Quiltin’ U.S.A.
In this semiquincentennial year in American history, quilters and other crafters are turning to patriotic-themed projects. Several members of the Artesia Quilters Guild brought some of their work to the guild’s recent annual retreat at the Artesia Center.
Carol Gutierrez shows some of her red, white, and blue quilt blocks from “Little Blocks America”—a project from Sentimental Stitches. Participants sew a new block every week. Each block is either an official state quilt block or a design that represents something special about that state. Carol is doing the project at the same time as a friend in another state—something quilters enjoy doing.
Vickie Cogar made her flag quilt some years ago. She took up quilting after her husband, Dan, enrolled her in a class in Carlsbad. Then, she heard about the Artesia Quilters Guild and joined soon after it began in the early 2000s. She was made to feel at home. “They were all just super, super sweet,” she recalled. “Great ladies. We help each other.”
Brenda Brunson took up sewing as a little girl. Like many quilters, she used to sew garments. She drew this comparison between the two pastimes: “With quilting, you can create something without fretting over whether it will fit!” She added, “And if you like the sound of the sewing machine—which I do—it’s very calming.”
Shannon Mathews joined the Quilters Guild three years ago. COVID, retirement, and children grown and gone left her looking for things to do. “I think for me it was having a purpose.” And as her quilt output climbed toward the current 55, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren all received quilts as gifts. But Shannon still has 20 at home. “They’re mine.”
Jenifer Hilliard has chosen a more portable hobby—cross stitch. She has been doing it for forty years, and she finds it an effective stress reliever. “It’s a time to tune everything out.” Friends in the quilting group—“Crafting people find each other”—included Jenifer’s patriotic work in this spring’s annual exhibition. It’s a labor of love. “I still tear up when I hear the Star-Spangled Banner.”
Bobbie Neal, whose forte is beadwork, also had items on display at the recent exhibition. She works with tiny beads—one at a time—to create masterpieces in miniature that vary from Christmas stockings to jewelry. And she, too, finds relaxation in her hobby. “This to me is meditative,” she explained. “You have to concentrate so much that nothing else can come in.”
Middle row: Brenda Brunson, Kathy Howard, and Cathy Palmer
Front row: Pat Dugan, Vickie Cogar, and Donna Hammer
Not pictured: Toni Peppard, Renee Guthrie, Kary Ann Angel, and Meredith Cole
Article written by Tim Palmer and originally published in Focus on Artesia 2026 Summer edition.
Tim Palmer
My wife, novelist Catherine Palmer, and I lived in Artesia from 1986 to 1991, while I was editor of the Artesia Daily Press. Cathy’s first three books were published while we were here. We always thought we might come back—we didn’t know it would take 33 years! Cathy continues to write her novels (now #60), and I focus on promoting junior tennis.
