The Calico Quilters delivered a vibrant showcase of skill and storytelling during this year’s Waterfest Quilt Show. Held in the historic Hall of Waters, the exhibit featured dozens of quilts stitched by local artisans.
The show was judged across multiple categories, and top honors were awarded to standout pieces that combined creativity, technical excellence, and heartfelt stories. Here are the 2025 results and the remarkable quilts behind them.
Among the vivid colors, intricate patterns, and heartfelt stories on display, one quilt stood out in magical fashion. “Quilted Witch,” crafted by Trudy Gaines in 2024 and quilted by Paula Griffin, cast a winning spell on judges and visitors alike, earning Best in Show and 1st Place.
A celebration of Halloween whimsy, the quilt features a bold silhouette of a witch dressed in a patchwork gown, her black cat in tow, surrounded by floating stars, pumpkins, and flying broomstick.
“I love Halloween quilts,” Gaines shared simply, and that joy is woven through every square. From the candy-colored blocks in the witch’s skirt to the clever incorporation of traditional star blocks in spooky hues, the quilt is both playful and technically impressive.
The stunning energy of a midnight sky comes to life in Sherry Wallard’s award-winning quilt, “Midnight Stars,” which took home a 1st Place honor. At first glance, this piece dazzles with its electric palette, bursting stars that pop against a deep black background, creating the illusion of constellations shimmering in a dark sky.
“I used this as a mystery quilt I conducted for the Kearney Kut-Up Guild this year,” Wallard shared.
Constructed entirely by piecing, the quilt’s clean lines and intricate design show Wallard’s mastery of both instruction and execution.
“Disappearing Hourglass,” earned 2nd Place honors at the show, but its story stretches well beyond the ribbon.
Made by longtime quilter Carol Bailey, this piece blends old-school technique with modern flair. The design originated from a pattern found in Missouri Star Block Magazine (Late Summer Vol. 1, Issue 4), but Bailey made it her own, starting with simple 9-inch squares and transforming them through a clever process of cutting and repositioning. The final result is a mesmerizing array of spinning shapes and stars that seem to bloom from the center.
Though intricate in layout, the quilt’s beauty lies in Bailey’s personal touch. “I hand quilted this piece,” she said with a smile. While rulers helped guide some of the structure, most of the stitching was done freehand, an approach that reflects both her skill and her steady, practiced patience. The quilt was created over several years, from 2022 to 2025, allowing Bailey time to infuse it with care.
Bailey, who began quilting in the early 1980s, first learned through a group called “Quilt as You Go,” where members tackled 12 different patterns to build their knowledge and skills. “That’s when quilting really began here,” she recalls.
With its striking palette and modern pixelated design, “Birds” by Pam Goode brought a burst of backyard charm to this year’s show, earning a well-deserved 3rd Place ribbon.
Inspired by her love of birdwatching, Goode’s quilt captures the playful geometry of two iconic species: the bright red cardinal and the vivid blue jay. Set against a bold black-and-white buffalo check background, the quilt juxtaposes the simplicity of block construction with the complexity of color placement, forming a stylized, almost digital image that reads instantly as both art and nature.
“I enjoy watching birds outside,” Goode shared. “I especially like red birds and blue jays. I saw this free pattern and had to make it.”
Few quilt designs radiate joy and charm quite like a scrappy star quilt, and Paula Griffin’s “Star Shine” does both with elegance and sparkle. Awarded 2nd Place, this piece captures the warmth of tradition and the whimsy of modern design.
“I love scrappy quilts and stars,” Griffin shared—and her passion shines through in every colorful triangle and meticulously pieced block. The quilt features a kaleidoscope of eight-pointed stars in soft, earthy tones, sage greens, dusty pinks, golden yellows, and apricots, all set against crisp white backgrounds that make the patterns pop.
With this 2nd Place ribbon, Griffin joins a long tradition of quilters whose work turns humble scraps into something extraordinary. And much like the stars it celebrates, “Star Shine” will continue to glow brightly in the memory of all who saw it.
Bold, brooding, and beautifully crafted, “The Protector” by Belinda Leming swooped into the show and claimed a 2nd Place ribbon with its mythical subject.
Built around a dramatic central panel featuring a soaring dragon silhouetted against a full moon and a gothic castle, the quilt draws viewers into a fantasy world. The piece was machine pieced and machine quilted in 2024, blending technical skill with creative vision.
“I loved the dragon panel and the lighting effect on the border,” Leming said. Her fabric choices reflect that love. Leming’s ability to take a commercial panel and surround it with such dynamic, thoughtfully coordinated design shows not only her technical talent but her eye for theatrical impact.
Marcia Harvey’s “Pennies in My Garden” stood out like a wildflower in bloom, earning a 1st Place ribbon, with its playful textures, rich color palette, and heartfelt process.
Made over the course of five years, the quilt began in 2020 as a block-of-the-month project, but blossomed into something entirely its own. With over 300 hand-stitched wool “pennies”—circular appliqués sewn onto a traditional background—and winding floral vines, the quilt balances structure with spontaneity.
“I really enjoyed creating this quilt,” Harvey said. “It was fun, because I’d sit down and be like, ‘Okay, what do I want to do this time?’” That freedom is reflected in the joyful variety of each wool circle, where no two are alike. Harvey kept a “UFO list”, a collection of unfinished objects, as part of her Calico Quilters group’s annual motivation to finally finish long-dormant projects. “Pennies in My Garden” was on that list. But instead of becoming another dusty work in progress, it became a prize-winning work of art!
Marcia also showed us her signature that she puts on each of her quilts:
Johanna Morgan’s “Tools of the Trade Bag” took home 2nd Place in its category, celebrating not just craftsmanship but community.
Designed from the popular “ByAnnie” pattern, Morgan’s bag is a dazzling display of color, featuring quilted panels in bold jewel tones—layered with purples, blues, reds, and greens in playful prints. She began by quilting the fabric herself.
“I quilted the fabric first,” Morgan noted, “and learned how to mix up my zippers.” That detail may sound small, but it reflects a key skill in bag-making.
What makes this project even more special is its origin story: Morgan took a class with a group of sewing friends at Fabric Chic in Parkville, turning the experience into not just a creative challenge but a memory stitched in friendship.
This warm and whimsical wall hanging by Sherry Wallard titled “Quilters Cottage” earned 1st Place honors, not only for its design and execution, but for the collaborative spirit behind it.
“This is a round robin quilt from a few years ago at our Calico Quilters,” Wallard stated. “I did the center block and members put on the borders.” That center block, a charming little house with a welcoming front door and flower box beneath the window, is both quaint and personal, capturing the essence of a cozy, handmade home. A tiny stitched sign by the door reads “Quilter’s Cottage,” tying the theme together with heart.
The Calico Quilters have regular meetings where they bring their projects and machines. They sew and share with each other. They also work together to create the quilt that is then raffled at the Waterfest festival. The money that is raised this year will go to Meet the Need. Throughout the year, the group also makes quilts for the hospice unit at North Kansas City Hospital. Every bed now has a quilt on it for the family to take with them when they leave. They’ve also been working with the Missouri Baptist, where there is a program for unmarried mothers.
Cathy Harvey shared a quilt that brought meaning and memory to the quilt show. Her Veterans Day quilt, draped in stars, stripes, and heartfelt detail, honors the service of friends and family members across generations.
At the center of the quilt is a bold eagle and the words “Patriot – Liberty – Country – Freedom”. Surrounding it are patchwork stars, stripes, military-themed prints, and blocks filled with color and symbolism, each contributing to the message of gratitude and respect.
But what makes Harvey’s quilt especially unique is what lies beyond the surface. Each honored service member has their own block, with their names and years of service embroidered on the back of the quilt, a hidden layer of remembrance that makes the quilt not only a visual masterpiece but a deeply personal heirloom.
The Calico Quilters continue to build on a tradition that spans generations in Excelsior Springs. Their annual show at Waterfest has become not just a display of fine craftsmanship, but a vibrant reflection of local history, creativity, and community connection.
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