Swenson’s selection of quilts included some with holiday themes.
The first quilt presented by Swenson was one created by her grandmother.
Swenson shared how this quilt was the result of idle hands when her husband came down with the flu one Christmas.
Prolific local quilter Diane Swenson will be the featured artist in the upcoming “Quilts on Forist Lane” show.
Swenson’s quilts were praised for their use of color.
While some of Swenson’s quilts were smaller wall-hangings, others were larger than life.
Barbara Scott took a moment to express her gratitude for Diane Swenson’s work.
Each of Swenson’s quilts drew praise from those attending the quilters’ guild meeting Monday.
During Monday’s guild meeting, the 2025 Opportunity Quilt was unveiled.
Dozens of quilters turned out to appreciate Diane Swenson’s quilts during a recent Gateway Quilters’ Guild meeting.
Every other year, quilters from far and wide gather for the “Quilts on Forist Lane” show by the Gateway Quilters’ Guild in Merced. This year the show will take place Saturday, Sept. 14. They are expected to have over 150 quilts on display, which visitors can enjoy while taking a scenic walking tour through Forist Lane.
The event was previously held at the Merced County Fairgrounds until it became cost prohibitive. Fortunately, the need for a change resulted in the exciting new location at Forist Lane, which places the art of quilting in the picturesque neighborhoods near Bear Creek.
This year the featured artist for the quilt show is Diane Swenson, a prolific quilter with a range of styles displayed in her work. While she has always maintained an interest in sewing, she began quilting in anticipation of the birth of her first son, and has now been quilting for over 38 years.
During Monday’s Gateway Quilters’ Guild regular meeting, Swenson was the evening’s speaker. She presented a selection of her guilts during the meeting, receiving a chorus of oohs and aahs from the whole group.
“I enjoy traditional patterns with modern fabric. I also like things that are—I’m a bit into folk art—funky 60s retro looking things, and whimsy,” shared Swenson, whose quilts on display ranged from large elaborate floral appliques to small seasonal wall hangings. “I started out being more of a traditional quilter and then I’ve gotten to where I want things to look more modern.”
The variety and shifts in stylistic choice were evident during Monday’s meeting. Some of Swenson’s quilts were so tall that member’s of the guild struggled to hold them high enough for all to see the extensive detail. Others bordered on miniature, with simple and traditional depictions of nature.
What was even more incredible than what was on display, was what couldn’t be shown. Swenson estimates that she has made 47 baby quilts, none of which can be displayed because they are in the homes of their recipients.
Swenson is, of course, a member of The Gateway Quilters Guild. They currently have over 70 members, who run the gamut of style, experience, and ages. Beyond the shared interest in the art of quilting, they are also dedicated to giving back to the community.
“The Guild is a non-profit organization, and we make a lot of charity quilts and give them to the Red Cross, nursing homes, and veterans. We’re giving them to the police now, and they keep them in their cars so if they need to take a child they can give them a quilt,” said Swenson. “We also give out two scholarships to Merced College re-entry students every year. So those are students not straight out of high school, but ladies who’ve been away from education and decided to come back.”
The Gateway Quilters’ Guild is open to both experienced quilters and newbies alike. Even those simply curious about the art of quilting have something to gain from the guild. According to Swenson, quilting as an activity has a nearly universal appeal.
“For me, it’s a hobby and it’s just fun. It’s relaxing and you have an end product to show for it. But the nice thing about quilting is there’s something for everyone. There’s so many different types of quilting that someone can find their own niche and run with that. There’s art quilting, there’s practical bed quilts, there’re baby quilts, there’re wall quilts. There’re a lot of different types of quilting,” said Swenson. “Just do whatever you want to do. There’s people who follow the rules, and people who make the rules, and people who break the rules. It’s like reading, there’re so many genres of books. There’s something for everyone.”
The Quilts on Forist Lane show will be coming up on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m, on Forist Lane, just off E. North Bear Creek in Merced. This enchanting outdoor quilt show allows guests to view each quilt easily as they take a short stroll down a paved tree lined street in Merced. A guild booth will be set up with handmade crafts to purchase. An additional 10 vendors will be present selling fabric, home decor and sweet treats. Opportunity tickets available to purchase to win a hand appliqued and custom quilted quilt. Tickets are 1 for $1 and 6 for $5. Tickets can be purchased on the day of the event, or in advance from a Gateway Quilters Guild member. Drawing for the quilt will be at 3:45 p.m.