{"product_id":"painted-ponies-on-the-prairie-melissa-sobotka","title":"Painted Ponies on the Prairie","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"Painted Ponies on the Prairie\" by Melissa Sobotka won The Janome Master Award for Innovative Artistry at Houston 2025.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArtist Statement (Houston International Quilt Festival 2025)\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003cem\u003e\"This image depicts a traveling carnival and horse-powered merry-go-round on the plains of Nebraska and South Dakota during the early 1900s. Attendees of the carnival included Sioux, who enjoyed riding the merry-go-round's painted ponies. The carnival was operated by Marion and Edith Whaley, my husband's great-grandparents. The Sioux became fond of the Whaleys and gifted Edith with moccasins for her tired feet and a beaded purse to hold tickets.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArtist Statement (Dallas Quilt Show 2023)\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003cem\u003e\"Image of a traveling carnival operated by my husband's great grandparents, Edith \u0026amp; Marion Whaley, pictured with their son Lloyd and local Sioux.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBackstory To The Quilt\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003cem\u003e\"Edith Whaley spent long days on her feet collecting tickets from those anxious to ride the merry go round at the traveling carnival show.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAttendies of the carnival often included the Lakota Sioux of northern Nebraska and the plains of South Dakota. The Sioux had become so fond of the Whaleys that they gifted Edith with mocasins for her tired feet. Along with a beaded purse to hold the tickets she collected.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eI too have become fond of the Whaley's and enchanted by these stories since I married the Great Grandson of Edith \u0026amp; Marion. This is my gift to honor their legacy.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e- Melissa Sobotka\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003csection class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-80af94f elementor-section-boxed ang-section-padding-initial elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default ae-bg-gallery-type-default\" data-id=\"80af94f\" data-element_type=\"section\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"elementor-row\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-51a0876 ae-bg-gallery-type-default\" data-id=\"51a0876\" data-element_type=\"column\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-760cb6b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"760cb6b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"elementor-widget-container\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTechniques\u003c\/strong\u003e: Professional Fabric Printing; Machine Appliqué and Quilting; Fusing; Enhancements with Ink and Pencils\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDesign\u003c\/strong\u003e: Personal family photo of Twila Sobotka\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\u003c\/section\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eMaker:\u003c\/strong\u003e Melissa Sobotka \u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eQuilter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Melissa Sobotka \u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eYear Made:\u003c\/strong\u003e NA \u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eOwned By:\u003c\/strong\u003e NA \u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e NA \u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eShows \u0026amp; Museums:\u003c\/strong\u003e Houston International Quilt Festival 2025; Dallas Quilt Show 2023 \u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eAwards:\u003c\/strong\u003e The Janome Master Award for Innovative Artistry at Houston International Quilt Festival 2025; Best Of Show - 2023 Dallas Quilt Show \u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Melissa Sobotka","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54046450549011,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0918\/4575\/5155\/files\/27848-painted-ponies-on-the-prairie-melissa-sobotka-76-1679594458_0f5fe5d7-ae3a-4845-b257-57f1373e21ae.jpg?v=1776144867","url":"https:\/\/gallery.thequiltshow.com\/products\/painted-ponies-on-the-prairie-melissa-sobotka","provider":"The Quilt Show Gallery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}