Kansas Quilt Guilds Support the Kansas Quilt Project

The Kansas Quilt project is an initiative to document Kansas quilts by making the findings available on the Internet through the Quilt Index, a webpage sponsored by Michigan State University and the Alliance for American Quilts.  During the 1980s they collected photographs and information on 13,000 quilts and presented information on a selected few through exhibits and a book.

Technology has changed and the Project wants to join other projects such as the Quilts of Tennessee and the Kentucky Quilt Project by making all the information available to researchers on the Internet.  Currently the Project has raised over $4,000 from a generous grant from Wichita's Prairie Quilt Guild to pay for data processing of the information.  Another $1,500 was needed for scanning equipment. A private donor offered the project $1,000 if they could come up with the another $500.  Kaw Valley Quilters Guild has donated the $500 to the project.

To find out more about the project, contact Barbara Brackman,  bbrackman@sunflower.com or 785-843-5100.

Kansas City Star Collection Offer

The Kansas City Star newspaper has started a project called My Star Collection. For $20 a year, you have access  to the complete Kansas City Star quilt patterns database, special discounts and offers, projects from Kansas City Star Quilts books, and a block of the Month program. You must have a valid email to sign up. Call (816) 234-4024 for more information.

Free Patterns Online

AQS has opened an area for free patterns on the American Quilter’s Society Web site. You may find the link on the right-hand side of their navigation menu. Right now there are only 3 patterns up, free to all users. They will be uploading additional patterns as time goes on. Note that not all patterns will be free to all users. AQS members will continue to have exclusive rights to a number of patterns. Check it out at www.AmericanQuilter.com .

Quilts Needed For Safehome

Jane Bonuchi an employee of SAFEHOME, is the assistant to the Capital Campaign committee. SAFEHOME is the only domestic violence shelter in Johnson County; the exact location is confidential. They have just recently moved into a new and much larger location where for the first time clients have separate rooms and private bathrooms! The shelter has, children’s playrooms, playground, therapy rooms, counseling rooms, large dining area, kitchen, laundry area, etc. It is quite exciting. They are requesting an on-going supply of twin or trundle quilts so that the clients may take their quilt when they go on to their new lives. The trundle size is just as long as the twin but not quite as wide, approximately 45" by 72". Jane’s phone # is 913-768-0305 or SAFEHOME can be reached at 913-432-9300 -- ask for Janee' Hanzlik regarding quilt donations.

Lakota Star Quilts Project
Here is a service project for any quilter or quilt guild. The Lakota Indians of South Dakota use Traditional Star Quilts to celebrate important functions in their community life. They use them for ceremonies, as gifts, or as saleable items. Fabric for these quilts is very difficult to obtain due to lack of shops and transportation. The Second Baptist Church of Liberty, Missouri is coordinating an ongoing effort to collect fabric to be taken to the Cheyenne River Reservation of South Dakota. The contact person is Kathleen Kesner at 816-792-5532. The address of the church is 309 E. Franklin Street, Liberty MO 64068. What can you do? For these people fabric is worth more than cash. They use the following fabrics for their quilts: solids, smaller calicos, bridal satin, and background fabrics (no polyester fabrics please). Please don’t send scraps or anything smaller than ¼ yard cuts. They do not use large florals, batiks, or modern prints; think traditional and you will do fine. You will need to get the fabric to the church. They will get it to the reservation on routine trips. If you have any questions, you can call Kathleen Kesner or Nancy Wakefield at 816-858-3670.