Sacramento, CA… Dorothy Killian Painter (1913-2002) was born in Nebraska, orphaned at 4 years old, and moved to California for foster care. As an adult, she took up sewing as a way to pass the time while recovering from a serious accident and resulting infection. Her quilts and doll clothes were made of fabric scraps, flour sacks and old clothes, often donated by neighbors and friends.

In 1938 and 1939, after being featured in an article in the Sacramento Union, Dorothy’s quilts and doll clothes won ribbons in the California State Fair’s home arts competitions. The quilts have remained in Dorothy’s family, and after years of loving use have retired to be displayed in her daughter’s Folsom home.

Beginning in this year’s State Fair California Creative Arts competition, Dorothy’s family is generously sponsoring an annual Special Award in the Quilt Show in her honor: $250 to the winning entry in Division 195 Class 4 – Mini Quilts that most reminds them of Dorothy. The deadline to submit entry forms for the competition is Friday, April 19, 2013.

All adult California creative artists are invited to enter this competition. Applicants may visit the California State Fair website at http://www.bigfun.org/participate-in-the-fair/compete-at-the-fair/adult/ to consult the California Creative Arts Competition Handbook, which details the important information on entry rules. Entry fees may be required depending on the competition entered.

For more information on the Quilt Show and the California Creative Arts Competition, visit www.bigfun.org or contact Stephanie Jurkowski, sjurkowski@calexpo.com or (916) 263-3194.

The State Fair will run July 12-28, 2013 at Cal Expo in Sacramento, California. For more information visit www.bigfun.org.