In “our spare time”, we quilt

Happy 2023! Back in the day, when I used checks for everything, the simple act of dating the check on January 1 or 2 reinforced the idea of a new year. We were in a new year with new numbers. But since I use a card for most of my purchases now, it may be February before I have accepted 2023 as the actual date! A new calendar in the kitchen, holiday decorations stored away, starting an income tax file–all signs that a new year has started but I haven’t written it yet!!

Since most of the quilters traveled or hosted over the holidays, there is little quilting finishes to share with you. December sewing was dedicated to gifts. My last baby quilt arrived the day before the new mommy left for the hospital! I have no photos of all the flannel pjs or reindeer embroidered tea towels or nut cracker wall hangings I watched being sewn but that were gifted and not for sale.

But here is a little secret, none of the quilters in our group just sew/quilt. When I retired, a friend was trying to guilt trip me into serving on a committee. His parting shot was “you can’t just quilt all the time”. Well, the quilters I know are super involved and giving of their time to a variety of causes and interests besides quilting!

The core group of “First Friday” workers are quilters! Lunch for 120 persons are prepared by five quilters and a quilting husband on each ‘first Friday” of the month and served at the Open Door Homeless shelter. Quilters helped with the first “drive-by” food drive in 2023 for the Open Door Community Food Ministry. Two of the quilters work weekly as “intake” volunteers at the Food Ministry.

One quilter in our group works with Mennonite Relief Committee and in the Mennonite thrift shop…where she scores some really great finds.

Another member of our group is an active member of the Assistance League of Wichita. Their thrift shop supports Operation School Bell (new school clothes for children in need), scholarships and aid for assault victims.

One of our members works on the Charity Quilt Committee of the Prairie Quilt Guild. They organize donations of tops, fabric, batting and unfinished blocks by members of the Guild. This committee encourages members to make a warm and cute quilts to be gifted at the Wichita Children’s Home from what some might consider “throw a-ways”. Adults and children who lost their homes due to natural disasters, victims of assault, and marginal economic groups have received quilts.

Quilters at First who are lucky enough to family near help out with the demands young and aging families have.

And we read!! Each Wednesday we share our latest finds! The local and state library have e-books and audio books that most of us use. When we do spend some of our fabric budget on a “hold in your hand hard back or paper back” book, it is passed from one quilter to the next. I can not sew or cut block pieces without an audio book streaming through my head phones. If the piecing or cutting is especially tricky , I will pause to concentrate on the task at hand, but as soon as “I get it”, back to the book!

Here are some of our latest recommendations—

And quilters love to travel! Several of our members have visa stamps from all over the world. But no matter where we go, fabric shopping occurs! Fabric found in market stalls, huge warehouses and quaint shops is shown to the rest of us to exclaim over and pet –yes, a real quilter pets fabric–that tactile sense tell us much!

So yes, Steve—we do a lot more than quilt! But sometimes even I am amazed at what we do finish. Because I know each quilt or wall hanging I post on this blog took hours and hours of work! We don’t expect to get paid for the time spent–it is an act of love–but remember all those hours were spent when we were not traveling, or reading or volunteering or caring for family members!

May your 2023 be filled with what you like to do best!