HIGH PRAIRIE “CHALLENGE”

by Barbara Parrish

“Challenge!” The name chosen for this year’s beautiful quilt being created by the High Prairie Needlers. This quilt has given me a new appreciation for all the Needlers do to support the Annual Firehouse Sale. Each year for the past 9 years they have donated a hand-made quilt to be raffled. Last year the quilt brought in around $1,400.00.

“Challenge” is an understatement!! Judi Strait’s daughter found the quilt kit online for $25.00, which is a real bargain considering quilt kits like this one sell for $150.00 or more. Judi and Loretta Lindsey have been most involved in putting the quilt together, with help from many of the other Needlers. So when asked to give the quilt a name, they chose “challenge” because of all the ways it has been so challenging.

The name on the pattern is “Stars on Center Stage” — a beautiful name for a beautiful quilt, except for the challenge of getting it together:

• work has been in progress on the quilt since the first of January
• the instructions for assembling the quilt are not complete, so lots of guessing
• multiple calls and emails to the person who designed the quilt – no answer
• tried her cell phone number – no longer in service
• designer’s company no longer exists
• diagram for assembling stops before instructions for borders are given

So………this is just a small sampling of what’s going on with the quilt for this year’s raffle. Unless you have put a quilt together at some point, you may not be aware of all the time and effort these women put into making their donation to the community each year.

Please check the Community Center to see pictures of the 9 previous years’ quilts. They all represent many, many hours of cutting, sewing, shopping and finishing in time to be displayed at the Goldendale Home & Garden Show, where half of the raffle tickets are sold. Thank you, Needlers for your gift! And a special “thanks” to Linda Daughetee who donates her quilting services each year!