HOUSTON – The annual International Quilt Festival with quilters and attendees literally from around the world is underway in Houston. Four days of quilting taking over all three floors of the George R. Brown Convention Center.
There are quilting classes, workshops for kids, and even a husband's lounge for men who are kind enough to show up for their wives, but still not very interested in quilts. But most people here have a special connection to the art.
"Quilting touches your heart, it reaches out to touch your soul, it's filled with color," said quilter Rosalind Wolfe. "You have life."
One of the most talented quilters in the world hails from Dickinson in Galveston County. Known for developing a technique called picture piecing Cynthia England won this year's "Best In Show" prize for a quilt created from an actual photo. It was her third time winning in 15 years.
"I took this picture on a teaching trip to South Africa and I just liked the picture and I wanted to recreate it in fabric," said England. "I took a year to make it."
It's perhaps appropriate for England to win top prize at the international festival as she has taught quilting around the world. It's a hobby passed down by her grandmothers decades ago that is taking her places even to this day.
"It's changed my life. Winning the show here the first time gave me a vocation," England said. "I have an art degree, but I was home with the kids. I hadn't ridden in a cab by myself, I hadn't been on a plane by myself. So now I travel, and I'm more confident because of those experiences."
England said most people don't pursue quilting until they retire from a career, but she encourages people to get involved as early as possible to hone their craft, learn the best technique for themselves, and enjoy the art for as long as possible.
The festival lasts through Sunday.