The Quilters, 1994, 62″ x 77″.

The Quilters is a contemporary charm quilt depicting Marlene and her friends gathered around a quilting frame. There are 1,428 different fabrics in this quilt collected from quilt shops all over the Midwest! It began her love for facial imagery in quilts.

“When I made the quilt, The Quilters, I knew it would be special because of the images it portrayed of my quilting friends. What I didn’t know, however, was that it would win Best of Show – Wall Quilt at the 1994 NQA Show in Charleston, West Virginia, and make the cover of the magazine! This year (2004) I was invited to display the quilt in Peoria as part of the 35th anniversary celebration. Each time the quilt is shown, some of the ‘cast of characters’ are in attendance, wearing buttons indicating their names and image on the quilt.”

The quilters portrayed on the quilt are from left, around the frame: Catherine England, Susan Hughes, Evelym Carpenter, Meredith Gulstron, Janet Woodruff and Dorothy Sparks. Working on the floor are: Katie Gielow, Earlene Cassidy, and Marlene Woodfield.

The Quilters was featured in The Journal of the National Quilting Association, Inc., Volume 33, Number 3 (2004). Marlene shared this story:

“It was shortly after the NQA show in Bowling Green, Ohio, the idea started to germinate. I had won 1st Place and Judges Reconition for Representational Design on the quilt The Charm of Impressionism. On the way home those of us who attended the show stopped at a restaurant and discussed how I could top my “big” win. After a relaxing flass of wine, I came up with the idea of making a quilt with all of our images on it!

First, I took pictures of everyone in various poses. I put the camera in timer mode to take my own picture. Then, I went to a copy center and enlarged each photo. Using a piece of transparency plastic over the enlargement and a fineline permanent marker, I simply traced each image. I projected the transparencies onto a wall to arrange placement of the images. Then I sketched in the background.

I started with the part of the quilt I loved most – working on each of the women. Everyone had a great time checking the progress of the quilt and, aside from Sue, who thought I should have taken 10 lbs. off of her image, everyone seemed completely satisfied. I hand appliqued everyone in place and then hand quilted the quilt. It includes 1,428 different fabrics and was completed in about 18 months.

To make displaying the quilt fun, I took pictures of the faces on the quilt and added that person’s name to the picture. I took the photos to Walgreen’s and had each picture made into a large pin. This was each person could be recognized as one of the quilters in the quilt.

We had a fun time in Peoria and again posed for pictures with The Quilters as it hung in the special display of past show winners. Seven of the eight remaining quilters were able to be present. Sadly, it hung at Catherine Holland England’s funeral.”

Marlene’s technique used on this quilt was featured in the book, “Faces & Places: Images in Applique” by Charlotte Warr Andersen.

The Quilters was featured in the book, “AMERICAN Quiltmaking, 1970-2000″ by Eleanor Levie. It was included in the chapter on “The Quilting Community: Cameraderie & Communication.”

The Quilters was included in the book, “Great American Quilts 1996“, compiled and edited by Carol L. Newbill and published by Oxmoor House. As Marlene noted in that book, “My designs always have a personal feeling. Sometimes it’s the locale, or maybe imagery of family or friends.”

The Quilters was also featured on the cover of “THE AMERICAN STORY, Volume II: Since 1865” (Second Edition) published by Penguin Academics.

Today, The Quilters is in the permanent collection of the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis, Indiana.

This quilt was highlighted in an article in the Michigan City Beacher by Kim Nowatzke in September 2004. “The Quilters”