LAURA ACEVES OF MARIPOSA IS PICTURED WITH THE QUILT SHE RECENTLY WON FROM THE MARIPOSA MUSEUM AND HISTORY CENTER. “I can’t believe it – I’ve never won anything,” Laura Aceves exclaimed when given the good news that she had won the butterfly quilt raffled to support the Mariposa Museum and History Center. Aceves’ surprise at her good fortune may stem from the fact that, unlike many others who bought multiple raffle tickets hoping to win the quilt, she bought only one.

A relative newcomer to the area, Aceves has lived in Mariposa for only a year. She says that her new quilt makes her feel like she’s truly at home now.

Museum docent and creator of the quilt, Yvonne McKnight, attends quilting classes at Merced College and has been quilting for nearly nine years, saying that it’s a very relaxing hobby. McKnight spent over 60 hours hand embroidering the butterfly blocks surrounded by an Indonesian batik fabric border.

She credits several of her classmates who helped in the creation of this quilt. The butterfly theme remains popular for quilts, especially here in Mariposa, where the county’s name, Mariposa, translates to “butterfly.”