“Quilts Feed My Soul” Program: 2025 Quilt Show Featured Quilter – Maureen Stevens

Maureen Stevens is the guild’s featured quilter for 2025. Her quilts will be displayed in a special exhibit at our quilt show, and her quilting journey is the featured presentation of tonight’s program. Maureen says,

“I was born and raised on a farm in Wendell, Idaho. I’m the middle child of seven but the oldest girl. I attended BYU and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Interior Design. I got married that summer and we moved to Oregon where we lived for the next 8 years where my husband went to school. We moved to Boise in 1982 and have lived in the same neighborhood (but not the same house) ever since. I have 5 children; 3 girls and 2 boys. Those children have given me 14 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren and they live in Oregon, Texas, Virginia, North Carolina and Rexburg, Idaho. I’m very active in my church and it plays a big part in my life.

I have always loved fabric. I learned to sew in Jr. High and made all my own clothes up until the patterns didn’t fit anymore (isn’t that a strange thing?) I made clothes for my children and some for my husband and formals for my daughters and even their wedding dresses.

I started quilting in 1997. I decided I was going to do it right so I took a beginning quilting class from The Quilt Crossing. From there I learned about Boise Basin Quilters so I came to my first guild meeting sometime in the spring of 1998. I joined a small quilt group and I haven’t stopped since. I have learned so much from BBQ and my fellow quilters. Some of you are my dearest friends. I’ve taken lots of classes and tried new things. I have served in various capacities and been on numerous committees, designed patterns for the website and taught Schoolhouse classes.

Moslih Eddin Saadi wrote:

“If of thy mortal goods thou art bereft,
And from thy slender store two loaves are left,
Sell one, and with the dole
Buy hyacinths to feed the soul.”

To me quilts are the hyacinths that feed my soul. I could not survive if I didn’t have quilting as a creative outlet. I need the friendships and the love that you, my fellow quilters give me. I feel so honored and blessed to be a part of this quilting community.”