I promise I will show some great quilt projects in the second half of this post but first I wanted to share with you another interest/commitment by several members of Quilters at First.
If you look out of either of the tall windows in our quilt room any time of the day, you will see unhoused persons milling around on the sidewalks and street next to the Open Door Homeless Resource Center located across from the Church’s parking lot.
The Open Door Resource Center offers restrooms, showers, laundry facilities, storage, an address for mail and lunch every week day. It provides a safe spot to get out of the Kansas weather extremes.
The daily lunch is where we quilters connect to Open Door. A group of five or six women and one QH (quilter husband) prepare and serve a lunch the first Friday of every month. For years we have fixed tater tot casserole, so of course, we call it “Tator Tot Friday”.
Approximately, 120 meals are prepared. All the funds are donated by individuals or groups in the Church. Four Church classes take one month–either financially or by cooking and serving and paying for the supplies. Donna and Ray make delicious cookies for each “Tator Tot Friday” month not supported by a church class.
We are just one group in the Wichita area that does this on a regular basis. Many different churches, businesses and community groups contribute. All this is pieced together by dedicated Open Door staff. My “hat goes off” to these people who deal daily with issues that are overwhelming.
I realize lunch once a month will not solve the huge and seemly unsolvable problem of homelessness. Affordable housing, addiction, mental health, consumer education all contribute to this growing situation but “people got to eat”. And probably the quilters/ Tator Tot crew gain more from this experience than do the clients–greater sense of gratitude and a bit more understanding of the values, issues and reality of our neighbors who live on the streets.
And to my friend, who said to me years ago when I retired, “You can’t just quilt all the time”, I don’t! Quilters are comforters and what is more comforting than a hot meal when you don’t have a home.
And now to the fun part–What “quilt” goodies do I have to show you?
A “block of the month” quilt–a variety of blocks using several quilting techniques was used to complete this queen size quilt.
The backing compliments the fabrics used in the front. The quilt measures 83″ x 96″. The colors would work with several home color schemes. $300
Are you a puzzle person–you know I am!
The fabric print, the quilt pattern and the machine quilting all are puzzle pieces. A fun quilt to throw over a sofa in the family room or on a child’s bed, it is 50″ x 65″. $125 (The photo is taken in a stairwell at Church–held up by quilters!)
I really like this quilt and will go to a different banister to take a better photo–but Elaine used some of my favorite prints–cherries– to make this approximately 55″ x 65″ size quilt. Elaine used fabrics from our stash –so this qualifies to be in the “look what we made from your donated fabric” gallery at the quilt sale! $150. Perfect for summer!
This quilt pattern is Rail Fence, named for the zig-zag fences early settlers made from split logs that did not require wire or nails. Flannel in rich burgundy, purple and green insures the quilt is extra cozy. Measuring 39″ x 40″–a lap quilt–it is perfect for throwing over the back of a chair or over your legs when reading or watching TV. $100
The Easter Bunny is just around the corner! Here he/she is hiding among Easter Eggs. Janis R, the appliqué genius, made this fun springtime wall hanging or table topper. It is approximately 25″ x 26″ and $40. Who needs an Easter basket filled with candy when you could have this? SOLD
Another piece from Janis–with hints of all the things we look forward to in Spring. The table runner -or it could be a wall hanging in the right spot, is 14″ x 36″. Machine appliquéd and machine quilted. The backing is the same fabric as the fabric used in the border of the Easter Bunny piece. $50
My tulips are beginning to peak out of the ground. But we don’t have to wait for these tulips.
The table runner is approximately 15″ x 40″. These tulips will last much longer than those much anticipated garden flowers. $40.
These “peeps” will serve as a mug rug or as part of your spring decor on a table or a corner of your home. The bunnies are appliquéd and the patchwork is machine quilted. Approximately 8″ square- $10 each.
Different placemats “spice” up the most ordinary meal-anyway that is my excuse for having lots and lots of placemats. Plus placemats do protect your good wooden table top.
This set of six placemats measure 11.5″ x 17.5″. Machine quilted, hand bound and machine washable–$55 for the set.
Difficult to think about Christmas and the holidays–but this red and green table runner suggests that time of the year! Ric rac adds to gingerbread feel. Machine quilted and hand bound–washable. 13.5″ x 40″ $40
Our TV weather people have been suggesting we are not finished with snow–ugh. But who can be upset with a snow person.
Snow people are the feature fabric in this table runner. $40
Designed to hold a couple of credit cards or your ID, they can be attached to your lanyard or tucked into a pocket. Vintage fabric and 30’s reproduction fabric adds to their charm. $10 each
The highlight of each Wednesday is getting to see first hand all the creative and awesome pieces brought to share by my Quilters at First friends. Thanks for sharing this experience.
Quilts, Etc. 