'Supper Quilt' to be displayed at Yuma show

A unique quilt that has made its way around to various venues in 35 states and six other countries will be making its first appearance in Arizona at the annual Desert Lily Quilt Show in Yuma.

“The Supper Quilt,” inspired by Leonardo da Vinci's painting “The Last Supper,” was created by Dr. Don Locke of Waxahachie, Texas, using 51,816 half-inch squares.

Desert Lily Quilter Beanie Phillips said the quilt took two and a half years for Locke to complete by first creating a computer-generated image of the original painting enlarged to show the pixels. She explained that he then used 350 different colors of fabric to put together the 15.3-by-5.5-foot quilt. With the help of Linda Taylor of Melissa, Texas, the top was then machine quilted.

“He's traveled all over, so this is a really big deal for us,” said Phillips. Visit www.thesupper.net for more information about Locke and “The Supper Quilt.”

She said that a group of 13 local businesses chipped in to defray the cost of bringing him to Yuma. Additionally, those businesses will be voting and giving out prizes to the top quilt makers in each category during the event.

In addition to “The Supper Quilt,” there will be over 250 quilts on display at the Desert Lily Quilt Show, which is themed “God and Country” this year with an entire section of patriotic quilts.

The show will be held on Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Yuma Civic Center, 1440 Desert Hills Drive. Admission is $6 a day or $8 for a two-day pass.

There will be antique quilt turning and demonstrations, as well as a country store, drawings, prizes, vendors and more.

“There's something for everyone,” said Phillips.

She noted that this year they have 30 vendors, more than ever before taking up the entire Yuma Civic Center. Vendors will be selling fabric, cutting and quilting machines, jewelry, buttons, patterns for quilts and more.

“We've got a lot more going this year... it's going to be bigger and better than ever before.”

Funds raised from the drawing for the 91-by-94-inch “Patriotic Stars” 2013 Opportunity Quilt will go to support this year's selected charity: the American Legion Riders Veterans Post 19. The drawing will be held Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

Phillips explained that every year, the Desert Lily Quilters interview various charities and select one to donate to. For more information about the event, email Phillips at mibeanie@gmail.com or call Toni Seward at 782-5529.

Sarah Womer can be reached at swomer@yumasun.com or 539-6858. Find her on Facebook at Facebook.com/YSSarahWomer or on Twitter at @YSSarahWomer.