For the Friendship Quilters Guild of Plymouth, amazing is an everyday occurrence. Mostly as a group they get together to exchange ideas, accept challenges, work on group projects, and even take trips. Made up of women from many different backgrounds, each one has a flair and a style all their own as they work together for the love of the craft. They share lessons and help each other when needed. Hobbies can take people to surprising places.
The Guild, since its inception in 1997, has taken on many projects, including service projects that help provide quilts for a variety of charitable organizations. This year the annual Quilt Show at the Heartland Artists Gallery will feature a diverse group of colorful, handmade quilts, including those for their service projects.
Quilts of Valor are quilts made with a patriotic theme and presented to Veterans in hospitals and at home, and over 200 Christmas stockings are made for the Operation Quiet Comfort organization. The stockings are filled with essential items and shipped to our Veterans serving our country. Quilts featuring well-known characters like Thomas the Train and Minions are given to Quilts for Kids, providing comfort to children facing serious illness, trauma, abuse, and natural disasters. These quilts will go to children in hospitals, such as Riley Hospital in Indianapolis and Beacon in South Bend, and to Ronald McDonald House and neonatal units. Hospice is always in need of quilts to give warmth and comfort when it is most needed. Nursing homes and homeless shelters also receive lap quilts.
Much of the fabric used in these quilts comes from donations. Many in the community give the Guild fabric that a loved one no longer needs, or some are just downsizing. Members sort through these donations and create many beautiful quilts that can be presented to these amazing service groups. The group meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6 pm at the Life Enrichment Center on Harrison Street in Plymouth. The Guild has a wonderful, creative ingredient as well as a serving and compassionate heart.
The show opens on Tuesday, August 25th, and closes on September 18th at the Heartland Artist Gallery in downtown Plymouth. The public is invited to view the exhibit during the Gallery’s open hours of Tuesday – Saturday, 10AM – 2PM.
The Gallery’s mission is to support area artists, and to bring and to teach the arts to our community. Our not-for-profit Gallery gives area artists a venue to show and sell their artwork. Activities are made possible in part by the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County, and the Indiana Arts Commission, which receives support from the State of Indiana and the National Endowment for the Arts. Visit www.heartlandgallery.com and find us on Facebook and Instagram. For more information contact the Gallery at 574-936-9515. The Gallery is located at 101 N. Michigan Street in downtown Plymouth.
Cone Flowers was created by Linda Redinger and is among many beautiful quilts on display at the Heartland Artists Gallery.
