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2023 Silver Thimble Award
Barbara Murdock

 

The Silver Thimble has been awarded in the Utah Quilt Guild since 1997. These winners have been chosen for their outstanding efforts to encourage, promote and preserve the art of quilt making in Utah. 
    

Barbara Murdock was awarded the Sliver Thimble award at Quilt Fest 2023 on October 11th, 2023.
Barbara Hansen Murdock was born in Salt Lake City. She was the
oldest of 3 girls and her family moved around a lot as her father was in the tile-setting business.
They didn’t have much money but spent many hours in the out- doors camping and hiking.
In 1961 Barb married Lee Murdock, and they lived in Salt Lake City, California and British Colum-
bia, Canada. They settled in Heber City in 1977, remodeling the old Murdock family home.
They have four children, a son and three daughters.
Three live nearby and one daughter lives in Alaska. They have 16 grandchildren and 4
great-grandchildren.
Barb has a great love for the outdoors, and has enjoyed a lifetime of camping, hiking and
adventuring with her family. She is a fabulous gardener and her love of flowers can be found in her
beautiful yard. She has had several jobs over her lifetime including dance teacher, working at The
Wasatch Wave, Heber Light and Power, Mikasa and as an EMT on Wasatch County EMS for over 25
years. She worked the 2002 Winter Olympics as an EMT at the Soldier Hollow Venue.
Barbara is a do-it-yourselfer. There are not too many things she won't attempt. Her mother was a
seamstress, and Barb took sewing classes in high school. She loved making elaborate costumes for
her kids who all performed in a dance company. She spent time as a PTA president, rescue volunteer
with Utah County Sheriffs on Mt. Timpanogos, Primary Presi- dent, softball coach etc…
When her kids were young, she would tie quilts with the neighbors. She then taught her sister
Bonnie to tie quilts. Bonnie eventually became a prolific quilter herself.
About 25 years ago, Barb and her sister Bonniedrove across the country, stopping at quilt shops all
along the way including Paducah, Kentucky, sometimes sleeping in the back of the pickup. They made their way to Houston in
the fall of 2000 to the International Quilt Show. Barb was dumbfounded by what she saw! The
incredible workmanship was inspiring! Later, Barb talked her daughter-in-law Michele into taking a
class together at a local quilt shop, Whimsy's, and it did not take long until Michelle was hooked. She says that she doesn't
make fancy quilts at all, but she does enjoy sewing and making things for her family and friends.
Barb served for many years on the state board for the Utah Quilt Guild in various positions and
became president of the Utah Quilt Guild in 2009 and was over Quilt Fest at Zermatt in Midway Utah
in 2010. She then started as an area rep after serving as president and continues to serve in that position.
Barbara has enjoyed serving in many leadership roles in several local guilds: Following her
adventures with her sister, she wrote a monthly column for the HVQ Newsletter entitled "The Calico
Road" reporting on her visits to new shops in our state and the sur- rounding intermountain area,
along with other interesting quilting news. She is a member of five different guilds: Heber
Valley Quilters, Midway Heritage Quilters, Kamas Quilt Guild, Utah Valley Quilt Guild, and the
Utah Quilt Guild. She has served in numerous positions in all five guilds. Most notable, Barb was
president of the Utah Valley Quilt Guild in 2015 and served as president of Heber Valley Quilters
in 2017. She has been in charge of the annual retreat for the Utah Valley guild three times. She
and Bonnie did the first two together, and had agreed to the third, but Bonnie unexpectedly died,
and Barb oversaw it on her own. She is about to host her fourth Utah Valley annual retreat this
November. She currently serves as the Summit/Wasatch Area Rep for the Utah Quilt Guild, a position
she has held for over 13 years. She finds great joy in meeting and associating with quilters all
around the state and has fostered many lasting friendships as a result.
 

Past recipients are:


Ruth Davis 2024
Barbara Murdock 2023
Annette Bracken 2022
Josephine de la Cruz Keasler 2021
Marlene Rapp 2020
Kaye Evans 2019
Cindy Hutchison 2018
Elizabeth Teerlink 2017
Charlotte Davis 2016
Barbara Walsh 2015
Sharon Wright 2014
Bonnie Miles 2013
Virginia Lee 2012
Carol B. Johnson 2011
Jodi G. Warner 2010
Pamela Morgan 2009
Nancy Henderson 2008
Betty Mae John 2007
Jeanne Huber 2006
Ruth Moon 2005
Tamara Boren 2004
Dick & Gayle Frandsen 2003
Marva Dalebout 2002
Pat Hansen 2001
Millie Olmstead 2000
Hortense Harward 1999
Eunice Young 1998
Saundra Trip 1997

 

In 1997 the first Silver Thimble award was created to recognize outstanding service and commitment to the Utah Quilt Guild and its mission to encourage, promote and preserve the art of quilt making in Utah.

If you know of someone special, who has contributed greatly to the promotion and enjoyment of quilting in the area served by the Utah Quilt Guild, please consider nominating them for this prestigious award. Is there someone who has inspired you to be a better quilter or who has been an impressive force in bringing quilters together?  Click here to fill out the Nomination Form and nominate this special person for the Silver Thimble.

Silver Thimble Nomination


Form to nominate a person to receive the Silver Thimble