Hill City Quilt Show Featured Artist
2026 Featured Quilt Artist
Marilyn Eighmy
2026 Hill City Quilt & Fiber Arts Show
LONGARM QUILTER – TEACHER -ARTIST
My Story
Growing Up
I was born and lived on the other side of the state for more than 60 years. In 2012 my husband (Eldon) and I built a home for us (and a quilting studio for me) in the Black Hills. We were able to move out here permanently in 2015. I have two daughters, two sons-in-law and 6 wonderful grandchildren. I love it here!
Life In Bruce, SD
For most of my married life I lived in the small town of Bruce, SD about 13 miles north of Brookings. I grew up with horses, so when my girls were growing up, my husband and I and the girls began to raise and show American Paint Horses. It was a sad day when the last horse went down the road.
My Longarm Business
Discovering Quilting
I have sewed all my life thanks to a great 4-H leader and a mother with the patience of a saint. I sewed clothes for myself and my daughters until they were married. After my last daughter got married and left home in 1999, I decided to take a beginner quilt sampler class at a local quilt shop. I made a few small pieced quilts and I was hooked. I saw my first longarm machine in 2001 and knew I had to have one. I was able to take early retirement from SDSU and bought my Gammill® Classic Plus (having just a stitch regulator, not computerized) longarm machine in the fall of 2002.Â
After a lot of practice, I opened my quilting business in January of 2003 and I began to learn a lot about machine quilting, especially taking out stitches; but practice makes almost perfect so I did very well as a longarm quilter. I enjoy doing free-motion quilting.Â
Today
Unfortunately, I had to close my business in Hot Springs in 2021 due to a year of chemo. Since that time I have enjoyed focusing on my own quilts.
2026 Featured Fiber Artist
Claudia
Wieland-Randall
2026 Hill City Quilt & Fiber Arts Show
Weaving has its own language that bonds weavers.
My Story
Discovering Weaving
I began traditional weaving in 2006 as I naively booked a trip to Peru, which included 8days of weaving with the master weaver and national treasure, Maximo Laura. He was very patient and kind, and I came early and stayed late to work on my pieces. This was m giant leap into tapestry. I realized that I had a lot to learn, so it was back to basics with a week-long class taught by Bonnie Tarses in Montana. Â
A Life of Learning
My travels and waving opportunities are now enriched by visits to artisans, textile museums, exhibits, and mills. I have studied the Goruilo Gallego technique with Inez Rodriquez in Altariz, Spain. Learned Rio Grande techniques in New Mexico, experienced backstrap weaving in Guatemata, used since Neolithic times, weaving esparto grass with Sonia in Mijas Pueblo, Spain. Yes, there are numerous types of looms. Ive tried them all.
Teaching Others
Nature as Inspiration
I weave predominantly with materials the Land provides me for my art: the beautifully sculpted bones I find while hiking in the Black Hills and the natural fibers from animal and plant-based yarns. Nature’s mushrooms, lichen, and plants provide some of the dyes used on the yarns.
Featured Works
Sculptural Fiber Art
Sculptural Basketry
Handwoven Rug
