Local Receives Award at NSDAR Conference

Members of the Fielding Lewis DAR Chapter in Marietta recently attended the 133rd Continental Congress, the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution’s annual conference in Washington, DC.

During Continental Congress, awards and honors are presented to chapters, daughters and individuals.

The American Heritage Committee honored all the 2023 winners at their ceremony on June 25. The prestigious Evelyn Cole Peters award is given in recognition of excellence to entries that show exceptional skill and creativity in the chosen contest medium. This year, the committee had 10 ECP awards presented, including Wanda Patterson, a local artisan and member of the Fielding Lewis Chapter, NSDAR.

Patterson received the award in the category: Fiber Arts, Quilt Top. She wrote the following about her quilt entry:

“Stars Stripes, and Sisterhood” is my interpretation of the 2024 American Heritage theme “Celebrating Stars and Stripes – Forever in Our Hearts Through the Arts.” My 74x65-inch quilt top depicts a Distinguished Daughter displaying her quilt, composed of patriotic motifs in red, white and blue fabrics. Crimson hearts denote her affection for her country’s symbols and pride in her artistic effort. The right side of my creation is the Daughter’s quilt, composed of various pieces of patriotic fabrics, surrounding an American eagle panel and a band containing a machine-embroidered “Daughters of the American Revolution” label. The left side of my quilt top features the Distinguished Daughter herself, wearing a summer dress and hat “fussy-cut” from the fabric of a vintage petticoat. Her hat blooms with flowers made of “yo-yos” centered with pearls. Her face and hair are hand-embroidered using crewel yarns; she carries an American flag; a purse woven from metallic lace; and she wears my mother’s brooch. The figure is needle-turn-appliqued onto a background fabric printed with a scattering of historic documents. Three sides of the quilt top are bordered with stars and stripes, and the Distinguished Daughter “stands” on a stage decorated with colorful bunting drawn up with yo-yos. Perhaps the scene depicts the award-winning quilt and quilter on stage at a Fourth of July celebration in small-town America.