 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
The Monahill Quilters |
|
|
|
Can you remember when mothers, grandmothers, aunts and cousins would get together and pass the hours creating beautiful quilts for family members? Each tiny stitch reflected countless moments of love and joy in the making. The quilting bee was an important means of socializing for colonial and pioneer women. Taking its name from the busy homemaker (a.k.a. "busy bee"), a quilting bee was held for the purpose of quilting the finished quilt top, which was stretched on a large quilting frame. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Through the winter months, the women would piece their quilt tops. Since there was no central heating in these homes, there was usually only one main heated room that was too crowded during the winter months for a quilt frame to be assembled. When the weather became warmer, an invitation was sent to the surrounding neighbors for the quilting bee On the day of the quilting bee, the quilters would arrive early and begin marking the quilt top, which had been put into the quilt frame by the hostess. Very often, plates, thimbles and teacups were used to mark the quilting patterns. The quilters would then being to quilt the top while exchanging conversation. The quilting bee was an important part of the social life of these people surpassed only by religious gatherings. It seems that in many areas of the country, the quilting bee and the relaxing joy it brought to all involved, is gone. |
|
|
|
One local group, The Monahill Quilters, has revived the enjoyment and fun of the quilting bee, combining the social along with the religious benefits. The group began back in 1996 when a few members of the Monahill Memorial Freewill Baptist Church Auxiliary expressed a desire to learn to quilt from some of the experienced quilting members. Their first quilt was a Texas Star, and the materials to complete the quilt were donated by the then auxiliary president, Mrs. George Mullins. They would meet once a week in the fellowship hall of the church, with the quilting members training the new members. As the quilting progressed, church members would drop in to watch the progress of the quilt, until one Christian man told the ladies will buy that quilt. Since then the ladies have been quilting and selling the average of one quilt every six weeks. To date they have made 36 quilts. The quilters usually try to get together twice a week. We always start with a prayer, said Nancy Hopson, And of course, if anything real interesting is going on in Sunday school, or if the preacher preached about this, that or the other, we discuss it and look up Bible verses. We have all got something to contribute, Hopson continues, |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
one, what?s happened the week with them, and many Christian experiences. It gives something to each one of us to hear about the other one. The ladies enjoy their time spent with each other so much, that when the lights went out in the church at one meeting, the ladies packed up their supplies and quilting frame and continued their quilting in the church parking lot. They have solved many problems adds Evelyn Ramey, Ladies Auxiliary president. Oh, yes, and strength, unbelievable strength, contributes Hopson. Spiritual strengths, you feel like you have a real close family. The ladies do not piece quilts, but take orders from people. The people tell the group what they want in size, color and subject. The group then finds and purchase printed panels to meet the order, quilt the pattern, trim the quilt and add a signature tag, The Monahill Quilters. The charge is $200 for each quilt, which includes the material. |
|
|
|
The women point out that they can please even the sportsman. They have made quilts with patterns of horses, insects, deer, fish, bear, and owls.If its printed on a panel, laughs Hopson, We can make it.
The Monahill quilters won't turn away someone who wants to have a pieced top quilted. They will quilt a top and supply the materials that go into finishing it. They will work with the customer on the price for completing a quilt. The money received from each sale is added to the auxiliary treasury fund, which supports the many activities of the church, after the materials are purchased for the next order.
If you would like to place an order you can call 304-946-2358 or 304-752-8631. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
View our Guestbook
Sign our Guestbook |
|
|
|