2026 Summer Challenge

Background

• The Community Projects committee creates HOSPICE DOOR MARKERS, which are donated to palliative care units throughout the city.
• Each marker is hung on a patient's door (or within their room) when the patient is admitted to the unit, which helps to personalize their environment.
• Once they have passed away, the marker is offered to the family as a memento of their loved one's journey through palliative care.

The Challenge

• OVQG members are invited to submit one or more door markers to the Summer Challenge competition.
• Entries must be submitted no later than the September monthly meeting.
• Guild members will vote for their favorite entry, and the winning entries will be announced at the October monthly meeting.
• Available prizes: 1st place = $75,   2nd place = $50,   3rd place = $25

What To Make

• Design: Each door marker must include a BIRD in the design. The bird can be pieced, appliquéd, paper pieced, or just be part of the design of the fabric itself.
• Size: 15" x 15" to 20" x 20" square.
• Fabric, backing, batting: Any suitable material is acceptable.
• Hanger: Attach a small piece of ribbon, bias tape, or folded fabric to the back so the marker can be hung on a wall or door.
• Label: Attach a label displaying OVQG on the back.

How To Enter

• Method 1: Bring your door markers to the Community Projects table at the September monthly meeting.
• Method 2: Give your entries to Carol Fitz-Gibbon; to make arrangements, send her a message using the OVQG Member Directory.
• Method 3: If you live outside the Ottawa area, you can mail entries to the OVQG's mailing address; please ensure the entries arrive before the September monthly meeting.
   
• Important: Please pin your name on the back of each entry so we can identify who made it. (Name tags will be removed once the competition is over.)

How To Vote

• Voting is open to Guild members only.
• Review all 70 door marker photos and note the entry number of your 3 favorites.
• Submit your vote using the email address registered in your OVQG member profile no later than October 5th, 2026.
• Send an email with the following information:

• • "To" line:           entryform@ottawavalleyquiltersguild.org
    

  • "Subject" line:      VOTE
    

  • Body of the email:   write in the 3 entry numbers you chose, in any order;
                         do not enter any other information
    

• Tip: On many devices you can click here to create an email with the "To" and "Subject" info already filled in — then just enter your entry number choices in the message body and send the email! (If your device doesn't support this capability, just create the email manually as outlined above.)

How to Review the Entry Photos

• Click on any photo thumbnail image to display the entry photo in full. (If you have trouble viewing photos, read the Tips section below the photo gallery.)
• Click the ">" symbol on the right edge of a photo to see the next entry in the photo gallery; click the "<" symbol on the left to see the previous one.
• An entry's number is displayed at the bottom of its photo. (For example, "Image 17/70" indicates entry number 17.)
• When you have finished reviewing entries, click the "x" symbol in the upper right corner of the photo area to exit.

DOOR MARKER PHOTO GALLERY