Desert Quilters of Nevada to hold show today

Craftswomen will enter 200 creations for judging, sale, viewing

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The traditional creativity and sense of craftsmanship is there, but modern quilting has come a long way.

"These are not your grandmother's quilts," said Ann Mullard-Pugh, a Las Vegas resident and avid quilter.

Mullard-Pugh is organizing the Desert Quilters of Nevada 2006 Quilt Show, opening today at the Henderson Convention Center, 200 S. Water St.

The 250 quilts in the show come in all shapes and sizes, from small wall hangings to large king-sized quilts.

Quilts will be judged in 34 categories for different criteria.

The show is really not a sales opportunity, although some quilters may be willing to sell their quilts on an individual basis, and there will be about 30 vendors at the show selling quilting supplies.

"It's just a whole quilting community get-together," said Desert Quilters of Nevada President Marge King.

Local Carolyn McKelvie was selected to be the show's featured quilter, meaning a collection of her work will be prominently displayed.

King said McKelvie is very well known for her creativity.

Each year the group issues challenges to its quilters and McKelvie always makes great quilts in response, King said.

McKelvie's quilts are often featured in national magazines.

One of her early quilts was made entirely of socks.

She is known for more artistic quilts as opposed to the more traditional style.

King said Desert Quilters of Nevada lets quilters focus on whatever type of work they enjoy.

The organization is divided into 18 different quilting circles or smaller groups, which meet at various times, sometimes on a weekly basis. Some groups have themes and some are open to any kind of quilting.

The overall group, with about 400 members, meets about four times each year for a presentation. Expert quilters talk about trends and new methods and materials.

"Quilts are not static," Mullard-Pugh said.

Two big trends right now are quilted table coverings and the use of photos in quilts.

Many people are giving or receiving quilts for special occasions that incorporate photos that have been transferred to fabric.

There are quilts that feature photos of ancestors or photos of a marriage, for instance.

Embellishment is also a popular trend.

Many quilts feature three-dimensional elements like beads and silk flowers.

There are no limits, especially since many quilts are created strictly for the artistic value, not for durability.

"Most quilts nowadays are not bed quilts. We sleep under duvets and feather beds," Mullard-Pugh said.

Mullard-Pugh has countless creative quilts at her home. She participates in various online quilting groups that issue challenges from time to time. Members are asked to quilt themes or topics.

For one challenge Mullard-Pugh was asked to quilt the question, "Why can't we all just get along?"

She created a puzzle of more than 90 fabric pieces. Each piece has the word "peace" written on it in a different language. The quilt features the puzzle partially assembled.

One challenge required club members to create a quilt, using colored staples. It's a long way from the patterns of stars and shapes done by most quilters' ancestors.

"A lot of my stuff has a message or a real good story to go with it, but a lot of people just love to make beautiful quilts. There's something for everyone," Mullard-Pugh said.

Ironically, older members of Desert Quilters are often the most eager for new trends, she said.

"Some of the younger ones are more traditional than the older ones," Mullard-Pugh said. "The older ones do very, very wild quilts."

There are plenty of people who love the more traditional quilts. They quilt the patterns that were quilted centuries ago.

One tradition that is fading is the perception that the craft is just for women.

Women are still an overwhelming majority, but men are taking up quilting more and more.

A male quilter, Anthony Ratola, won the Best in Show award at last year's event.

Another trend is moving away from hand-quilting.

"No one has time to do everything by hand. Almost everything is done by machine, but the machines now are just really good," Mullard-Pugh said.

And using a machine does not mean the creativity or skill is taken out of the process.

Quilters still have to guide the fabric through the machine to get the pattern they want.

They also have to come up with the concept in the first place and cut it out.

"I think if you asked most quilters if they are artistic, they'd say no, but it is an art form," Mullard-Pugh said.

The Quilt Show is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

On Saturday there also will be a fashion show at 10:30 a.m. and a miniature auction at 1:30 p.m.

Admission is $6 per day or $12 for three days.

King said there was a time when Desert Quilters members considered getting rid of the show, but she is glad they did not.

Both quilters and nonquilters will enjoy it, she said.

"I think it's a great big ball," she said.

Membership in Desert Quilters is open to anyone who is interested in quilt making. Annual dues are $20.

For more information, call 269-1519 or log on to www.desertquiltersofnevada.org.