Although the weather outside was threatening with overcast skies and predicted snow, a large number of quilting enthusiasts came out recently to support the McCords Crossroads Homemakers quilt show held in the McCords Firehall

Club president, Odessa Rogers, reports, “Our 11th quilt show was a big success.

We are grateful to have the community come out for fellowship and to view the display of beautiful quilts. This was our first attempt at hosting the show at this time of year. The club voted to move the quilt show date from the traditional fall festival weekend, due to the number of activities normally scheduled in October. We selected the first Saturday in March for the quilt show, but the date proved to be a challenge for the local firemen who had to secure housing for the valuable fire trucks to protect them from the cold temperatures. The firemen went over and beyond the call to help make the fire hall a comfortable place to hold our quilt show.”

The homemakers were pleased to have several first-time exhibitors in the show. Among the first-time exhibitors was Sheila Richardson Mobley of the Noah community who entered lovely quilts made by her grandmother Pearl Tucker Richardson. Also, Norine Garmon from Centre entered a beautiful “lone star” quilt that was made by Amanda Abernathy Jordan, the grandmother of Norine’s late husband, John Arthur Garmon. Kathryn Smith of Polk County, GA entered several quilts. One of which was the “Southern Belle” design that she hand appliqued as a teenager in the 1950s! Sisters Denise Garner and Glenda Couey of Centre, who are carrying on the quilting tradition handed down from their mother and grandmothers, entered several pieces of their work in the competition.

Linda Headrick of the Cowan Creek community was another newcomer to the McCords show. Mrs. Headrick’s large quilt of more than 150 four-inch squares, all in a different pattern, won the sought after Ona Mae Hester People’s Choice award. Her award winner titled “Dear Jane” is a replica of a quilt made by Jane Stickle during the Civil War and was a two-year project for Mrs. Headrick who manages to devote several hours each day to her quilting art.

Helen and Tommy Singleton traveled from Utica, MS to enter their outstanding quilts in the show. Tommy’s appliquéd farm scene quilt, as well as Helen’s hand pieced and hand quilted gold and cream colored “Cheese and Crackers” design were each contenders in the people’s choice award. The Singletons took advantage of the quilt show date to enjoy a weekend visit to Cherokee County with Helen’s sister and brother-in-law, Sandra and Dewey Moss of the McCords community.

Judy Odom’s white-on-white quilt made from antique ladies handkerchiefs and Janet Messer’s colorful quilt made from folded hankies to resemble butterflies were both admired by the visitors.

Linda Moore of the Bay Springs community, a long-time supporter of the quilt show, came away again this year with first place awards in hand quilting for her “vine and flowers” design and in hand appliqué for her quilt titled “butterflies.”

Mentioned above is only a sampling of the beautiful works of art in this year’s show. With the variety of attractive and unusual quilts in the competition, the judges had to make tough decisions to name winners in each of the categories. Winners in the quilt show competition are:

· HAND QUILTED: First place, Linda Moore; second place, Linda Headrick; third place, Helen Singleton.

· MACHINE QUILTED: First place, Sandra and Dewey Moss; second place, Linda Moore.

· HAND APPLIQUED: First place, Linda Moore, second place, Sheila Mobley; third place, Janet Messer.

· HERITAGE QUILTS: First place, Norine Garmon; second place, Linda Moore; third place, Sheila Mobley.

· EMBROIDERED QUILTS: First place, Sheila Mobley; second place, Ona Mae Hester.

· CHEATERS QUILTS: First place, Sheila Mobley; second place, Aubrey Ray; third place, Christa McDaniel.

· BABY QUILTS: First place, Linda Headrick; second place, McCords Homemakers; third place, Judy Odom.

· MISCELLANEOUS: First place, Linda Headrick; second place, Linda Moore; third place, Judy Odom.

At the conclusion of the show, Jan Purcell of Cedartown, GA, won the beautiful pink and green rag quilt that was made by Sandra and Dewey Moss of the McCords community.

The McCords Crossroads Homemakers meet the second Tuesday of each month at the former Hopewell church building on County Road 16. Anyone interested in the homemakers club and their projects is welcome to attend. Contact club president Odessa Rogers at 256-475-3417 for more information.