DESTIN — Hundreds of crafters meandered through the Palms of Destin Resort and Conference Center on Friday morning for the Flying Needles Quilt Guild quilting show.
The Emerald Coast Quilt Retreat & Show is the second show for the public to join the quilters, who have met for their annual retreat for 15 years.
“Quilts are heirloom items that will last for generations,” said Gina Curtis, chairwoman for event. “They’re a piece of art, fabric art that is completely unique.”
View a photo gallery from the show >>
Proceeds from this year’s show will go to fundraising efforts to make Quilts of Valor. The quilts made by guild members are given to troops wounded physically or psychologically through the Quilts of Valor Foundation. Until this year, the money came from guild members’ pockets.
“The quilt show really is a big attraction and for a great cause,” said Rosemary Stark, the show’s coordinator. “There’s several opportunities for the people attending. It’s been above and beyond our expectations of what would happen.”
Organizers said they expect about 1,000 visitors for the show, which continues today.
Vendors were set up throughout the lobby of the Palms, which was filled with visitors taking in nearly 90 quilts displayed in an array of patterns and colors.
“I just started making big quilts, so I’m very interested in the quilts here,” said Eileen Rosheim of Missouri. “I’m looking at the different designs for ideas, although these are much more intricate than I can do. I’m looking for my next pattern.”
Within 30 minutes, Nancy Abbott and Cheryl Fugate said they already had ideas for what they would quilt when they got home.
“The ideas I’m getting are just wonderful,” said Fugate, from Kentucky. “We saw one quilt that used old handkerchiefs. That’s something I would never have thought of.”
Abbott, from Ohio, said she’s been quilting for a few years and was looking to get more detail in her work.
“It just amazes me how they come up with these ideas,” Abbott said as she looked at an intricately sewn quilt with hearts and keys.
“It amazes me that they finish,” Fugate added, laughing.
CHECK IT OUT: The Emerald Coast Quilt Retreat & Show continues from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the Palms of Destin Resort and Conference Center at 4201 Indian Bayou Trial. Admission is $7.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Angel McCurdy at 850-315-4432 or amccurdy@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @AngelMnwfdn.