Cabin Fever Quilting exhibit on display

“We only had about 12 people when we first started. I'm one of the charter members. Some have passed away, and others have left. We've never had a male member, but they would sure be welcome,” laughed Sherrill Christensen, with the Cabin Fever Quilters.

“Our quilt shows started in the early 2000s and our first couple of quilt shows were held in the building across from the Quonset hut building on school property (in Superior). Not too many quilts to start with,” she continued, but today, their quilt show is a hefty draw for the Mineral County Fair.

Susan Charles is the chairperson of the exhibit again this year and enthused as always with what she knows will be displayed.

“I don’t have all the registrations in as yet, but we average just over 100 entries each year and this means approximately 40 ladies enter newly made quilts for the public to view.”

As the event has continued to grow, it has moved to the multi-purpose room in the Superior High School and is free and open to the public Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.. Visitors will see many with sale tags on them and buyers can complete the transaction at their Country Store in the building by cash or check. Raffle tickets for a quilt made by the guild are $1 each or 6 for $5 and the drawing will be soon after closing on Saturday.

Every year, the Quilt Guild features a standout quilter and this year it is Mary Foley, who is 95 years old but didn’t start quilting until she was 80. However, her hand-to-eye coordination was developed years ago when she received her first sewing machine at the age of 15 which was a surprise gift from her father.

“I started sewing my own clothes. Then I sewed for some family members and friends,” she shares. “I even modeled some of them when we lived in Los Angeles.”

Mary's daughter Patty Schiller (maiden name Shaffer) surprised her by arranging a set of quilting classes and she became hooked and has been an avid quilter ever since. Mary was born on Feb. 20, 1927, in the old General Hospital in downtown Los Angeles. Her parents retired in Superior, and she has three children, three grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Her principal interest has always been her children and she has sewn their clothes and her own square-dancing outfits.

“I believe her biggest (sewing) project was my wedding dress,” said Schiller. “That was in 1968 at the Catholic Church (St. Mary Queen of Heaven) on 2nd Avenue. It was so beautiful and all of the lace work was done by hand. The veil, too,” she remembered.

Mary's current sewing machine, on which she has sewn all of her quilts, is a Sears Kenmore that she bought third hand for $80 which indicates that if you want to start quilting, you may do so on a minimal budget.

The Cabin Fever Quilting Guild is known for their generosity in giving quilts to families in need in Mineral County, especially after a disaster that destroys most of their belongings, and to every veteran who served in the armed forces.

“We welcome all quilters to our guild as we have all levels of expertise, from new to quilting to wanting to learn new and different techniques,” said Charles.

“People who have quilted for many years and people who are just now purchasing a machine and want to learn. We have members who have owned their own quilt shops and members who had never pieced a single quilt block, until joining! The friendships formed with ‘sew days’ where we gather are lifelong while we sew on our Individual projects. Now and then we have classes where a guest teacher gives us ideas and new techniques to try. We even offer a retreat on Flathead Lake and sew for a couple of days having no other responsibilities."

Questions can be answered by calling Pat (406) 864 -2128 in Alberton. Peggy (406) 382-0322 in Superior or Susan (406) 396-4731 in DeBorgia.