Wanted: Texas Quilters to Showcase Their Talents (3/1/2016)

AUSTIN - Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is encouraging quilters from across the Lone Star State to participate in the Texas Department of Agriculture’s (TDA) 2016 Quilt Block Competition. This year’s quilt competition theme is Texas Wine and Floral – Two Texas Treasures. This theme was chosen to celebrate two shining industries in the Lone Star State that complement each other beautifully. 

“The best things in life spring from the Texas earth,” Commissioner Miller said. “The same rich Texas soil that gives birth to the wine grape brings to life a wide array of colorful Texas plants. When you pair these two Texas treasures together, you will make the ultimate Lone Star statement.”

As in previous years, each contestant will use a variety of fabrics to create a quilt block to submit to TDA. A panel of judges will select the winning entries, which will be pieced together into a quilt and unveiled in September at TDA’s Food and Fiber Pavilion at the 2016 State Fair of Texas. At the conclusion of the State Fair, the quilt will become part of TDA’s popular quilt collection.

This year’s contest sponsors include Hobbs Bonded Fibers of Waco, Tandy Leather Factory of Fort Worth and “designs by tana” of Crowley. The final quilt will be designed and constructed by Terri Vogds of Denton and quilted by Maria Hall of Flower Mound.

There is a $20 fee for each participant packet, which includes the fabrics to be used in the design, tips and techniques for developing the block and additional information about the contest theme.

A limited number of participant packets are available. To participate in the 2016 quilt block competition, email GOTEXAN@TexasAgriculture.gov or download a participant form by visiting the TDA Quilt Collection page on gotexan.org.

The deadline for submissions is June 10, 2016.