Ready, set, sew: Entries sought for Extension’s centennial quilt block challenge
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Are you creative and itching to show your Oklahoma pride using a needle, thread and sewing machine? Then the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service’s Quilt Block Challenge is for you.
This year marks Extension’s 100th anniversary of service across the nation and in Oklahoma. The unique challenge is a way to engage people across the state in the celebration, said Recia Garcia, co-chair of the centennial and former family and consumer sciences Northwest District program specialist for Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension.
“Quilts have a long tradition of marking milestones such as marriages, births and friendships and that’s true even today,” Garcia said. “Quilters are good at telling stories using textiles. We hope they’ll participate in this fun project, help us tell Extension’s story and, in the end, create a long-lasting keepsake of Extension’s centennial celebration in Oklahoma.”
The challenge is open to any interested quilter.
Cash prizes will be awarded to the best submissions in each of three needlework categories – embroidered, appliqued and pieced. Entries will be considered for several special awards, as well, such as the OSU President’s Choice, OSU First Cowgirl’s Choice, outstanding originality, outstanding creativity and historical significance.
Voting for another special award, the Online Viewer’s Choice, will begin July 14 and run though August 15. To view photos of entries and pick your favorite, go to www.extension100.okstate.edu.
“The best entries in terms of both workmanship and telling Extension’s story will be incorporated into our official centennial quilt,” Garcia said. “We plan to use the quilt in the fall as a backdrop for the OSU Homecoming parade float highlighting Extension’s centennial. It also will be on display at various venues.”
For a fee of $15 per entry, contestants will receive three fat quarters – one each in black, orange and white. All contest entry fees will go to the Advanced FCS 4-H Scholarship and are tax deductible.
Entries must be 12 inches finished with one-quarter inch seams all around and must include some of each of the provided three fat quarters for fullest consideration. Additional fabrics may be used for designs requiring more than three colors, however, fabrics must be preshrunk and 100 percent cotton.
“We’d like to extend a special thanks to our partner in this centennial project, Sooner Quilts of Guthrie,” Garcia said. “We’re looking forward to seeing thoughtful, clever, creative quilt blocks that highlight our theme of celebrating 100 years of Extension in Oklahoma.”
All entries must be postmarked by July 1.
To download a registration form with additional details, visit www.extension100.okstate.edu, check www.facebook.com\OSUDASNR or contact your local county Extension office.