins and generously loaned by her family, some 18 additional, unfinished quilts from the artist’s studio, gifted to Sarah Kaufman and thereafter to Mountain Meadows Quilters, appear in the exhibition. Fondly titled UFOs, (Unfinished Objects), these quilts, in various states of completion (some directions for a quilt, fabrics quilt ready, some blocks, some partially made quilts), were given to 13 guild members to finish in their own individual style and interpretation. Most of these quilts will be offered for sale, with proceeds to Mountain Meadow Quilters for charity quilt endeavors and other MMQ projects.
Mountain Meadow Quilters participating in creating/finishing the quilts include Cate Brooks, Ardie Daniels, Janet Gehlert, Judy Johnson, Sarah Kaufman, Mary Klein, Barbara Lowrey, Pat Pease, Kathy Peters, Joan Santoro, Linda Saukkonen, Pam Morris Stendal and Hopkin’s friend, Leta Winston of Lake Oswego. MMQ meets monthly and welcomes visitors and new members. Please see www.mountainmeadowquilters.org to learn more.
Sunriver Resort invites the public to the exhibition and the Judy Hopkins Quilt reception at the Lodge, open all hours. Billye Turner, art consultant, 503-780-2828.
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