The 22nd annual Grant County Quilt Show was May 5-6, 2023, in the Trowbridge Pavilion at the Grant County Fairgrounds in John Day. This year’s event is May 31-June 1.

JOHN DAY — “One piece at a time” isn’t just a line from a Johnny Cash song.

It’s also how quilters build their masterpieces. And it’s that time of year when the Grant County Piecemakers Quilt Guild stitches together its popular show featuring masterful fabric works of art.

This year’s two-day extravaganza will be Friday and Saturday, May 31 and June 1, in Trowbridge Pavilion at the Grant County Fairgrounds in John Day.

Hours for the event are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is $3 per person, good for both days, or $5 for two people — so, bring a friend.

Anyone interested in displaying quilts at the show can bring them to the pavilion from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, May 30.

In addition to a palette of colors and patterns filling the spacious pavilion, attendees will be treated to a wide variety of vendors with goods for sale, demonstrations and more. Bare Bones of John Day will be on hand with a food cart, offering a selection of menu items throughout the show.

A “best of show” prize will be awarded each day, as well as random drawings for visitors and a prize for “Best Oregon Trail Quilt Challenge.”

The event’s workshop will be Sunday, June 2, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., also in Trowbridge Pavilion. The subject this year is Laura Heine’s “Teeny Tiny Collage #5,” taught by Laura Heine certified teacher Joy Helfrich, of Boring. The cost is $65 per person, which includes the $40 workshop fee, the $25 pattern, plus a soup lunch. And there will be even more prizes during the workshop.

The popular event began in 1999.

“We are very excited not only to see all the beautiful quilts at the show but to see and visit with all the beautiful people who come,” said Karen Hinton, guild president. “This is a social event as well as it is an art show.”

According to Hinton, the Grant County Piecemakers Quilt Guild was formed 13 years ago. In addition to the annual quilt show, the nonprofit group holds a yearly Quilt of Valor award luncheon — Hinton said they present 30 quilts to Grant County veterans each year. An elk quilt and a sizeable bird-themed basket will also be raffled at the Quilt of Valor giveaway, which will be Aug. 3. Tickets for both will be sold at the quilt show.

In addition to those events, guild members keep their needles and sewing machines busy all year long stitching up quilts for those in need, newborns at Blue Mountain Hospital, lap quilts for the elderly and many more local causes.

The guild meets at Shiny Thimble Quilt Studio, 100 E. Main St. in Mt. Vernon at 1 p.m. on the first Friday of the month.

“We invite anyone interested in joining to come and check us out,” Hinton said.

For more information about the show or to sign up for the workshop, call Hinton at 541-620-0120, Ersela Dehiya at 541-620-4475, Shiny Thimble at 541-932-4111 or email gcpiecemakers@gmail.com.