They braved Friday’s pouring rain so the show will go on this weekend.

Those determined souls are the Manteca Quilters Guild members who have been sponsoring the annual Quilt & Doll Show for the last 35 years. Hundreds of quilts, dozens of booths and original soft-cloth dolls plus handmade boutique items for sale are the bill of fare today and tomorrow at MRPS Hall on North Grant Street in the first block north of East Yosemite Avenue in downtown Manteca.

Among the highlights are the original creations of Cathie Hoover, the show’s featured artist. Valley Oak Dental patients are familiar with Hoover and her work. The dental office on West Yosemite Avenue across the street from the Save Mart shopping center has displayed the nationally renowned award-winning fabric artist for years. One of them was a big winner in the Pacific International Quilt Festival, the largest quilt show on the West Coast that perennially attracts world-renowned quilt artists and quilt instructors. Along with Hoover is the other featured artist, Elinor Peace Bailey who is a well-known doll artist, lecturer, teacher and author.

This is also the one time throughout the year when the Manteca quilters get to display their original creations including their latest group project. This year, the group’s challenge was to come up with fabric creations using 35 shades of the color blue.

In the boutique, where the local quilters offer their one-of-a-kind handmade items ranging from totes and purses to wearable items like vests, visitors can either browse through or purchase one or more of the for-sale offerings.

A food court will be available both days as well for visitors’ and quilters’ convenience.

All proceeds benefit the many philanthropic community projects of the Quilters Guild. This is the group’s only fund-raiser during the year.