Have you observed that when a friend is really into something–gardening or cruises or antiquing–they really want you to become passionate about their passion also. I am not immune to that tendency. I “enjoy/love” all aspects of quilting. Fabric shopping, pattern selection, cutting out with a new rotary blade, sewing together small pieces of fabric to create blocks.

Would you like to explore this passion of mine and the other Quilters at First? We are inviting you to join us. If you are a quilter but don’t have a group, come check us out, remembering that our main goal is to sew for the annual Quilts Etc. Sale that benefits two ministries at First United Methodist Church, Wichita, KS. You don’t need to be a member of FUMC, three of our very active quilters belong to other churches. We bring our own machines, projects and lunch—and treats.

We meet Wednesdays from 11 am to around 5 pm in a room that is designated for quilters. Our members come and go according to their personal schedules. If you are interested, please contact me by leaving a comment. I will receive an email and respond to your queries.

If you are not a quilter and would like to learn, this is your opportunity. I would like to help you learn the basics of piecing and quilting with a machine. We have sewing machines, rotary cutters, mats, rulers etc that you can use during these learning sessions.

I would work with you for three to 6 weeks depending on your starting point. In my past life, I was a high school Family and Consumer Science teacher–I taught sewing and quilting but promise you I am not one of those Home Economics teachers that haunt your nightmares with a seam ripper! Done is better than perfect.

So, consider yourself invited! No commitments are necessary. You don’t know until you tried it!

Since my son was going to the Navel Academy after high school graduation, all the usual graduation gifts were unnecessary. The only thing the US Navy did not provide was a computer and printer. Family and friends showered him with money to purchase his own computer. Being old school, I insisted that he write thank you notes for each gift. Ouch–an eighteen year old leaving home for the adventure of his lifetime struggled. So we came up with a formula. Had to be three sentences, had to say for what he was going to use the money, and had to include one personal sentence….thank you for coming to my party, etc. After he left for the Navy, I received so many calls, emails, and comments about how pleased the person was to receive the thank you note. “Thank you” is so important!

The Quilts Etc. Sale and Auction is in the books for 2021.

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But I would be remiss if I didn’t thank each person or group of persons that made it happen!

Thank you…to First United Methodist Church for providing a huge space with easy access for the sale AND for the two rooms dedicated to the Quilters at First to use every Wednesday

Thank you…to the various staff members of the Church.

Our pastors that gave us encouragement and support

The media and communions staff that helped advertise the event

The custodial staff that moved furniture and equipment

Thank you… to the husbands that cashiered and cleaned up

Thank you…to close friends and family that came just to support us (and provide treats for energy)

Thank you.. to every Facebook friend that shared our posts in order to reach more people

Thank you…to the two wood artists that made the first barn quilts we have included in the sale

Thank you…to each quilter that bought supplies and spent hours creating amazing quilts and other projects

And to YOU…Thank you for visiting the blog, Facebook and the sale! For purchasing quilts, placemats, table runners, micro wave bowls, aprons, banners, wall hangings, pillows, baby bibs and burp clothes, mug rugs, kitchen towel sets, tortilla warmers, pot holders, dog collars, pin cushions ETC. Because of you, we will be able to donate a significant sum of money to the Religious Nurture Center and the TV Ministry. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

The blog will continue through out the year with weekly posts. Items will be for sale all year. As it gets closer to the holidays and gift giving, remember we are an option for local unique gifts. If you want to purchase an item, leave me a message in the comments. I will get in touch with you.

The Quilts Etc. Sale and Auction is next Friday and Saturday! The Quilters at First are getting super excited…and just a little bit stressed. The pre-priced items will go on sale Friday, Oct. 15, at 10 am and we will stay open until 6 pm. On Saturday, Oct. 16, we will open at 10 am for shopping. At 12 noon we will have a live auction. Shoppers may continue to shop until 2 pm.

The following 29 items have been selected to be auctioned. But any of these quilts may be bought before the auction. If a quilt is purchased before the auction, we will replace it with another quilt–probably lap or baby size.

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If you have question about anyone of these quilts, please leave feedback in the comments.

And as listed in the flyer, there are hundreds of smaller, pre-priced items.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Quilts Etc. Sale and Auction –version 2021 has some great new additions! And that is to be expected–quilting is a very diverse art. So many methods, so many styles, so many end products. Plus all the beautiful fabrics. Several years ago, the quilters made a loose pact, that anything offered at the Quilt Sale needed to be fabric based. But this year we had a offer we could not turn down….Barn Quilts!

Dale Strattman is a local artist…he has had several photography exhibits at galleries in Wichita and the Ulrich Museum. He taught art in the Wichita Public school and at Wichita State University and Tabor College for forty one years. When he offered to give us three barn quilts for the sale, it was a resounding “Thank You” from all the fabric quilters.

The three pieces are each 32″ square. They are weather proof–he has one on his garage. His and these three are his first venture into “quilting” with paint and plywood. The colors in each quilt block are very reminiscent of the Amish Barn Quilts. With out further delay—

Each one is $75 –a Dale Strattman original! SOLD

Before I close this post, I want to share my first memory of Dale. I had just joined the Church Class I attend with Dale and his wife, when the Church’s preschool had a Scholastic Book Fair. I was at the cashiers when I discovered I had used my last check …no way to pay for my armful of children’s books! Being new to the Church, I was terribly embarrassed. I was getting ready to quickly leave, when the man behind me insisted on paying for the books. In the forty plus years of friendship and being Church Classmates, I am constantly amazed at their generosity.

I can’t remember my Grandma Vanslyke without an apron. She was a farm wife from the edge of the Ozarks that cooked on a wood stove, carried water from a well, raised chickens and gardened. If she spilled something on her apron she just turned it inside out! Her aprons were no-nonsense cover ups usually made from feed sacks. So, every time I put an apron on, I feel her spirit and try to work and love as hard as she did.

I am messy–multitasking is like that! Aprons keep dinner off me. I need hard working ones–I like the double layer ones. Pockets keep items I pick up to put away. But aprons are no longer regulated to “blab” fabrics. Aprons come in so many styles and different fabrics, it is fun to choose one that fits you best!

The Quilts Etc. Sale has several apron offerings this year.

The yellow and green flower apron is single thickness and trimmed in bias tape. It is $20. The green gingham is double thickness and trimmed in ric rac is $30.

A complete collection–apron with two pockets–$20, tortilla warmer $10, micro-wave bowl $5, skillet handle pot holders $5 each, and round pot holder $5. This would be a great gift set for your favorite cherry pie maker!

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This pattern is “Church Ladies Apron”. This fits this model perfectly–she has helped prepare many meals in the church’s kitchen! Both fabrics are from the same fabric line, different colors. $30

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Strawberry jam? Double thickness with adjustable neckties. $30. The houndstooth apron is reversible with the plaid. It is $25.

Those buttons are vintage–but the apron is certainly contemporary. It is double thickness and easy to wear. $30

One model was a professional apron model! My great niece at 3 years has the poses down! She is modeling some of the children size aprons that are available.

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It had been a long week at pre-school and she really didn’t want her hair brushed. A very realistic look for a grandma’s baking helper!

More aprons will be available at the Quilts Etc. Sale. Aprons make great gifts—or make you look like you are really busy in the kitchen!