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Two longtime Blue Mound Quilt Guild members will be featured during the group’s annual show from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Hinkly House in Luverne.
Quilts made by Arlene Bendix and Leola Sweeney will cover the main floor of the Hinkly House, and 15 other quilters will have their work displayed throughout the rest of the house.
Arlene Bendix
Arlene Bendix is one of the winners of the Blue Mound Quilt Guild “Quilter of the Year” award for 2022. She has been a longtime member of the Guild.
Arlene has brought her talent of teaching, color expertise, sharing and encouraging to improve members’ quilting skills.
She starting sewing by making her own clothes and over time transferred her skills to quilts. Arlene comes from a family of quilters that included her mother and grandmother.
She has maintained this family tradition by introducing her daughters and granddaughters to the wonderful world of quilting.
Arlene never makes the same pattern twice because there are so many different patterns to try. She enjoys the challenge of choosing colors and piecing patterns to create the impression she wants the quilt to make. She also likes incorporating fabric received as gifts from families and friends.
One of her quilts is displayed in a room at the hospice cottage where it provides a warm and welcoming atmosphere for patients and families.
Arlene also shares her talents with the church in preparing their missionary quilts and other projects.
Leola Sweeney
Leola Sweeney also was named “Quilter of the Year” for 2022. She likes to sew, a talent she learned from her mother, who made most of the clothes and coats for Leola and her siblings.
She has made Cabbage Patch dolls and clothes plus other items for her nieces when they were little and sewed her own garments, especially suits, during her working career.
Leola also enjoys crocheting and tatting and didn’t start quilting until she retired.
Her favorite quilt pattern is the log cabin, and the most challenging has been Native American quilts.
When Leola makes quilts for others, she works with them on selecting the pattern, size and color.
A love of family has inspired her creations, which include baby quilts for great-nieces and nephews and big graduation quilts for her grandchildren.
Almost all of the quilts that Leola has done have been machine-quilted on a regular sewing machine.
Leola joined the Blue Mound Quilters in 2000. She has been president of the organization. She has helped with sewing of the Hospice quilt projects and the pillowcase project.