"Painted Ponies on the Prairie" by Melissa Sobotka won The Janome Master Award for Innovative Artistry at Houston 2025.

Artist Statement (Houston International Quilt Festival 2025): "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."

Artist Statement (Dallas Quilt Show 2023): "Image of a traveling carnival operated by my husband's great grandparents, Edith & Marion Whaley, pictured with their son Lloyd and local Sioux."

Backstory To The Quilt: "Edith Whaley spent long days on her feet collecting tickets from those anxious to ride the merry go round at the traveling carnival show.

Attendies 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.

I too have become fond of the Whaley's and enchanted by these stories since I married the Great Grandson of Edith & Marion. This is my gift to honor their legacy.

- Melissa Sobotka"