Fraternal ties extend to quilting!

The past several years, I have been blessed to be asked to help make very special quilts for the state officers in the Kansas Order of the Eastern Star. Several of the Past Grand Matrons who are in charge of making the quilts for the incoming Worthy Grand Matron and Worthy Grand Patron each year are quilters, and some are not. I've worked in tandem with the quilters, helping with assembly as well as quilting, and have made an entire quilt for a non-quilter. Each project has been so special and seeing the recipients with their quilts is quite a thrill knowing I had some small (or not so small) part in making their gifts.

My journey with these wonderful gifted quilts began in 2014 when I made 20 personalized mini-quilts for the grand officers to be gifted by then-Worthy Grand Matron Donna Fagg. She and I worked back and forth to get the colors right; make sure the names, offices, and escorts were all correct; and come up with a finished design that met with her vision. It was somewhat of a challenge as these were made of silk, shantung, and cotton. I used a pinking blade in my rotary cutter to reduce fraying and produced what felt like pounds of silk "dust" that was everywhere in my sewing room. In the end they were wonderful and so gratefully received by each officer.

Later that same year, I was asked by the officers to make signature quilts for WGM Donna and WGP Mike. Two identical quilts, each with blocks signed by all of the officers, were made and gifted at their Christmas party.

In late 2016, I was asked to make quilted wall hangings for the new WGM Susan and WGP Pete to be presented at their Christmas party. These were, again, customized to represent each of their themes and emblems for their year in office.

For the incoming 2017-2018 Worthy Grand Matron Wanda Ryan, I was blessed to be able to help with the making of her special quilt as well as quilting it. Past Grand Matron Pam Abel pieced all of the snowflakes, while I pieced the central Eastern Star emblem, using Wanda's father's neckties for the colored star points. Wanda's father had recently passed away and PGM Pam and Wanda's family thought using the ties would be a wonderful memorial to be included in her quilt. 

After the quilt was assembled and bordered, I got it back and quilted it using lots of ruler work to make the secondary design of stars in the quilting itself. I was able to be at Wanda's reception to see her receive this special quilt.

The current 2018-2019 Worthy Grand Matron Mary Hayselden and Worthy Grand Patron Steve Boyer received their special quilts just in the last few weeks. I quilted WGM Mary's Hawaiian applique that was hand appliqued and made by PGM Pam Abel.

I was asked by PGM Susan McGinnis if I would be willing to make WGP Steve's quilt since she is not a quilter. I chose the Two-Fabric Bargello pattern, added just a touch of purple as a third fabric to highlight one of his colors for the year, and worked with a black-to-silver ombre and a coordinating Effervesance fabric. The overall look of the finished quilt reminds me of a sound wave that I felt suited his interests in music and radio, and had it quilted by my friend Sandra Morgan Cockrum with flames that tie into his love of Harley's.

In future years I have no idea whether I'll be honored with the opportunity to help on these special quilts again; however, if asked I will definitely say yes! Eastern Star has been part of my life for over 40 years and I love being involved both in my local chapter, as well as helping at the state level with such special projects.

More snippets from the sewing room soon...
Liz