Barbara “Bobbie” Deeter

I have over 75 years of sewing and quilting experience. I began my quilting journey by learning to sew my clothes when I was 12 years old. I started quilting in 1978 and have continued to this date. My quilting experience ranges from hand-quilting to long-arm and machine-quilting. My quilting travels have allowed me to make about 40 hand quilts and 150 machine quilts. I have been graced with many good friends and awards during my wonderful journey. I am honored to be chosen as this year’s featured quilter.

My quilting journey started in Lemoore, Ca., in 1978. I took my first quilting lessons in a small quilting shop in Lemoore. As a result of those lessons, my first quilt was a sampler quilt in earthtones, which was in vogue at the time. The quilt is shown here. This was the only quilt I made while living in Lemoore.

In 1980 I moved to the southern part of Los Angeles where I lived until 1995. During this portion of my quilting journey, I belonged to three quilt guilds, made countless friends, and attended numerous quilting classes. The high point of my travel in Southern California was having my quilt, “Amish Shoo Fly” wall hanging, auctioned off for $100 at the Flying Geese Quilt Guild of Orange County, CA. The quilt is shown on the right.

My quilting journey continued when I moved to Shreveport in January 1995. I joined the guild here the same month. My husband was my quilt guild advance agent and contacted Pat Birmingham for the information I needed to join the guild. Since joining the guild, I have served in numerous officer positions including president. In my early days with the guild, I traveled to many quilt shows with my Shreveport quilting friends.

My quilting experience has grown dramatically since I moved to Shreveport. I belong to two tributaries, the Thread Benders and the Sew and Sews and have made many friends. My involvement with the guild and tributaries has included teaching many classes including hand-quilting. I have many lasting friends through my quilting experience.

My first love is hand quilting and I always have a project in progress. My hand-quilting experience extends from “hoop” to “c-clamp frame over the dining room table” to “an end of the room, standing, three rail frame.” I restrict myself to hoop hand-quilting now.

I also sew quilts that are machine quilted and I have made over 150 of those quilts since joining the guild here and have displayed quilts in every show. The high point of my Shreveport quilting travels was winning “Best of Show” in 2002. The quilt’s name is “Ice Cream Sherbert” and is shown here. In 2010 I was the quilt show’s “Featured Quilter.”