SoCo Quilt Show Featured Quilter

The BEST  little Quilt Show in Maryland is in two weeks: March 25th (10am - 5pm) and March 26th (11am - 4pm) at Samuel Ogle Middle School, 4111 Chelmont Lane, Bowie, Maryland. I can tell you there are over 125 quilts and quilted items that will knock your socks off because they are that good, and for a local show, it's one of the best around! Please come by to check it out and be wowed by the many fabric/fiber artists displaying their magnificent work!

One of the highlights at the show is the Featured Quilter, and this year's show includes the beautiful quilts of Jean Dwyer. Jean was born in Ravenna, Ohio, and attended secondary school in Monroe, MI. She went on to college earning degrees in Education, History and English. She began her teaching career at a middle school in East Cleveland, Ohio in the mid-1960's, then moved to Maryland in 1968 where she began teaching in Prince George's County. She taught for 29 years with her last 23 years at Bowie High School.

Never one to sit still, Jean was always on the move either running, biking or hiking and competed in many cycling races, triathlons and road races (running) in her 40's and 50's. She also did many bicycling adventures across Ohio and Maryland through the years, and continues to ride her bicycle any time the weather is "good enough" to get out.

In 1997, Jean caught the quilting bug and has never looked back! She began by watching quilting shows on TV, then ventured out to take local classes at various quilt shops in the area, and joined the Southern Comforters in 2004, and became a very active member right away. Jean enjoys working with many different blocks and patterns and considers herself to be a traditional quilter. She does, however, like to try new block designs, techniques and rulers, rarely making the same quilt twice. Her favorite themes include Patriotic, Civil War, Thirties, Oriental, Wilderness, and Seasonal Quilts. One of her biggest challenges today is designing scrap quilts incorporating remnants from over 200 quilts!

When Jean is not quilting or designing quilts for her dozen nieces and nephews and their children, she also plays classical piano music and practices 3-4x/wk when she is home!  In addition, Jean has also donated many quilts though the last 20 years to Quilts of Valor; Quilt Bingo, Silent Auction and Community Quilts (for Georgetown and Sinai of Baltimore Pediatric Hem/Onc Departments).

Jean has been married for 42 years to her husband, Edward Dwyer!

If local, please swing by to say Hello and enjoy the quilts and the folks who lovingly make them!

BSoleille!
Terri

Photos of Jean Dwyer