A cash-only admission ticket to the quilt show will cost $5.
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Quincy United Methodist Church will host its 21st Annual Quilt & Craft Show on Saturday, Nov. 4, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Debbie Zakrzewski, an organizer of the event, said the quilt show is an integral part of the church’s community outreach to Branch County and surrounding areas.
“We have a quilting group in our church that has met for probably three years,” Zakrzewski said. “We make lap quilts for people of Branch County in nursing homes, and we make baby quilts. It’s the quilting ladies who have taken over the show and continued to have quilting remain in the community for others to view.”
This year, a highlight of the show will be the “Quilts for Heroes” display, she said.
Donna Sharp will show her quilts that she made out of patches worn on military uniforms, according to Zakrzewski. The project is a part of a larger plan by Sharp and other women to sew quilts for veterans and military personnel who are deployed overseas.
Rachel Labram, pastor at QUMC, said in a press release the colorful sanctuary filled with quilts showcases the craftsmanship of the community
“It is amazing to see all of this hand-crafted artwork,” Labram said. “To think of the hours and skill each quilt took to create is very moving.”
Zakrzewski said she is always impressed by the variety of quilts displayed.
“One year we had a quilt that was from the Civil War era,” Zakrzewski said. “We never know what we are going to receive. The quilts come from the whole community, sometimes from out of state, but we receive about 100 quilts each year.”
For a cash-only admission ticket of $5, an attendee may browse rows of quilts while reading a souvenir book that describes the story behind each one. Zakrzewski said attendees enjoy learning more about the individuals who quilt in their community.
“Each person who brings in a quilt tells us a little story about their quilt,” Zakrzewski said. “So we compile it all into a book, and so when you come in and you can say, ‘Oh quilt number one, this is the story of who made it or how they received it.’ So that’s a really interesting thing that people enjoy.”
Downstairs from the Quilt Show, the church will host craft vendors selling items such as Christmas wreaths, stained glass, and wood creations. Lunch will also be available for purchase, in addition to baked goods and nuts.
“This event celebrates the generations of women who passed down this artform and the bonds of friendship ‘stitched together’ over the quilts,” Labram said. “We hope others are blessed and inspired by it.”