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Winter-long exhibit of local quilts admired by travelers at Yampa Valley Regional Airport

Tom Ross
The quilt “Awesome Blossom,” by Jackie Grimaldi, of Steamboat Springs, was voted the favorite among travelers who viewed an exhibition of 34 locally crafted quilts in the secure waiting areas of Yampa Valley Regional Airport this winter.
Courtesy Photo





The quilt “Awesome Blossom,” by Jackie Grimaldi, of Steamboat Springs, was voted the favorite among travelers who viewed an exhibition of 34 locally crafted quilts in the secure waiting areas of Yampa Valley Regional Airport this winter.

— Travelers returning home from Yampa Valley Regional Airport to major cities including Los Angeles, Seattle and Atlanta this winter had an opportunity to appreciate 34 quilts created by local artists. And when the votes were tallied for the people’s choice awards, Steamboat Springs quilter Jackie Grimaldi had claimed recognition for two quilts, including the most popular of the exhibit, a quilt she named “Awesome Blossom.”

About 25 artists participated in the exhibit, which was mounted in the secure waiting areas for flights destined for airports beyond Colorado. YVRA business manager Doris Mayhan said 121 votes were cast.

“Awesome Blossom” was decorated with appliqued floral pieces that Grimaldi made herself as well as three-dimensional flora blossoms that she created on an embroidery machine.



Sharon Hoogendoorn’s quilt, “Tribal Rhythms,” as well as another quilt by Grimaldi, “Wound too Tight,” earned honorable mentions.

The quilts represented a wide variety of talents and creativity reflecting an important part of the cultural heritage in Northwest Colorado. Grimaldi, with Madeleine Vail, was one of the organizers. The two worked closely with quilt guilds in Moffat and Routt counties to select pieces that best represented a variety of subject matter and quilting techniques used by local quilters.



Reached Monday morning, Grimaldi was already hard at work in her converted garage studio on Pine Street, creating a quilt to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Routt County Fair this August in Hayden. It sounds like the quilt has as many farm animals as did Old McDonald.

Grimaldi said she doesn’t keep track of how many hours she spends on an individual quilt because she doesn’t really want to be confronted by how much time goes into the finished product. It’s hours and hours over weeks and weeks, she said.

To reach Tom Ross, call 970-871-4205, email tross@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @ThomasSRoss1


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