Thread Tails and Vapor Trails Navy Quilt Challenge History
This quilt challenge was the idea of Charlie Hoewing, wife of Vice Admiral Gerald Hoewing. Vice Admiral Hoewing USN (Ret) is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida. Charlie, a quilter and museum volunteer, thought it would be wonderful to have a quilt challenge centering around the 100th anniversary of Naval Aviation. The Centennial will be celebrated throughout 2011 at numerous events across the nation.
Charlie had attended quilt shows that feature the Hoffman Challenge exhibit. This yearly exhibit is sponsored by Hoffman California Fabrics, and feature quilts, clothing, dolls, and accessories all made from a designated fabric. She phoned Kelly Gallagher-Abbott, the challenge curator at the time, for more information about coordinating the possible event. As a new curator (Julie Breidt) was taking over as the Hoffman Curator in January, 2010, Kelly was asked to curate the Naval Aviation Challenge on behalf of the Naval Aviation Foundation.
