A group enjoys browsing through the 17th annual Grant County Quilt Show.

Visitors from near and far admired the workmanship shown in 101 quilts on display in John Day at the 17th annual Grant County Quilt Show.

The exhibition is presented by the Grant County Piecemakers Quilting Guild with a lot of volunteer help, said guild president Karen Hinton.

She noted several volunteers who are not guild members also assisted with the show, including Ferguson Surveying staff, which set up the display frames.

Guild member Dotty Parsons said she heard people saying it’s a top-notch quilt show.

“The variety was awesome,” she added. “I’ve heard some nice feedback.”

“It is really nice to see how the quilters come together,” Hinton said.

And it’s all for a good cause.

Along with the quilt displays, artwork was also exhibited, and vendors had booths with fabric and other sewing items, jewelry and more for sale.

The guild uses proceeds from the show to further their work in the community, including giving quilts for babies born at Blue Mountain Hospital and for victims of house fires. They also give quilts for raffles to support cancer patients, rodeo queens and other needs in the community.

People’s Choice winner was Faith Hundley of John Day who created a quilt out of heirloom items, such as a World War II parachute, a wedding dress and pillowcases from her grandmothers and aunts.

Second-place winner was Cheryl Ringering of Hamilton with a warm-toned star quilt.

Youth also showed their creativity at the show with a home-schooled sophomore entering a quilt and Hinton’s 4-H sewing group entering projects in the Crayon Color Challenge where each entrant creates a small quilt based on a randomly selected color.

Guest quilting instructor Maggie Ball of Bainsbridge Island, Washington, taught workshops, showing techniques from her book “Bargello Quilts with a Twist,” using quilting squares in a variety of patterns.