I look forward to cold weather every year, and not just because I live through August in Kansas! One very important reason is meal planning. I have a rotation of soups that have been tested over the years that are perfect for cold weather. All these recipes make a large quantity, especially for two people. After serving an hearty meal with apple slices or carrot sticks and crackers or cornbread, I freeze the remaining soup to be used those days I get home a few minutes before dinner time.

My rotation of soups include red chili, potato soup, pinto bean soup, taco soup and green chili with chicken. I am not a vegetarian but I just don’t care for a lot of meat, especially beef or pork. Thus, I use a great variety of beans, dried and canned. My red chili and taco soup use either ground beef or ground turkey but is diluted with tomatoes and beans. Cornbread, baked in a cast iron skillet, is my preferred “bread” with the soups. I am a quilter, not a cook, so Jiffy mix with an addition of grated cheese or green chilies is my favorite recipe.

What do you need if you serve soup from a steaming pot on the stove or from the micro wave? Protection for your hands!! The microwave and stove are several steps away from our table. In order not to spill the hot soup, I use a potholder made especially for bowls—the “Microwave Bowl”.

We have used many different fabrics–the interior is usually a coordinating solid. College theme–especially KSU and KU fabrics are popular as well as holiday fabrics. One year I used book prints to make gifts for book club members.

The bowls make great stocking stuffers or hostess gifts. The bowls can be filled with candy or cookies to make them extra special. Each one is $8.

This time of the year, we spend a lot of time thinking about tables–what we will put on them for the holiday meals, how we will decorate them for guests, or how many people can be comfortably seated?

The Quilters at First have two new options for decorating your table in-between meals. Sorry, we can’t help you with your meal plans or magically enlarging your table for extra place settings. But we do have two very different holiday table runners.

The second table runner is more subdued.

“Adoring” a line of Moda fabrics by Sandy Gervais was used. The backing is yardage of one of the prints.

Speaking of tables–Open Door Community Food Ministry is holding it’s annual Turkey Drive on the 20th, 21th, and 22nd of November to help low income families have food on their tables this holiday. Last year 2,300 families were helped. It is my belief that helping with this community effort results in your table, gathering, or meal (even soup) more special than usual!

Enjoy these cooler evenings with a bowl of hot soup on a table decorated for the holidays. Happy Thanksgiving.

Fall and especially the month of November is magical. I walked the dog this morning in fog , not so dense that I couldn’t enjoy the trees that are showing off their colors, but it added to the ambiance. The autumn smells seem more intense with the dampness fog brings. Kansas will never compete with New England for the fall foliage tours but we have our own beautiful colors in November.

Neighborhood fall foliage tour.

Dog and I especially like walking under this canopy of crab apple “fruit”.

In my home, I can use the pumpkins I put out in late September all through Thanksgiving–just removing any that are specially Halloweenish.

Once, my son complained the holiday Thanksgiving got short changed. Everyone is in a hurry to rush into the Christmas season after Halloween. But November can be a lovely breathing spell–a time for a bit of relaxation and anticipation.

Quilters at First have some autumn theme quilts and table decor available for your home.

This is a Lorrie quilt–can you tell by the colors? She used her Christmas fat quarters from the quilters holiday party to create this stunner. The quilt certainly would add a autumn coziness to your sofa or bed. 58″ x 72″. $225

Look at the machine quilting pattern–leaves and vines on this patchwork of fall colors. It is approximately 60″ x 72″–will have the exact size tomorrow, and is only $200. The back is so pretty it could be used in the summer as a coverlet.

Canadian gooses (yes, that is the correct usage)make Wichita their home. They love the harvested sorghum fields and the sand pit mini lakes. The sky always has a flight in motion. Vicki’s Flying Geese could be a representative of our skies.

Kim Diehl fabrics paired with a cream background were used to create this twin size quilt–60″ x 76″. This photo is before the binding was hand sewn.

Table toppers add a splash of color to your home without dominating. This “prairie point” design measures approximately 20″ x 20″. $40

On November 19, FUMC will be celebrating with an All Church Thanksgiving Mission Dinner. The proceeds will go to support the school partnership program. It is a lovely time to enjoy a delicious meal with your church family. At the meal, the Quilters at First will have a table with small projects for purchase that could potentially be Christmas gifts or Thanksgiving Hostess gifts.

I plan to enjoy November with it’s short lived colors, smells and mild temperatures. I hope you are able to experience November’s magic.

The start of a new year is different for different groups of people. We start a new calendar on January 1 and for a period of time, try to remember to write the new year’s date.

But for Quilters at First, it is the week after the Quilts Etc.Sale in October!

( I have had this Kit since 2017–is this the year?)

But there are loose ends to tie up! We don’t have the final totals of our sales for the year. We will present our checks to our ministers for the TV ministry and to the Religious Nurture Center Director in December. We still have items to deliver and a few more sales to make to folks that saw something in person and want to buy it now, —“if it is still available”. We will have a booth with small gift items at the All Church Thanksgiving Dinner on November 20. So, watch for our totals in the Church’s newsletter ,THE LIGHT, and on the blog.

But the most important thing I must do is to express my appreciation to so many people! First of all to you–All of you who share my Facebook posts and readers of quiltersatfirst.com, Thank you!! To those of you who attended the Sale, Thank you!! If you purchased a potholder or quilt–Thank you!! If you gave us a “pat on the back”–Thank you!! To those of you who contributed items to the sale–quilt racks, vintage items, one handmade project–Thank you!! To those friends and family of quilters that supported our obsessions–by listening, admiring, doing PR work–Thank you!!

Secondly, thank you to First United Methodist Church. The entire staff played a role in making this event a success. Erin, director of Communications, created the striking graphics that were used on-line in the Church paper, the Light, and the postcards. Noah, Director of Facilities, and his team moved lots of tables and equipment. Tara and Zack in the office of Church Operations help set up “The Square” and trained folks to work it. Our Ministers, Rev. Amy and Rev. Rebecca, gave a shout out at the end of several Sunday worship services–on TV–Thank You!! Matt, the director of the Religious Nurture Center, welcomed the transformation of his classroom to a coffee shop. Kathy, Delaine and Nonie, super supporters of the RNC, for organizing and running the Coffee Shop–Thank You!! We are not doing this Quilt Sale alone and the support is appreciated.

Thirdly, Thank you to the Forum Theater. Immediately after the first production of the season was over, they disassembled the theater so we could set up. They gave us permission to hammer nails in their sets –which we did. We appreciated the post on their Facebook page encouraging folks to attend the Sale. Here is a plug for them.

These are personal–Thank you to my Texan brother and sister in law who came to KS for the sale and helped with baking, counting and buying! My daughter in law and granddaughter surprised me –almost heart attack surprise–by flying in from Washington to attend the Sale. I will never, ever forget that! Thank you to my husband for supporting all my crazy quilt ideas, my stressing and his helping at the Sale. And to my fellow quilters–I love each and everyone of them. They work so hard, put up with my bossiness and are true friends.

I have had lots of company in my home and missed last Wednesday’s quilting time; no new projects to share! But wild horses can’t keep me away this Wednesday and knowing our group I will have items to share next week. Stay tuned!!

Tomorrow is the big day! The quilts are hung for view, the lights have been strung and the “Square”- credit card reader- has been tested! We are ready to go! Here is a quick preview of Wilke Family Life Center after Quilters at First spend two days hammering, pinning and re-arranging.

A few lap size quilts

Bed size quilts on the wall; vintage items on the table in the foreground.

Lots of Christmas items–

Larger quilts—with a peek at the awesome oak quilt hanger Marty made.

Fourth of July, St. Pat’s day, Halloween and Thanksgiving are well represented.

The doors open at 10 am on both Friday and Saturday. The coffee shop will have fresh coffee brewed. The weather should be great. And contrary to some folks perceptions, we haven’t sold everything on-line. The room is full of lovely items for you to purchase!

The wind has been howling across Kansas for the past two days and the local meteorologists tell us it will last two more days. This a yearly occurrence on the high plains, and every time I wonder how those early pioneer women living in a sod dugout or basic log cabin kept their sanity. What was it like to keep a cooking fire going with wind whistling through the cracks in the wall? Did they just give up on washing and cleaning? Keeping children busy in a tiny cold cabin with a freezing wind chill out side must have been “stressful”.

The present world is not easy either; videos of horrific carnage by terrorists here and abroad, pandemics, climate disasters but I have much for which to be grateful.

Here is my partial list–

1. Abundance of sewing needles–Every time I misplace the needles I am using, I remember the story I read ages ago about an early settler breaking her only needle! When everything was hand sewn, needles were a precious commodity. Waiting for weeks for a replacement–I can’t imagine!
2. Vaccines–I just had my flu and covid vaccines this week so this is on my mind. Go to an old cemetery and look at the ages on the grave markers. Many deaths occurred from illnesses and conditions that we prevent with vaccines. In the past few years I have had vaccines for the flu, pneumonia, shingles, tetanus, covid and diphtheria; any of those could have changed my life.
3. Medical advances–I am recovering from a common surgery. I feel great now, issue resolved. But what happened when my great-great grandparents was experiencing these issues?
4. Communication technology–My children live on the east and west coast. Before FaceTime, texting and “no-long distance charges” phone calls, written letters would have been my only option. True, I treasure letters written my parents and grandparents, but frankly if I had to depend on letters from some of my family, I would have no idea what was going on in their lives.
5. Fabric Options–Beautiful colors, striking prints, lovely texture, plush synthetics–my grandmothers would have been in awe of the choices I have. I can visit local shops or shop on line. It is expensive and perhaps that is a good thing. Perhaps it slows down the over buying and production that is filling the land fills. I have gone almost a year with buying any–I had that much in my stash! Our ancestors would not believe how fabric wealthy we are.

Any thing on the list above would have been a miracle for the women listening to the wind in a sod dugout years ago.

I have many, many things for which to be grateful, but I will end this list with this–I am so grateful for my fellow Quilters at First and for everyone at First United Methodist that supports us in our Quilts Etc Sale!

Much goes into this sale, but every part is a joint effort and frankly fun! I love seeing our shelves and cupboards fill with completed projects. I love seeing the variety of projects–each quilter has a special talent. Some do intricate appliqué, some hand quilt, others make three dimensional art while others use scraps and a few try patterns no one else would touch. Deciding on the best way to display our quilts and hand crafts is a creative challenge. Trying to improve on our marketing and sales is a challenge; this year we have the “Square” to make credit card use much more simple. I hope you make it to our celebration of our years work.

Quilters never stop sewing –see what showed up this week.

Halloween is just around the corner– and Susan finished her jack o’ lantern table runner

If you look closely, the machine quilting is also jack o’ lanterns. 18″ x 67″. $60

Vicki made three holiday table runners–each very different from the others! The poinsettia one is 16″ x 41″, the tree in a field of snow is 16″ x 47″ and the Merry Christmas on is 17″ x 42″. Each one is $40

These snow people are for the entire winter, not just Christmas. The embroidered scene is framed with an explosion of forrest green and glittery gold. 16″ x 40″. $60

This view out of window into a snowy woods would be perfect hanging in a stair well or on the back of the sofa. $100. SOLD

Lots of little items showed up also–Christmas tree coasters, Chief potholders, microwave bowls, and tea towels. I can’t wait for you to see everything!

A week from today! We would love to see you!

I bought my first pumpkins of the fall today. Even though they were picked from the pile in front of Dillons, I still enjoy selecting the best ones!

I do miss the trips to the pumpkin patch with the kids and grandkids. And my pumpkins will never become jack o’ lanterns; it is much more fun watching grandchildren carve than actually doing work!

My pumpkins and chrysanthemums’ sole purpose is to decorate the steps to my front door and to add an autumn vibe to Wilke Family Life Center for the Quilt Sale. In December they will be deer food on the banks of a local creek.

As I loaded the pumpkins into my car, I wondered how pumpkins became the symbol of fall and what would people in a third world country think of me putting a perfectly good squash out to decorate and not to use it as food. And when did we start craving pumpkins for Halloween?

Pumpkins are old fruit/berry, over 10,000 years old. Pumpkin seeds were found in ancient tombs in Mexico. The Spanish took seeds to the old world and the Pilgrims brought seeds back to the new world. They were harvested in the fall and would last long into the extremely cold winters. Pumpkins pies were very different from the ones we enjoy at Thanksgiving–no crust and the custard was cooked inside a seeded pumpkin on the edge of the hearth. It was the Irish who started carving scary faces into pumpkins. Turnips had been used in Ireland to create “jack o’ lanterns”. When the Irish came to America, the abundant pumpkin became a substitute for the turnip to scare away the spooky spirits. During the middle of the 1800’s, pumpkins and the food made from them were a symbol of the abolitionists movement, because it was a crop grown in the northern states by non-slave labor.

And by one source on the internet, if you dream of a whole pumpkins it is a symbol of “openness to new possibilities and an encouragement to try new things! I dream very detailed, complex and colorful dreams, but never have I dreamed of a whole pumpkin. But I will be watching!

We have several pumpkins of all sorts for sale on our blog and at the Sale.

The decorated pumpkins would march up and down your table all fall. 16″ x 52″. $45

This rustic felt appliquéd wallhanging/table runner is 18″x 37″ and $60.SOLD

Happy pumpkins? Dancing pumpkins? Make you smile pumpkins? 17.5″ x 52″. $75

This pre-printed panel is cross-hatched machine quilted. The plaid fabric cut on a bias is a prefect frame for this harvest theme wall hanging. 18.5″ x 22.5″. $50. SOLD

Bright orange pumpkins are a favorite to embroidery on tea towels. All our tea towels are a strong cotton muslin. Most are in the range of $7 to $10.

Just like at the pumpkin patch, it is difficult to decide which one will be yours! But at least you didn’t have to walk through mud or carry a 15 pound pumpkin a mile back to the checkout stand. (and yes I did!)

Posted several new items on all three photo galleries this week. We also have received two vintage quilts–one a Grandma’s Flower garden and one that is registered with the KS Historical society. Both will be displayed for sale at the Quilts Etc. Sale on October 20-21.

We are very proud the workmanship and the creativity seen at the Quilt Etc Sale. Even if you are not in the market for a quilt, you are welcome to come and admire this art form and who knows you may see the perfect little gift for that special someone who so difficult to buy for at Christmas

The Quilters at First are making lots of lists in preparation for the Quilts etc Sale in October. We have a list of “Set up Supplies” to bring to Church–markers, tape, command hooks, etc. We have a list of volunteers to set up the quilt display in the lobby of the Forum Theater the three weekends before the sale. We have a list of volunteers that will help in the coffee shop. We have a list of who will take our postcards to various shops. And I am sure there is a list– not made available to me– of volunteers who will keep me calm and collected and who will keep track of my glasses, keys and phone during the set up and sale. We have thought and thought of what we can do to make this the best sale ever! New items are coming in every week. This Wednesday we had a bumper load.

The Hand quilters have worked months on this quilt. Every Wednesday 3 or 4 women sat around the frame for 6 hours plus quilting tiny stitches into this beauty.

The quilt is hanging in their room to be enjoyed before it is offered up at the Quilt Sale.

The quilting is done with navy thread on a white background. All the prints are navy and white which is a timeless color combination. The pattern would work in a traditional or a contemporary setting. The quilt measures 96″ x 110″ and would fit any king size bed. The batting is polyester which gives warmth but keeps it from being so heavy. This quilt will easily become a family heirloom. $600. This price includes sale tax. It could be shipped for cost of postage and insurance.

Smaller quilts were finished and tagged for the sale.

Lorrie used her Christmas fat quarters to create this stunner. It is 58″ x 72″ and would bring an atmosphere of autumn to any room. The batting is a cotton polyester blend and machine quilting is a leaf pattern! $225

Perfect for a child’s bed, this 50″ x 53″ quilt is a delight. It is machine quilted with cotton/polyester blend. A great gift from Grandma –$125 SOLD

Lady Bug, Lady Bug fly away home…this quilt would make a perfect tummy time quilt with plenty of room to roam and bright contrasting colors. $125

Both of these small quilts have been donated. Perfect condition, just not brand new. The blue one is 38″ x 39″ and $40. The purple one is 42″ x 42″ and also $40.

Going to do some holiday entertaining?

Do you play cards with a child with small hands or an elderly parent that can’t manage a handful of playing cards? Here is the solution.

Elaine is so creative!

Snow people, woodland babies and bright red umbrellas!

Six placemats, 15″x 19″ for $60. These cheerful scenes could bring a smile to your face all during the coldest months of the year. SOLD

Grab a Little Red Riding Hood story book to read to your princess while she plays with this soft Red Riding Hood doll, her blanket and matching pillow and of course the wolf!

She has her own bag to take Grandma’s house. $40

Write on your “to do list”, Attend Quilts etc Sale on October 20 or 21. You won’t be sorry! We are excited and hope to see you!

It is the summer’s great last heat, 
It is the fall’s first chill: They meet. 
–Sarah Morgan Bryan Piatt

Tomorrow morning very early is the Autumnal. Equinox. With official Fall here, can the annual Quilts Etc. Sale be far away? One month from today, the sale will be over and the Quilters at First will be recovering — and looking through their stash and patterns for their next projects!

Erin did a great job creating this post card to advertise our sale with all the important details.

And do not doubt the phrase “hundreds of handcrafted items”. Our cabinets and cupboard are crammed full. There are many more quilts than available racks. But quilters are nothing, if not creative, so come see how all those quilts are displayed!

The Quilters at First have some Chief theme items that would make great gifts for your favorite Chief’s fan–or for you when you host a Chief game watch party!

For the grill chief or chili maestro, we have aprons that will fit men or women. Both aprons have adjustable neck straps and long waist ties.

The ticking apron has three large pockets to hold all the grilling tops or pot holders needed. Each apron is $30.

Table runners give a special touch to your table or party.

At our sale we will also have Chief’s pennants and some bowl cozies.

Recently lots of new items were posted in the Photo Gallery as well as the Christmas Photo and Fall Photo Gallery.

After a long hot summer, most people will list autumn as their favorite season. And two great events to anticipate during these transitional months are football games and the Quilts Etc. Sale.

I am so guilty of this—finishing a quilt and omitting a label on the back. My husband nags me to label my quilts, but….. We have treasured family quilts but are not sure if it was a great aunt or great grandmother who made all those tiny stitches. Did she use scraps of fabric left over from making garments for her family during the Depression? Was the quilt for a “hope chest”? Did she make this quilt while a son was overseas in during World War II or in Vietnam and she needed something to keep her mind busy?

One elderly family member shows off a quilt his grandmother made for him, but other family members are certain he is giving the wrong grandmother credit! Does it matter enough to create discord in a family? Of course not, but a label would have solved that issue and perhaps given the story behind the quilt.

Most quilters take photos and record the pertinent facts–size, pattern name, fabric line in a journal or on the computer. This is wonderful. I should do that also. But photos, journals and word documents are occasionally lost. A label is sewn on the back; it goes with the quilt where ever it goes. Labels that are written in permanent ink in the creators own handwriting are even more special. But a label that is created with on a word processor is better than no label!

What ever the type used, a label adds value to the quilt. The label doesn’t have to tell just about the quilter but can be added to a purchased hand crafted quilt. Add a label to tell who purchased it, or where it was bought or to whom it was gifted. There are no “quilt label police”. Add a label to the quilt you purchased at the Quilts Etc Sale for your granddaughter’s wedding shower.

We have several finishes this week to share with you—that a label could be added to!

Shirley finished her 62″ x 62″ quilt in the traditional “pineapple” block. It is machine quilting with cotton/polyester batting. The backing is a soft green floral. The colors are year around, but they do seem to hint of autumn. $175. SOLD

Isn’t this fun? Look a Christmas light pattern was used to machine quilt it. Snow people are scattered across the back. A good size for a child—I will add the dimensions after this Sunday–ooops. $125

This flannel panel showcases September, October and November. It is machine quilted, 39″ x 40″ and is $75. SOLD

These two wall hangings are from the Merrily Ginger fabric collection. The prints framing the holiday animals are from the same prints line. Each is $40 and the penguin is 28″ x 28″. The deer is slightly larger. The deer has hanging corners sewn in.

Elaine was able to create four more Barbie zip cases–one has already sold from this group. Sadly, it is the end of the fabric, so this is it! Lined–$30 each.

Our apron collection is growing! One celebrates Christmas and one is for that KSU fan in your life. Each has an adjustable neck straps to give a custom fit. $25 each

KSU is sold

The Quilters at First would be happy to help add a label to a quilt purchased at the Quilts Etc Sale–added bonus. We will mail your purchase via USPS for cost of postage and insurance. Kansas sales tax is included in the price.

Flip the calendar over tomorrow and it is September! According to my favorite weather man, September 1 is considered the beginning of “meteorological” fall. So all you that have been craving pumpkin spice everything and plaid flannel, it is legitimately fall. Labor Day Weekend, the unofficial holiday that marks the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, is here. What are your plans? For some folks who are trying to squeeze the last bit of summer fun into their schedules, it will be trips to the lake or a cook out. Me? My husband is passionate about America’s pastime, so it will be baseball–lots of baseball!

Friday and Saturday evenings will be at Tulsa OK and Springdale AK. Minor league games are more fun for me. Much closer to the action and something about players who probably won’t ever be making millions, but are giving their best to the game. To be fair, we will be doing some touristy stuff and visiting some family for me.

For the Quilters at First, flipping the calendar over to September means the Quilt Etc Sale is just one month away! We are checking off items on the Sale “to do” list and filling our storage spaces with all sorts of goodies that will be for sale.

The following are new items…a huge variety.

Peggy brought her red, white and blue Chandelier quilt. It is 59″ x 59″ and $175. One FB follower suggested it would be great for a KU fan.

Fall is the start of the “Holidays”–Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. More decorating is done this time of the year than any other. We want to contribute to that!

A Mary Engelbreit cloth book is great for toddlers–they can chew on it or drop it in church and no one hears it. $25

Simple blue and white placemats that have Bunny Hill snow people. The placemats are 12″ x 18″ and the set of 6 is $50.

We have collect some small vintage items–

We did receive two baby quilts–

And since this post began with baseball, it will close with baseball..

Hope you have marked your calendars–October 20 and 21–for the Quilts Etc. Sale. We look forward to seeing you at First United Methodist Church in downtown Wichita!