|
Quilting for a cause; Festival of Trees raffle to benefit county foodshelf
|
|
|
Editor’s note: The following article was provided by the Spring Grove Herald.
By Marlene Deschler
Herald Community Reporter
Fabric + four friends = fun. In early June four friends gathered together with a singular goal in mind - creating a quilt to be raffled off with all proceeds going to the Houston County Food Shelf. The quilt will be raffled off in Spring Grove during this weekend’s Festival of Trees.
One (of many) things the four friends have in common is a passion for quilting and for helping others. These two passions combined into a red and white Triple Irish Chain quilt and shams with a coordinating Redwork pillow.
Who are the quilters?
The project began as a spark in Peggy Landsom’s head. “In the past year I have worked in Caledonia and Hokah and realized how many people did not know about the Festival of Trees and that it was a Houston County event.
“I wanted to do something to help get the word out about this great event that benefits so many in Houston County. I love to quilt and thought maybe a quilt would be a visible reminder about the Festival of Trees and could be on display in many locations for many months to help get the word out about Festival of Trees.”
Landsom contacted her friend, Darla Hunzeker, who also enjoys quilting, and asked if she would be interested in being a part of this project and she agreed.
Landsom contacted two more quilting friends, Mary Deters and Milly Halverson, who also said, “Yes” right away as well.
“It was really inspiring when I asked the gals to join in on the project,” commented Landsom. “They all immediately said yes without even batting an eye.”
The four friends met to decide on a pattern and easily agreed to have a two-color only scheme. They also decided to make a pillow that was two-sided to complete the bedding set.
By the end of June, everything was in place - pattern was chosen, fabric was purchased, pillow was being embroidered, a drawing permit was obtained from the Spring Grove Legion Auxiliary. It was time to create the quilt.
How did they do it?
They met in Halverson’s basement with sewing machines, thread, pins, scissors, and irons in hand. Halverson’s basement is a quilter’s heaven with plenty space to cut and iron fabric and sew until a quilter’s heart is content.
“We had such a wonderful time that day,” remarked Deters. “We laughed and sewed, went out for lunch, and sewed and laughed some more.”
“We really did work hard that day and got the entire quilt top made. We had such a great time together that when we were done we all wondered when we could get together again for another project,” added Hunzeker.
During the quilting, attention was paid to detail... all the sewing machines had the same thread and presser foot. Coincidently, all the machines were identical - the same brand purchased in the same month almost a year ago! This made it possible to get the corners to come out the same.
The four friends purchased all of the materials needed for the queen-sized quilt, shams, and pillow plus they paid to have it quilted. It cost each of them about $82 - all of which they donated.
Mother and daughter, Gen Molling and Dorothy Ranzenberger, both of Caledonia, did the embroidery on the pillow and donated all of their time for that.
Where can you get your ticket?
The quilt was completed by late July and then it started making its rounds to all of the banks in Houston County.
It has also been shown at the New Albin Quilt Show, the Houston County Fair, Spring Grove’s UffDa Fest, and One-Stop Shopping.
The quilt is currently on display at Central Bank (formerly Jennings State Bank) in Spring Grove. Drawing tickets are $1 and will be available at the bank plus during Festival of Trees.
“Quilting is high on my list of favorite things to do,” said Hunzeker, “and when I found out the proceeds from the project were going to the food shelf, I thought it was an even better project to be involved in.”
The drawing for the quilt will take place during the Holiday Gala and Auction on Saturday, Nov. 28. Tickets will be available for purchase up until the time of the drawing.
Festival of Trees preview
Festival of Trees will begin with a sneak peek on Thanksgiving evening. It officially begins Friday, Nov. 27, at 1 p.m. with an open viewing.
A free movie will be shown at the Spring Grove Cinema at 1 p.m. There will be children’s activities plus a visit from Santa from 4 to 7 p.m.
A chili supper sponsored by the Spring Grove Ambulance Company will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. before the lighting of Christmas-in-the-Village at 7 p.m.
Finish out the evening by attending the Ye Olde Opera Houses’ (YOOH) performance of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.”
Festivities continue on Saturday, Nov. 28, with open viewing from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A free movie will be again shown at the Spring Grove Cinema at 1 p.m. YOOH’s performance will be at 2:30 p.m and the Houston County Festival of Trees’ Grand Holiday Gala and Auction begins at 8 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 29 begins with a Holiday Brunch at 9 a.m. served by area youth groups along with open viewing until 1 p.m. The festive weekend concludes with YOOH’s performance at 2:30 p.m.
|
