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Craig local a first prize winner in national quilting competition

Darian Warden
Renata Beason stands inside her business, the Embroidery Shoppe on Yampa, holding the calendar that features her winning quilt in the Fairfield American Spirit Batting competition. One of eleven first place winners nationwide, Beason has been overwhelmed with the response she's received for her quilt, "The Majestic Seven."
Darian Warden

Quotable

“It’s one of a kind. I guess people just fell in love with it. This was my biggest dream come true. I never thought of being so public. It’s just amazing.”

Renata Beason said about her first prize winning quilt

Waiting until the last minute to get projects done, whether it be in work, school or personal life, sometimes can result in sub-par work.

But Craig resident Renata Beason is re-evaluating that notion after she decided to enter a quilting contest only two weeks before the deadline and experienced success on a national level.

Beason entered the Catch the American Spirit batting quilting competition and was a first prize winner.



“I had two weeks to come up with a unique and different quilt,” Beason said. “I sent it off on the last day; it was postmarked on the last possible day.”

When she found out she had won, Beason said she was shocked.



“I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, maybe I should always work on the last minute,’” Beason said.

Beason said it felt surreal as she watched her quilt move to the top 40, then top 20 and finally to its place as a first prize winner.

“It was wonderful. I was walking and shaking,” Beason said.

Originally from Poland, Beason has come to call Craig her home, where her mother in-law introduced her to quilting.

“I started working with the fabric and knew I was doomed,” Beason said laughing.

Beason’s winning pattern featured seven cowboys on horses with lassos and guns riding into the sunset.

Beason said the background included quilted horse heads.

Stipulations of the contest required Beason to include batting in her quilt, meaning there had to be a layer of insulation between the two outer fabrics, such as cotton, wool or polyester.

Batting makes a quilt warm and heavy.

Beason’s quilt recently was on display at the 2012 International Quilt Festival in Houston, Texas, and will be on display in California in January for another large West Coast quilt festival.

Beason’s biography and quilt are featured in a calendar, and among her honors, Beason said she has been asked to teach a class on quilting in August next year for three days at the Rocky Mountain Quilt Festival in Denver.

“I’m nervous. I’m not a speaker. I can sew and demonstrate,” Beason said. “But I told my husband about it and he’s like you better do it.”

Beason said she’s not sure where the quilt goes after California but said she’s already received calls from California and Florida looking to purchase her pattern.

“I really never thought of selling my pattern,” Beason said. “It’s one of a kind. I guess people just fell in love with it. This was my biggest dream come true. I never thought of being so public. It’s just amazing.”

Darian Warden can be reached at 970-875-1793 or dwarden@craigdailypress.com.

Quotable

“It’s one of a kind. I guess people just fell in love with it. This was my biggest dream come true. I never thought of being so public. It’s just amazing.”

Renata Beason said about her first prize winning quilt


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