Deb Rutherford takes a break from ironing her Hunter Star blocks she’s making.
Deb Rutherford, of Cadiz, Ky., left her “quilt diva” on the ground Oct. 20, 2015, and concentrated on ironing some of the Hunter Star patterns she was making.
“She’s very tedious, I still have to make her earrings,” Rutherford said.
It wasn’t a disagreement Rutherford was having. Her “quilt diva” will be a wall hanging once she’s completed. It’s one of the projects she brought to the Trigg County (Ky.) Quilters fourth year of staying at the Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center.
“I love the camaraderie, I love learning different techniques,” Rutherford said, who was attending her second trip to the Mount. “I love all the ladies. It’s eat and sew and eat and sew.”
Tish Rudd, coordinator of the quilters, said there are 19 participants this year who are staying from Oct. 19-22, including two newcomers.
Tish Rudd, coordinator of the Trigg County Quilters, works on some pieces of a quilt border. “Several people bring UFOs – unfinished objects,” Rudd said.
“This is one of our favorite places to be this time of year,” Rudd said. “We bring our own projects and do one project together,” which is typically donated to the Ursuline Sisters. The Trigg County Quilting Guild meets once a month, and there are two sewing groups that meet monthly, but coming to Maple Mount is special.
“There is less interruption so we can focus on what we’re doing,” Rudd said. “We’re here for more than a few hours, so we are able to share ideas and learn from each other. And we don’t have to cook.”
Ruth Huntsman displays one of the UK coasters she’s making as a Christmas present.
Ruth Huntsman was one of the first-timers at the Mount.
“I’ve heard so much about it. My husband has been in poor health so I haven’t been able to come, but this year I was able,” she said. “I love it. I love the facility, it’s really nice. These girls here have been just wonderful to me, such an inspiration.” She was working on University of Kentucky coasters for a Christmas gift.
“The fellowship is the best part,” Huntsman said. “I’m not here to cook or clean. You do what you want to, as long as you want to.”
Carol Martin sews a pillow case with bicycles on it, a Christmas present for her daughter and son-in-law.
Carol Martin was working on seven pillow cases that feature bicyclists and chocolate chip cookies. They will be Christmas presents for her daughter and son-in-law, who are avid fans of both bicycles and chocolate chip cookies. This is her fourth year at the Mount.
“It’s four days of uninterrupted sewing,” Martin said. “The facility is wonderful and I love the fellowship.”
Pat Turner holds up one of the purses she’s working on that will be sold at auction to raise money for her mission work.
Pat Turner, of Gracey, Ky., brought completed table tops to donate to the Center gift shop to sell.
“I brought purses to make to sell at an auction the first Saturday in March for my mission work,” Turner said. “We use the proceeds to ship medical and dental supplies to Nicaragua. I’ll make six purses. I brought two to work on.”
She’s been volunteering with the Baptist Medical and Dental Mission International for 10 years and estimates she’s made 60 purses.
“I made my 19th trip to Nicaragua this summer,” Turner said. “I’m a dental assistant, I’ve worked with the same dentist since 1959. I’ll be 80 in December and he’s 88.”
Turner has been a member of the Trigg County Quilters since 1999, and this is her fourth trip to Maple Mount.
“I enjoy the peace and quiet here and the camaraderie of my friends,” she said. “We are taken such good care of by the staff, we’ve learned to love ‘em.”
Comments
What an inspiring group!