Dickinson woman wins third world quilting championship

HOUSTON, TX (KTRK) -- Their artwork could be hung in a museum, but these creations are a lot plusher than a painting or sculpture.

A Dickinson woman has been named the best quilter in the world for the third time for a masterpiece that took a year to make.

"You don't have to be perfect, it's very forgiving, " Cynthia England said.

Her award-winning creation is called "reflections of Cape Town."

It was named "best in show" at the International Quilt Festival. England crafted her art, after a picture she snapped in South Africa.

It's the third win for H-town at the quilting confab. It first happened in 1993, then again in 2000.

The competition is heavy.

"I'm lucky. I'm from Houston, which makes it twice as good," England said.

Some of the quilting creations on display at the George R. Brown Convention Center haven taken years to sew together.

The International Quilt Festival runs through Sunday, and festival organizers expect to see about 60,000 people through the rest of the weekend.