The Quilt Etc. Sale is a big deal in the life of First United Methodist during the month of October. It isn’t the only activity –the calendar is full of opportunities, but it does bring many people together to make it happen. A quilt is hanging in the narthex every Sunday morning from the first week end in September to the middle of October. The Church classes have flyers and the TV screens have Quilt Etc. Sale slides. Special quilt sale postcards are at the reception’s desk. The church’s monthly newsletter includes information about the sale…and the church’s archivist has been researching the history of the quilt auctions and later the quilt sales. Over three decades of history is being collected. The following article tells about the first quilt hand quilted by Quilters at First over three decades ago.
FIRST PLACE QUILTERS FIRST QUILT by Saundra Rogers
Esther Twila Beck cross-stitched each of the 12 blocks and carefully pieced them together, adding two extra blocks to make matching pillows for her daughter, Saundra (Beck) Rogers.
Saundra was looking for someone to hand-quilt the beautiful quilt, and in 1994 she approached the newly formed First Place Quilters and asked if they would consider quilting it for her mother. They graciously accepted doing a wonderful job! My mom was so proud of their handiwork.
Today, I have the quilt displayed on a full-size bed. It hangs just low enough along the sides that I don’t need a bed skirt, allowing the beautiful quilt and all of the love and workmanship that went into it to be on full display.
What a special family treasure it has become!
Every quilt has a story and every quilt group or guild has hundreds of stories. I will be sharing more in the following posts.
Here they are–from the past week!
Of course we have more potholders and tea towels!
Several folks have ask for placemats and a table runner that were a set. Heather came through for you!
The placemats could be used on either side~ The table runner is 13.5″ x 31″ and is $40. The machine stitching is a serpentine stitch. The placemats are 13″ x 18″.
Six placemats for $60. I think they give off two different season’s vibes–the green is spring, the blue paisley is more of a fall look.
Welcome spring and summer with this door hanging instead of the conventional wreath. Machine quilted in a large floral design, it measures 17.5″ x 21″. $40
This panel captured a very different image of a gingerbread village. (I think the scene would be a very fun and challenging jig saw puzzle!) Notice the binding of the quilt copies the red and white trim on the houses.
The machine quilting is a snowflake pattern. It measures 46″ x 56″ and is $150.
This 49.5″ x 57″ lap quilt feature black cats in vintage costumes and poses. There isn’t really anything scary about them.The sashing print is from the same line. The machine stitching carries out the Halloween theme. $100
Shirley made a second quilt using the same fun fabric.
The backing on this 40.5″ x 44.5″ quilt is another coordinating fabric. This lap quilt would be perfect for a child ~$75.
We hang the quilts from a banister in a stair well in the Church–that’s why you will see quilters’ hands!
Can you guess what these colorful fish are? They are fidget toys! Bend them back and forth and they make a clicking sound. One quilters purchased one for her husband!
$5 each
It is a forrest of Christmas trees! The holidays are just around the corner. This table runner would help make your decorating easier. 17.” x 29″. $40
In case you were not at First United Methodist in Wichita this past Sunday, this is a photo of the quilt we used to advertise the sale.
We are getting very excited about the Sale. Just learned we can use one of the side rooms that open up wide into Meredith Hall for even more displays! Every year it just gets better and better!
Quilts, Etc. 