26th Annual Azalea Quilt Show slated for March 30-31

Having a Tea Party is the theme for the Quilters' Guild of East Texas' 26th annual Azalea Quilt Show to be held Friday and Saturday, March 30 and 31, 10am-5pm both days, at the Harvey Convention Center in Tyler.

The judged show will exhibit approximately 200 quilts hung for viewing, featuring old and new quilts, contemporary and traditional designs.

The show will also include: Invitational Exhibits by Hazel Canny of Houston; Ruth Ward of Nacogdoches and Keepsake Quilting Challenge; Special Exhibits by the East Texas Applique Society; Hooked Rugs & Quilts; Black & White Challenge; and the Round Robin Challenge; Merchant Mall of 26 vendors from Texas and Oklahoma; quilt demonstrations and lectures daily; Bed turning from 11 to 2pm; Quilted Wearables and much more.

Hazel Canny Invitational Exhibit

Hazel made her first quilt in 1971. It was an applique full size child's quilt. In 1986 Hazel began making whole cloth quilts in which she designed the pattern herself. She only hand quilts using a 14-inch round hoop. Hazel has won many awards with her quilts over the years. During the past 15 years Hazel has been exhibiting at the IQA quilt show in Houston, Texas and has won a ribbon every year in the Merit Quilting-Hand category.

Ruth Ward Invitational Exhibit

In 1976 Ruth moved to Nacogdoches after the death of her husband to be near her two sons. She then worked for many years in her son Jim's veterinary clinic. Her hobbies had always been knitting, crochet and reading until she volunteered to help at the Nacogdoches Treatment Center for Alzheimer's patients.

In 2000 at the age of 85, Ms Ruth, as she is known, learned to quilt by hand. She used the book "The Perfect Stitch" by Roxanne McElroy as well as help from her Nacogdoches guild friends and quilters from the Treatment Center.

In the past six years Ms. Ruth has made 20 large quilts, 6 baby quilts, 15 flannel throws and Rag quilts. The three quilts on display are just a sampling of her work. Let Ms. Ruth be an inspiration to everyone that it is never too late to learn something new.

Keepsake Quilting Challenge

This challenge collection consists of 20 30" x 30" first and second place winning quilts from ten of the past challenge contests. To participate in the challenge the participant was required to purchase the collection of fabrics for the said challenge and stay within the guidelines issued for that particular challenge. The quilts were then mailed to Keepsake Quilting and a panel of pre-selected judges viewed and made their determinations of the winners. What creativity and imagination some of the winners had.

The show is open to the public. Admission to the show is Adults/$5, Seniors (over 65) and Children 6-12/ $4.

The Harvey Convention Center's South Entrance is located at 2000 W. Front St., (Hwy. 31) at the East Texas Fairgrounds, in Tyler.