Featured Quilter Article in Today's "Capital"

I am very thankful for the nice story written about me as the upcoming featured quilter at the Southern Comforters Quilt Show the weekend of March 24-25, 2012.  The piece was written by Jennifer Ginn of Crofton, MD, and she did an excellent job articulating my story and history of quilt-making through the past 25 years or so.  I am including this piece in my post today, along the photo that was taken at retreat a few weeks ago!

Around Crofton: Quilter's works to be featured at show

By JENNIFER GINN, For The Capital

Published 03/06/12

Inspired by Betsy Ross and the bicentennial, Terri Tomoff took on her first fabric project in junior high, when she crocheted an outline of the original 13 colonies for a school project. She was instantly intrigued by the material arts and has since created more than 200 quilts.

Courtesy photo
Crofton’s Terri Tomoff was selected as the featured quilter for the Southern Comforters Quilt Guild’s Annual Show to be held March 24 and 25 in Bowie.

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As the featured quilter for the Southern Comforter’s Annual Quilt Show, Terri’s colorful creations will take center stage at the show, which will be held March 24 and 25 at C. Elizabeth Rieg School in Bowie.Terri started quilting as a young adult after taking a sampler quilt class in her home state of Ohio but soon after, she put her hobby aside to focus on her marriage, her children and her career.
Soon after moving to Crofton in 1996, Terri’s two-year-old son Ryan was diagnosed with cancer and that altered her course even further. When Ryan was able to start pre-school, Terri met a fellow mom who was a member of the Southern Comforters Quilt Guild and invited her to join.
“That was in 1998 and I haven’t missed too many meetings since then,” said Terri. “Quilts consume me.” The quilting guild gets together twice a month to hone their skills, share ideas and serve the community.
Terri said that during her son’s nine-year battle with Leukemia, she started making and donating quilts to support cancer research and the medical centers that treated Ryan. “Instead of donating money, I made quilts that were then raffled off.”
Terri also made more than 200 quilt bags gifting them to everyone from the doctors and hospital staff to the parking attendants who worked at Duke and Georgetown University Medical Centers, the facilities that treated her son and saw him through to remission.
Terri’s quilted tote bags have also reached the stars. Terri gifted Bob Barker, former Host of the Price is Right, and singing pop star Miley Cyrus with canine-themed quilted bags since both are ardent dog lovers.
At the upcoming quilt show, 30 to 40 of Terri’s quilts will be on display. “I like to work in bright colors and tend to make a lot of happy quilts.” said Terri.
One of her favorites, which will be featured at the show, combines varying shades of solid pink and yellow fabrics and a complementary floral fabric. Terri is also fond of one she made with a maple-leaf imprinted fabric. “It is really thick and heavy,” she said, noting that that the flip side of the quilt is patterned in squirrels.
“I love that quilts have a dual purpose since they are designed for both beauty and comfort,” said Terri. “I also love to see the joy in people’s faces when they receive a hand-made quilt and I think it is an honor to receive one. They are a labor of love — you just can’t knock one out.”
Terri said that she was humbled and honored to be selected as the featured quilter for this year’s annual show and that she looks forward to continuing to color the world with her quilts.
The Annual Quilt Show of the Southern Comforters will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 24 and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 25 at C. Elizabeth Rieg School, 15542 Peach Walker Drive, Bowie. Admission is $5 per person. The event will include a wide variety of quilted items, workshops, demonstrations, children’s activities, a merchant’s mall and a silent auction. Hand-crafted items and refreshments will be available for purchase.
The Southern Comforters Quilt Guild meets at 7:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at the Christian Community Presbyterian Church, 3120 Belair Drive, Bowie. Doors open at 7 for those who wish to socialize prior to the meeting and new members are warmly welcomed.
For more information about the show and the guild membership, visitsoutherncomforters.org.