Cheryl Harms of Nebraska City was named the 2024 Heritage Needlework Guild Member of the Year. During her 20 years in the Guild, Cheryl used both wool and cotton to create scores of quilts, wall hangings and throw pillows. Dozens of quilts and wall hangings representing two decades of her needlework will be on special display during this year’s show.
The annual Heritage Needlework Guild’s Quilt and Needlework Show will be held September 20, 21, and 22, in the lower level of the Bethel Church at 2400 Central Avenue, Nebraska City, Nebraska. Show hours are Friday, 4:00-7:00 p.m.; Saturday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; and Sunday, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
If strolling past scores of colorful quilts and amazing needlework is your idea of a fun time, then you need to add this event to your Nebraska City Applejack Festival ‘must do’ list. Browse through the rows upon rows of quilts and needlework items on display. With well over 100 items on display, this is one of the largest quilt and needlework shows in southeast Nebraska.
Over a hundred Guild member-made items will be on display. There will be bed quilts, baby quilts, wall quilts, table runners and toppers, needlework, wearable items and bead work. Quilts made by Guild members throughout the past year at various workshops and member challenge projects will be featured. Think of all the new, creative project ideas you can gather!
Two other big features of this Quilt and Needlework Show are the raffle quilt and the raffle baskets. This year’s raffle quilt measures 90” by 70” and is called “Twinkle Twinkle.” The quilt pattern was designed by Wendy Sheppard, pieced by Margaret Om and machine quilted by Valerie Duncan.
Raffle baskets full of fabric, yarn, pattern books and other ‘sewing goodies’ are assembled by Guild members. These baskets contain a variety of sewing and needlework items, such as fabrics, yarn, pattern books and handy sewing tools. They follow varied themes such as baby, Christmas, Huskers, etc.
Tickets for both raffles are $1 each or seven tickets for $5 and may be purchased at the show. Winning tickets will be drawn at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday and winners will be quickly notified.
Since last year’s addition of selling member-made potholders was such a huge hit, Guild members are busy making more for this year. These make perfect gifts for anyone you know who cooks, bakes or grills, no matter the age. They cover an amazing width of themes and shapes, ranging from sports teams, children-themed, whimsical and elegant. There will be something there to inspire all the cooks in your life, making them great gifts for Christmas, birthdays, bridal showers, hostess, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
This show is handicapped accessible and there is plenty of free parking at Bethel Church. Entry is $5 at the door for the day. There is also an $8 weekend pass available. The money collected from admission, the raffles and potholder sales assists the Guild with its community service projects, such as donations to area food banks and patriotic lap quilts for veterans.
Special Display Focuses on Guild Member of the Year
Cheryl Harms of Nebraska City was named the 2024 Heritage Needlework Guild Member of the Year. During her 20 years in the Guild, Cheryl used both wool and cotton to create scores of quilts, wall hangings and throw pillows. Dozens of quilts and wall hangings representing two decades of her needlework will be on special display during this year’s show.
“I rarely follow a pattern,” Cheryl said. “I like to create my favorite blocks and combine them into quilts.”
Before she became a quilter, Cheryl created crafts out of wood. Cutting out the wooden patterns herself and then using her tole painting skills, Cheryl fashioned scores of wooden wreaths, wall hangings and swags. For over 20 years, Cheryl traveled across the Midwest and sold her creations at dozens of craft shows a year.
In addition to her quilting and crafting, Cheryl was an office manager for a four-partner law firm in Nebraska City for 45 years. Cheryl has two daughters: Tammie Herrington, Lincoln, and Cindy Brandt, Scottsbluff. Both Tammie and Cindy were a huge help to their mom as she pursued her many creative hobbies over the years.
The Heritage Needlework Guild is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to contribute to the growth and knowledge of needlework techniques, textiles, patterns and history by providing educational meetings, travel and fellowship. Their mission is to preserve and promote information about needlework, sponsor and support activities related to needlework, encourage making, collecting, exhibiting and appreciating fine needlework, as well as promoting recreation and friendship for the members.
The Guild invites you to be their guest at a meeting. Meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of each month, except December, at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church at 315 S 16th Street in Nebraska City, Nebraska. Social time begins at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting and presentation begin at 7:00 p.m.
