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Quilter's Newsletter Magazine and the International Quilt Festival, along with Quiltmaker and McCall's Quilting, joined forces to go on a treasure hunt for the 100 best quilts of the twentieth century. The quest became known as "The Ultimate Quilt Search."
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Invited to nominate the more than 30 judges who made the selections were four not-for-profit quilt organizations: The Alliance for American Quilts, the American Quilt Study Group, the International Quilt Association, and the National Quilting Association. The resulting panel of experts considered many thousands of American quilts, from miniatures to works that blanket football fields, individual efforts to those by large groups, traditional to experimental works--in essence, any quilt they considered to have contributed to and elevated the art of quilting.
During the selection process, the spokespersons for each of the four organizations expressed pleasure at being involved in the task. Shelly Zegart, co-founder of The Alliance for American Quilts, Inc., said, "What a privilege to examine the rich and diverse history of quilting in this century! Each participant on the panel will lend their own knowledge and energy to the project."
"I feel fortunate to have seen so many of these quilts with my own eyes," added Carol Butzke, board liaison for the National Quilting Association, Inc. "Some may not meet today's standards of excellence, but they do reflect an impact on the quilting timeline." "Our group is truly honored, " commented Sara Dillow, president of the American Quilt Study Group, "to be represented on this prestigious panel which has been charged with nominating, evaluating, and selecting the most outstanding quilts of the century. It is a most challenging and humbling task. "
President of the International Quilt Association Georgia Bonesteel concurred, adding, "Evaluating our past quilts leads us into the future with such hope and encouragement. This will not be an easy task, but so rewarding in the end to see the accomplishments of our hands and minds over the years. "
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