This Years Judges

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Laura Wooldridge is a native Texan, raised in Houston and a resident of the San Antonio/New Braunfels area for the last 40 years. She began hand crafting as a child with embroidery, needlepointing and eventually sewing. She got her first sewing machine at age 13 and began making her own clothes as soon as she could get into Home Economics classes in junior high and high school. She continued both hand and machine work while becoming a wife and mother. She and her husband of 42 years have 4 sons. 

Laura’s first love these days is quilting. She has been making quilts, crafts, bags of every kind and even doll clothes for nieces and now for her granddaughters. She has shown her quilts in the guild shows in San Antonio and New Braunfels and has won ribbons and trophies on items she has entered in The Comal County Fair. She treasures wool work pieces she has been gifted and has made some pieces herself. Laura currently works and teaches at Stitched in Schertz, a quilt shop in far northeast San Antonio. 

Melissa Stucker has been sewing 

since the age of 12. She was taught 

by her favorite Aunt and took to the craft of quilt making immediately. In the 30 years since, Melissa has tried her hand 

at many techniques in the quilting world. Her favorite method is piecing, with 

no fear of small or numerous pieces. 

The more color the better! She has also made school clothes for her daughter, costumes for Renaissance Festivals and more tote bags than she can count. 

Melissa is a native Texan, wife, mother, and Air Force Veteran. In the Air 

Force, Melissa was a C-130 and HH-60 engine mechanic. Using hand tools 

and knowing how to put things 

together is something quilters and engine mechanics have in common! 

When not sewing, you can find 

Melissa caring for foster kittens and volunteering with the Schertz Humane Society. She also enjoys gardening, reading, and baking. Melissa is also 

a member of the New Braunfels Quilt Guild, currently serving on the Board. 

Melissa Stucker has been sewing 

since thIsabel began sewing at the age 

of 10 and became more knowledgeable during High School by taking Home Economics classes for 4 years learning advanced sewing techniques 

and tailoring. While in high school, 

she learned to crochet, needlepoint 

and embroider and competed in the Guadalupe County Fair and Guadalupe Youth Show earning various ribbons 

and a Grand Champion award in sewing. 

Isabel is the chairman of Handwork 

and Sewing with the Comal County Fair Association in New Braunfels, Texas 

and has judged crochet, sewing 

and embroidery in Comal and 

Guadalupe counties. 

Teaching sewing to youth and adults 

in and around New Braunfels has 

been one of her passions along with teaching adult serger classes, providing private consults in sewing and 

teaching home schooled students. 

Every year at the Comal County Fair, Isabel exhibits an educational display covering topics such as the history 

of the paper sewing pattern industry, 

the history of crochet, the history of flour sack fabrics, the history of the New Braunfels Cotton Mill and the 2022 display on the history of the Civil War textile art: penny rug creations with wool fabric. 

Isabel is skilled in Kantha (Middle Eastern) and Shashiko embroidery (Japanese embroidery), Swedish weaving (huck embroidery), needlepoint, cross stitch, Teneriffe lace work, chicken scratch (aka Depression lace) cutwork embroidery 

and crochet. Wool applique is her passion though creating wool applique works

for local silent auctions raising funds for non profits. The feel of felted wool 

fabric and the stitching are benefits from hectic schedules and slow stitching 

is a soothing activity for anyone 

interested in this textile art. Wool applique is a creative outlet either 

in working with existing patterns 

from various online artists or in creating 

a one of a kind textile art from a simple drawing. Throughout the year, Isabel crochets neck scarves for various homeless shelters in the Northern 

United States and she has shipped scarves to Oregon, Illinois, New York, Michigan and Maryland. 

Isabel's passion for anything handworked with thread is reflected in her collection 

of vintage fiber arts and notions and an extensive resource library of over 200 books covering such topics as Hardanger, techniques in netting, drawn thread 

work, Smoyg (Norwegian darning), Battenburg Lace, Boutis, Penny Rug patterns, Nalebinding (Scandinavian), Blackwork embroidery, History of Coronation Cord, references on vintage lace and fabrics, button indentification, Death Head buttons and Dorset buttons histories, Irish crochet techniques and patterns and Japanese shashiko and Kantha embroidery patterns. 

Time for learning a new fiber art is always an option. e age of 12. She was taught 

by her favorite Aunt and took to the craft of quilt making immediately. In the 30 years since, Melissa has tried her hand 

at many techniques in the quilting world. Her favorite method is piecing, with 

no fear of small or numerous pieces. 

The more color the better! She has also made school clothes for her daughter, costumes for Renaissance Festivals and more tote bags than she can count. 

Melissa is a native Texan, wife, mother, and Air Force Veteran. In the Air 

Force, Melissa was a C-130 and HH-60 engine mechanic. Using hand tools 

and knowing how to put things 

together is something quilters and engine mechanics have in common! 

When not sewing, you can find 

Melissa caring for foster kittens and volunteering with the Schertz Humane Society. She also enjoys gardening, reading, and baking. Melissa is also 

a member of the New Braunfels Quilt Guild, currently serving on the Board.