Winnie Mize's prize-winning dogwood quilt, which recently placed first in the Harlan County Extension office's Poke Sallet competition, took three years to complete.

She got involved in quilting several years ago, as it was a tradition passed down from her mother and mother-in-law.

"The quilting they did then was more of a necessity," Mize said. "It wasn't for art or anything like that. The stitches were kind of long. But that's the way I got started, with them working on their quilts a lot."

Years later, Mize and several friends started a quilting guild. The group met once a month in different homes for a luncheon. There they would put quilts together in a frame. Eventually the members of the group were so affected by illness that they discontinued the meetings.

During their time together, the ladies made several beautiful quilts. Many members went on to win quilting competitions, including Mize.

Her talents are not limited to quilting. Mize has won multiple ribbons not only for quilting, but also crocheting. She is also enjoys making baskets and is a member of a local basket guild.

Mize was actually unaware that her quilt was even in competition until she had won the prize. She dropped her quilts off for display at the festival upon the request of Pat Duncan. When she came to pick up the quilts, one had one a blue ribbon, and the other had won the championship blue ribbon.

Mize is saving her quilts for grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She doesn't sell her work because of the vast amount of time each quilt takes to complete. After spending years working on a quilt it begins to "feel like a part of the family."

Quilting is a hobby which Mize hopes more young people will get involved with in order to preserve the art form as a valuable part of our heritage.