Early in 2004, the Blueberry Festival Committee was worried that the tradition of a special quilt raffled off at each Festival might end. The group of Library and Historical Society volunteers who quilted every year had dwindled and finally disbanded. "The Crazy Country Quilters stepped in and saved our tradition," says Susquehanna County Administrator/Librarian Susan Stone. "Thanks to them, we've had seven years of amazing quilts." The quilting group has designed and created a unique quilt each year at no charge. The spectacular designs are displayed in a gallery at the bottom of this article.
This is the last year the Crazy Country Quilters are doing the Blueberry Festival quilt, and they've outdone themselves with a Variegated Nine-Patch pattern. The group assembled in front of the Library in early June to be honored with certificates and pose with this year's quilt.
The Crazy Country Quilters with the 2010 Quilt
sitting: Marie McAvoy, Peg Calby, Ada Hess, Stephanie Stopka, Sue Magnotti
standing: Catherine Novitch, Cathy Probasco, Genevieve Corwin, Miriam
Detwiler, E. Anne Farringer, Jean Rose, Phillipa Follert, Mary Lewis,
Joanne Bledsoe;
not in photo:Barbara Brennan, Ellie Johnson, Lou Petrak
We also thank Mary Ann and Naomi Sue Yoder for their hand-quilting skills, and Joanne Cronk for donating the blueberry fabric.
Another set of volunteers has stepped forward for the 2011 and 2012 quilts, so the tradition is safe for now!
Photo gallery of the Crazy Country Quilters Blueberry Festival quilt patterns, 2004-2010
Before the Crazy Country Quilters took on the task, Phyllis Goodrich was the one who designed and assembled most of the previous quilts. She has made a sampler quilt which showcases the patterns from 1986 to 1995:
Over three decades, the Blueberry Festival has grown from a small event to one of the largest in Susquehanna County; but one thing has never changed, and that's the generosity and support of our community. Phyllis Goodrich, the Crazy Country Quilters, and the countless people who worked on the many gorgeous quilts all get a special round of thanks from the board and staff of the Susquehanna County Historical Society and Free Library Association--and from the lucky winners of each quilt!