Concordia, KS is only two hours plus away from my front door; but it was all brand new to me! We were on our way to the International Quilt Museum and some minor league baseball in Nebraska and Concordia was a great stopping place for lunch, historical site seeing and fabric shopping.

Lunch was at Jitters, a cafe and coffee shop, in a repurposed building downtown. The decor was unique with piggy cutting boards, old rolling pins and lots of books. Most important, the food was delicious and seemed very popular with the locals.

Since the Orphan Museum was still on it’s lunch break we found a fabric store on the same street! (It pays to scout out the territory via the internet before visiting a new location.). Fabric Essentials was also in a building that has a history but had found new life as a quilters paradise with over 5,000 bolts of fabric, pre-packed kits of every sort of projects, patterns, and notions. Tea towel material by the yard was available!

The major reason we stopped in Concordia was to visit the Orphan Train Museum. After reading THE ORPHAN TRAIN by Christina Baker Kline and THE CHAPERONE by Laura Moriaty and hearing super positive comments about the museum, a visit had been on my bucket list. A video in the visitor center/research center explains the motivation behind the program and its history.

(I borrowed these photos from the web site–mine include my husband who is blog-sly.)

The town’s Visitor’s Center features a “bas-relief” sculpture on the side of the building in red brick. I was fascinated by the use of brick this way.

After driving around the town to check out some of the impressive buildings,

we found another quilt shop! Full of Scraps is right on the highway–which isn’t surprising since it is in a re-purposed gas station!

On the way out of town, we drove through the remains of Camp Concordia, a Prisoner of War Camp. In 1945, there were approx. 4,000 German officers and enlisted men, mainly from the North Africa campaign. Again, I let my imagination go back in time…

I still want to visit Ayers Rock in Australia, a pub in Ireland, the Shetland Islands and the Alps. But it is very satisfying to learn new things about the world close to home. If you haven’t been to Concordia, consider a day trip. You won’t spend a lot on travel, you speak the language, and there are two great quilt shops!

What is your “passion”? Maybe passion is too strong a word for what I mean, but do you have a hobby or interest that consumes a lot of your time and a significant portion of your budget? Passions or hobbies or interests are the flavoring or seasoning that makes person more interesting. It is the frosting on the cake. A person can be kind, intelligent and have strong values, my top three criteria for a person, but a passion makes that individual stand out. Sometimes, the career is that person’s passion. We know doctors, teachers or baseball players that use all their energy on their chosen field. But isn’t it fun to find out a person has an interest that is totally unrelated to their career? I just read that “Bend like Beckham”, the English soccer player extraordinary, keeps bees! If nothing else, these passions/interests/hobbies, give friends and family a help with shopping for birthday presents or the holidays!

My husband loves baseball–the game, the ball parks, the history, We just returned from a six day baseball tour. Six games in seven nights! He may have a career that most people wouldn’t know about–but you can always talk baseball.

My daughter is into researching our ancestors. She finds the most obscure facts and stories that fill out the sterile information making up a family tree. She spends hours determining the validity of traditional family stories…and discovering the “rest of the story”. Family lore was that a particular branch of our family went to Texas area to escape the Civil War–nope, they went in 1830’s when it was really tough going!

We have soccer aficionadoes, gardeners who remember the scientific names of plants, and football fiends in our family… and of course, Quilters!!! It is a happy family when two passions can be combined! Later this year, we are heading north on a short trip to visit a couple of museum quilt collections and a couple of minor league baseball parks. Win-Win.

Update from the Common Threads Quilt Show— I had a great time! So many exciting quilts to see–so much lovely fabric to buy! Added bonus was getting to know some of the members of the Prairie Quilt Guild. And ribbons were won!!!!

Paulette’s whole cloth quilt, hand quilted by the Quilters at First, won the “Best Hand Quilting” of the entire show! This one will not be for sale at the October Quilt Sale but it is a lovely example of the quality of the Quilters at First work.

And I won a second place ribbon!! I think the judge liked the little sawtooth stars.

Of course, now I am challenged to make something better for the 2024 show!

I am already getting excited about our annual sale in October. A coffee shop with goodies will be added this year. It will be located right off the lobby so after your initial shopping tour, you can rest, build up your energies, and return to the displays and do a bit more shopping!

There will be a vintage corner. Just last week we were gifted six large antique quilts–five are beautifully hand quilted. I am spending the weekend, soaking , rinsing and drying them to allow them to shine.

Yup, my passion is quilting. That is why when you see me out and about with threads hanging from my clothes, know that I have been in my happy place.

When I retired ten years ago, I announced that one item on my bucket list was to enter a quilt in the Prairie Quilt Guild bi-annual quilt show. Ten years later it is finally happening! I have judged quilts in a country fair for several years and graded hundreds when I taught Sewing in High School. I knew what judges look for in a quilt, but I was nervous about having someone “grade” my quilts. Two years ago I decided it was time to put my quilt out there—but COVID occurred and the Common Threads Show was canceled. Thanks to vaccines and lower numbers, the show is back–smaller but back!

I urge you to attend—if you don’t quilt, come enjoy art and crafts. A mixture of traditional and contemporary, of machine and hand crafted, huge and tiny will be on exhibit. Some vintage quilts will be on display. If you enjoy shopping, dozens of venders will have booths full of fabric, patterns, and tools—not all the items are intended for quilting. (I will spend as much time browsing in the mini-shops as admiring the entries.)

There is an “opportunity” quilt for which you may purchase chances to win.

Two “Quilters at First” quilters have quilts in the show. Here is a sneak preview of these quilts. In the hand quilted category, three quilts have been entered.

The most elegant of quilts is the “whole cloth” quilt. The hand stitching creates the pattern. There are no colors or piecing of fabric to distract from the quilting. Thousands of tiny stitches were made by needle and thread one stitch at a time. Paulette treasures this beauty in her home.

This simple pieced quilt is a show stopper due to the hand quilting. The understated color and simplicity of the pattern plus the quilting have created an heirloom. It was pieced by Barbara N. and quilted by the Quilters at First and purchased by Susan last fall at the Quilts Etc. Sale at First United Methodist Church.

Sharon is sharing her quilt that was machine pieced by Paulette and quilted at First Methodist by the hand quilters. Come see this contemporary quilt up close at the show.

I am not a hand quilter! I don’t have the patience to develop the skill– therefore my Bernina was used to make my entries.

I fell in love with the cover of the Feb.2018 issue of American Patchwork and Quilting and challenged myself to make the quilt for the Common Threads Show. It is semi-scrappy- the various fabrics are from my over flowing scrap tubs.

This is my second entry —and it is not all machine sewn. The “orange peels” are hand appliquéd.

If I missed your quilt, my apologies. I urge you to attend the Common Thread Show. It only comes around every other year. It is a feast for the eyes and mind.

What is the best part of summertime for you? I look forward to grandkids coming to visit. I enjoy fresh tomatoes, basil and zinnias from our tiny raised garden beds and even some nights at the ball park. But what I wait for every year is to simply walk out the house at 7 am to walk the dog without spending a good ten minutes putting on multiply layers, zipping up parkas and adding thick gloves! Summertime and I just put enough clothes to be modest and I am out the door! I would be curious to learn your little summer pleasures.

Summertime has a special look or color. Red, white and blue for Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. Bright primary colors suggest fireworks. Pastels for all those lovely flowers in you garden. The Quilters at First have some new projects that suggest warm weather and lazy days.

This scrappy masterpiece by Vicki is 60″ x 72″ and features sawtooth stars lighting up a neutral background. Great for the back of your sofa or thrown over the back of a rocking chair on your deck or porch. $225

We planted sunflower seeds this spring, but we will have to wait to late summer to enjoy them. These sunflowers are ready for picking now. The sunflower table runner is 12″ x 42″ and is $40. The pillow measures 18.5″ x 18.5″ and is $30.

I pitted “bushels” of cherries for my Grandma Ella—well, maybe not bushels but lots! But every company meal at her house ended in wonderful cherry crisp for dessert. Now I look forward to fresh cherries from Washington in the summer. This table topper has several cute cherry prints for a summer vibe. The backing could also serve to brighten up your table. 39″ x 39″ and $50.

Happy Summer! Here is to cool morning walks, warm afternoons at the pool, lazy afternoons with a good book, a house full of family or whatever means summer to you!

May was my birthday month and I believe that birthdays should be celebrated! My family and friends did not disappoint me, although this year’s events won’t soon be forgotten….waiting for three hours plus in a hospital’s emergency room parking lot and KFC tenders eaten at a park. To top it off, I received an edger for the lawn from my husband! To be fair, I did ask for either a trip to Australia or an edger!

So, what do you give a quilter for their birthday or for Christmas? I have been ask by fellow quilters’ husbands and friends many times. The answer depends upon how long the person has been quilting—basic tools or extras?

First, check their “wish list”. Online, Amazon is a great source for tools, notions, and batting. Fabric.com is a division of Amazon and most of the fabric can be purchased through Amazon and your Prime membership can be used. But if you want to shop locally, most of the quilt shops will have a “wish list” for their customers, especially around the holidays. Just discover where your quilter spends most of their money and go there!

What would I like to receive? After 25 years plus I have the basic items that a new quilter needs. But there is always something new and exciting. The following items are “extras” that have made my sewing life easier. I will mention brand names–I do not receive free items or money for showing these particular brands. Probably many different brands are equal in cost and quality

A vital part of piecing quilt blocks is the pressing of fabric and seams. All you need is an iron and a padded surface..ie an ironing board. But these two items make the process a bit more satisfying.

The wool felt pressing pad retains the heat for a “professional” press. Seams are crisper and lay flat. Pro quilters have huge pads the size of the average iron board, but I use the standard 18″ x 24″. The mist bottle, on the right, sprays a fine mist and one squeeze results in a longer than average mist. Starch or water may be used; so two different bottles would be a luxury

The following two items are pure luxury–but if you want to pamper your quilter, they will be greatly appreciated!!!

A “for sure”– “can’t fail” present is a gift card to a quilt shop. Your quilter can choose the exact ruler she wants –just because the quilter has one or two rulers doesn’t mean there aren’t five more that would be nice to own! Fabric is expensive–“free”(purchased with a gift card) fabric is great! Local quilt shops all have gift cards to purchase.

Extra hint–If you know your quilters’ interests, wrap your present in fabric. My daughter-in-law used Christmas theme fabric to wrap my gifts since I use holiday prints preparing for the Quilt Etc. Sale in Oct. Solids, stripes and dots are always welcome.

Our ancestors made exquisite quilts using only scissors and needles and in many parts of the world it is still done. But many tools and gadgets have been developed to make our sewing experience so much easier. Take advantage of all those ” Ah Ha” moments someone else had— resulting in “wheels on the luggage”. Your quilter will appreciate your gift.

When does an item become “vintage” or “antique”? Cars can obtain a special vintage or classic license plate after 25 years. Furniture, china etc. need to be close to 100 years old to be labeled antique. But quilts—sort of up to the owner and what the quilt itself tells us. (This is why labels on every quilt is important…I certainly agree but am very lackadaisical about it.). Quilt appraisers and fabric hobbyists look at the color and designs of the fabric to date it fairly accurately. The construction of the quilt gives clues also…most quilts before the 1900’s were entirely hand stitched both in the block assemble and in the quilting of the layers.

This year at the Quilts Etc. Sale in October we will have a few “vintage” or “gently used” or maybe a few “antique” quilts that have been donated and are for sale. Most are from quilters who are paring down their collection and have saturated their families with quilts. Also included are some lovely table linens and even a couple of “for dress up” aprons from the 50’s.

The stripes and the geometric prints pairs well with the floral fabrics, keeping the look fresh and not so “Little House on the Prairie”.

The back is white but the quilting shows off better with the darker photo. I dream of having stitches this even and small, but……..

The quilt measures 74″ x 92″ (would fit a full or double size bed) and has been freshly laundered. $300 and it is yours! SOLD

This is a “vintage” , almost antique quilt…

Known as a “Yo-yo” quilt, it really is more of a decorative top than a quilt. Made to be spread over a solid quilt or sheet, it would be removed before anyone slept in the bed!

The top measures 77″ x 77″ and is for sale for $75. SOLD

The Butterfly quilt has been shown previously but is definitely “vintage”. The hand quilting was done by a past member of the group with a reputation for her small even stitches–no higher praise!

The folded triangles of fabric are called “prairie points” and are used instead of binding to frame the quilt. Measuring 65″ x 74″ , it is $200.

The line in the poem by J. Perry–“Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold” could be applied to vintage/antique/classic quilts as well!

If you are interested in a pre-owned quilt, please leave a comment.

When I suggested adding “ric rac” to the apron a student was making in class, I was met with the most incredulous look only a teenager can give. Ric Rac? Surely I was making that word up! None of the students recognized the name of a trim they might have seen once. Gleefully, I introduced the class to one of my favorite trims. In fact, I created an entire bulletin board to show off the versatility of ric rac. I am not sure I made any converts, but I still a fan of this trim with the funny name.

According to the internet and Google, ric rac was originally called “flat woven braid”–very descriptive! Ric rac is a flat woven braid in a zigzag shape and used as a decorative trim on clothing and household items. Originally made of cotton, most is made from polyester fiber now. It came about in the 1860’s and was used to finish hems due to its stability and durability but became popular as a decorative trim. In the depression era, ric rac dressed up garments made from feed sacks. But it’s heyday was the 1970’s.

Where do I get my ric rac? Since I sew for charity-all my sewing/quilting friends that no longer do much sewing besides piecing or quilting have given me their stash. Friends are on the look out at garage sales, estate sales and in thrift shops for ric rac. Without their generosity, I couldn’t be able to add that final touch!

Presently ric rac is not used on clothing for anyone over the age of 6 years! But it is used on aprons….

Ric rac is a fun trim to add to hot pads…

Even a utilitarian towel for the kitchen looks better with ric rac…..

When I make pennants or banners for a holiday or season, ric rac just adds something….

When you are typing ric rac, be prepared— your computer will change the words over and over. Nevertheless, I liked using ric rac so much that I made the words into part of an account password once!

Come to the Quilts Etc. Sale in October and see how many items you can find with ric rac trim! The sale is October 21 and 22 at First United Methodist Church, Wichita, KS, and for all of you that are not ric rac enthusiasts, the vast majority of items won’t have any ric rac!

Quilters love to play with blocks! Not the wooden cubes of our childhood– but those squares of fabric cut and combined with other squares to create a quilt top or the square made up of little cut shapes that create a pattern that will be repeated over and over to create a quilt top.

The most basic quilt block is a simple square–and it is a very good place to start your creative endeavor.

Any number of “looks” may be made using different color and prints depending on the arrangement of the blocks

But why do something simple? Quilters like to manipulate small squares, rectangles, triangles, wedges and even circles into designs more complicated and perhaps more interesting. Quilters identified the different patterns with a name that was easy to remember and descriptive of the design.

Many factors went into these names. Block names may reflect where the quilter is physically located. Kansas pioneers quilted to keep their families warm and as an outlet for their creativity. The names of three blocks tell a story of life on the frontier.

The Kansas City Star was famous for hundreds of quilt block patterns printed with instructions and templates for free during the depression and WWII ! To read more about the paper’s pattern go to https://quiltmuseum.org/kcstar/. I have an envelope of fragile, yellow patterns my grandmothers cut from the paper–I inherited my tendency to collect more patterns than I will ever possibly make!

Currently, quilters are creating quilts featuring sunflowers, the national flower of Ukraine, to show support and/or to raise funds for different refugee charities.

We have many quilted projects using the “tried and true” blocks—-

The Log Cabin is one of the oldest and there are many variations of the block.

Rail Fence is very popular; the three rectangles reminded pioneers of enclosures using three split logs interlaced with three other logs. This pattern also has many variations.

Pinwheels are basically half-square triangles set to create a sense of motion.

This is just the “tip of the iceberg”. Amazon has hundreds of quilt block reference books. Flowers, stars, animals, places, people, Bible stories, food, transportation–all are the source of names for quilt blocks. Just add your twist and you can name it!

Shoppers do not need to wait until October and the Quilt Sale. All items are for purchase now. Please contact me via the comments section of this post.

Well, life happens! This is not news, but this past week or so, “stuff” seemed to change plans and interrupt daily schedules. My brother and my husband had routine surgeries. My husband’s was be minor and he would be back on his feet in a long weekend. Oops, now he is completely off his foot and no driving for four weeks! My brother was having a procedure that he had had five or six times before and out of the blue he had a reaction to some of the medicines and that changed everything! I know all of you have had similar situations. Remember the old Yiddish saying “Man plans, God laughs”?

Thus, this week I am just going to show off some recent finishes by the Quilters at First. There is no theme- we have a habit of telling ourselves and each other that we will make thus and thus to insure there will be a balance of items at our Quilt Etc sale in October, but we are so easily distracted by new patterns or pretty fabric! So these are our newest additions!

Shirley was also thinking of the winter holidays when she created the scrappy Christmas print quilt using the Chinese Coin pattern. It is 70″ x 74″ and is $200. It is a large twin or would work on a double.

This cool rainy May weather will quickly become hot and sunny. This bright 10″ x 40″ table runner is great for a casual warm weather table. It is $40. SOLD

The fabrics are 30 and 40’s reproduction prints. The long arm quilting is Baptist Fan. It is bound in “that green” –very popular in the 1930’s. It measures 62″ x 72″ (would fit a twin bed) and is for sale for $250. This was interesting to make for every piece in this quilt is the same size!

It is a “sort of” scrappy nine patch. The borders and binding are from the same jelly roll collection. The quilting is “Baptist Fan” –Measuring 65″ x 73″ and for sale for $250

The next photo is a quilt that has probably already sold but just wanted you all to see it! Sharon has lots of friends and “friends of friends” that love to golf and she has specialized in some great golf theme quilts.

Yup, life happens and sometimes the best therapy is needle, thread and fabric!

If you are interested in any of these pieces, please leave a comment or contact a Quilter at First.

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Quilters love stars in their quilts. Is it because we “wish upon a star”? Or like the Kansas state motto, quilters believe “Ad astra per aspera“— “to the stars through difficulties.” Stars may symbolize our “light at the end of the tunnel”. Whatever, they are fun to make–depending on the pattern!

If you “googled” star quilt blocks, you would find hundreds of star variations. Often the same pattern will have several different names. Twek a pattern, voila–a new star. But some star patterns have been around for years!

This table runner made by Vicki uses white sawtooth stars as part of the border. The center panel is stem stitch embroidery. Measuring 22″ x 57″, it is $75.

I usually don’t show unfinished projects, but I am making a Carpenter’s Star table topper or wall hanging in Christmas prints.

On the design wall and sewn together–life happened and it isn’t quilted yet.

This quilt needs binding before it is photographed, measured and priced. (Secret–my least favorite part of quilt making is machine sewing the binding before finishing it by hand binding)

Vintage prints, polka dots, Baptist Fan quilting, 30’s green and stars!

But my favorite star to make is the Wonky Star. Similar to the saw tooth but the points are free hand.

May need to make another one of these—there might be enough fabric in my stash “wink-wink”.

The best sleep comes when one sleeps under the stars–either in the heavens or on quilts!