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QUILT RAFFLE

Thank you to all who participated in and supported the quilt raffle. We are very grateful to you all.

We raised a total of $10,685.

The lucky 26 winners are listed below. If you didn't win a quilt, know that you are still a winner, as you helped support some of the most vulnerable of UM patient families. And there's always next year. We are already thinking up new quilts for next year's raffle.

A veritable feast for the eyes, and one of the best quilts shows around is right here in our Department of Pathology charity quilt raffle to benefit UM hospital patient families in financial need. We are grateful and fortunate to have 26 outstanding handmade quilts, donated by Pathology staff, family and friends. From king sized to doll sized, from girlie to manly, there's something for everyone.

Winning tickets will be drawn on Dec. 14. You need not be present to win. We will deliver quilts to the winners.

You can see them in person (from 9:00am to 3:00pm) at the following UM locations in Ann Arbor:

Tue., Nov. 21, 5th floor Pathology lobby, Med Sci 1
Mon., Nov. 27, UMHS Towsley Triangle
Tues., Nov. 28, 2G332 Pathology UMHS
Wed., Nov. 29, Mott lobby by Big Bird
Thu., Nov. 30, Mott lobby by Big Bird
Fri., Dec. 1, UMHS Towsley Triangle
Mon., Dec. 4, NIB Lobby
Tue., Dec., 5, NIB Lobby
Wed., Dec. 6, Traverwood 2 Pathology 2910 Huron Parkway, Suite C (this is off Plymouth Rd.)
Thu., Dec. 7, BSRB Lobby
Fri., Dec. 8., inside UMHS CAFETERIA, Dining Room D (12:00-4:00pm)
Mon., Dec.11, East Ann Arbor Clinic Lobby (4260 Plymouth Rd)
Tue., Dec. 12, East Ann Arbor Clinic Lobby (4260 Plymouth Rd)
Wed., Dec. 13, Palmer Commons- Windows Room Main Lobby

Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5.
Checks should be made out to : Beverly Smith (our charity coordinator).

You select which quilt(s) you'd like to win. We will hold separate drawings, one for each quilt.

Tickets may be accessed here, and filled out in the provided editable .pdf file. Print your tickets and take them to a showing, or send them with payment (they MUST arrive by Dec. 13) to:
On UM Campus
via CAMPUS MAIL:
Robin Kunkel
Department of Pathology
BSRB, #4710, Box 2200

via US MAIL:
Robin Kunkel
Department of Pathology
109 Zina Pitcher Place
BSRB, Room 4710,
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200

If you would like more information, contact Robin Kunkel at rkunkel@umich.edu.

Prepare to be "amaized". (Click on the thumbnails below to see details.)

#1
WON BY: Barb Chapman (CIDSS at the NIB)
55" x 74" (generous lap)
Made by Connie Lukacs, whose connection with the UMHS includes being the mom of one of our own Department of Pathology Professors, Dr. Nick Lukacs, as well as being a patient in the UM Cancer Center. She's going strong, and her quilting reflects her fabulous personality and joie de vie. Connie took up quilting after retiring as an emergency room nurse, and found it a true calling. She is an extremely skillful quilter, and you can tell she loves what she does, it shows in each quilt she makes. Her exceptional quilting is exceeded only by her generousity. We are lucky to have this HAND APPLIQUED beauty from her this year. She kicked off our raffle, by donating this exceptional quilt in the summer. Each of the 12 panels features both embroidery as well as hand appliqued flowers, wreaths, leaves, baskets, birds and bows. If that weren't enough, the back of this quilt is just as spectaular, with incredibly intricate custom echo quilting in white on a deep green fabric. It's a real beauty, sure to be a keepsake.



#2
WON BY: Kathy Solomon (patient at EAA) 44" x 58" (lap)
The absolute anchor of our Department of Pathology charity quilt raffle is Ginny Webber. Not only is she the mom of Peggy Otto (a claim to fame if ever there was one), but she is also the founding and sustaining quilter for this raffle. Back in the day when we were just getting started, Ginny was always there, eager to donate one of her quilts for our cause. This year she has generously made an adorable lap quilt, featuring cats of all sizes and colors. This extremely bright and cheery piece is bordered and backed in bright neon green, and there are alternating squares of bright neon stripes which coordinate with the cat colors. You needn't be a cat lover to love this quilt...you just need to think fun, and love the whimsical. This past year Ginny and her MANY quilting endeavors were featured in the Ann Arbor News. Be the first on your block to own one of her originals.



#3
WON BY: Elaine Commiskey (Risk Managment at the NIB)
61" x 84" (twin)
Can you think soft, warm, rich and cozy? That's exactly what Beverly Schumann's all FLANNEL quilt is. Bev quilts in her spare time, when she is not busy as past Pathology Chair Dr. Peter Ward's Administrative Assistant. This year we are lucky to have this terriffic piece from her. Rust red and navy blue nine patches alternate with buttery yellow squares (think warm maize). There are two borders, an inner navy and a wider outer rust. The same carnelian red flannel is used on the back. You could have a huge tik-tac-toe tournament on this quilt, take it up North, or just snuggle under it. The long arm quilting (by Liz Bowman) is spectacular. There are oak leaves and acorns in rust thread over the entire quilt. They are especially gorgeous on the golden squares. It just oozes autumn and sitting by the fire. Sound appealing...it could be yours, if you're lucky.
 


#4
WON BY: Susan Scanlon (patient at Mott) 61" x 78" (twin)
Mary Soucie has got to be the most prolific quilter we know. Besides working in Pathology's Surgical Transcription, she quilts constantly, and passes on her love of the art form to many. The good news for us is that she loves to give her quilts away, and we are the lucky recipient of many of her beauties. The first of her three donations this year, is a really beautiful work in green. The optical illusion of depth and radiating motion is wonderful. Is it a quilt of squares outlined in dark green or diamonds outlined by a light colored chain? It's both! There are tiny leaves and small roses throughout this gorgeous quilt. It really radiates spring or summer. Can't you just imagine having a picnic on this wonderful quilt. Believe me, it would be equally at home in a green bedroom or on a wall as the room's focal point. The quilting repeats the roses and leaf theme, and is easily seen in green thread on the white back. So many TINY squares.....so many perfectly matched seams. Anyone who quilts know that small pieces are more complex. Obviously they aren't for Mary. This is beauty.
 


#5
WON BY: Mambo Mupepi (Emergency Dept.)
62" x 84" (twin)
Her quilting skill is exceeded only by her giving spirit, infectious laugh and generousity. Liz Bowman, Grants Administrator in ULAM and friend to many Pathology staff by day must be quilting way into the night. She runs a very successful small quilting business called Liz's Custom Quilting (elizbowm@umich.edu). See her work featured in no fewer than 7 quilts in this raffle. Especially for our UMHS Pathology charity raffle she designed and made this fabulous HOMAGE TO NURSES quilt. It is a veritable photo gallery of your favorite nurses. From the young ones, to the mature, but clearly in charge ones, they are all here, framed in thirty rectangles of bright red. It is sashed with black fabric with tiny white dots and backed with a whimsically stylized medical paraphenalia fabric in light blue. Of course, the overall quilting is exceptional. This rouge rogues gallery is certainly appealing in this UMHS setting, whether for yourself or as a gift.



#6
WON BY: Connie Schaendorf (UMHS patient)
31"x41" (wall hanging)
Just in time for the holidays comes this adorable wall hanging by Diane Ignasiak in Anethesiology. Pathology staffer, Mary Soucie, referred Diane to our raffle, and she has generously given us this HAND EMBROIDERED "Snowman Collector" quilt. Done in country/Americana colors of deep blue, green, red and tan, it features 6 panels of muslin each embroidered with a different snowman scene. Adorably accessorized snowmen are seen with birds, a penguin and a moose, as well as by a Christmas tree and in front of a cottage (complete with smoke coming out the chimney). Each panel is embellished with four buttons sewn in the corners, and the back is a great fabric of small squares of different tartan plaids. Definitely festive! Defintely fun! Definitely a winner!
 


#7
WON BY: Margaret Pekarek (nurse on 8B Gynocology/Oncology)100"x100" (king)
Talk about spectacular. This quilt by Pam LIncoln, in the Kunkel research lab, is amazing. Pam is an ELISA and animal model expert, as well as a very skilled quilter. Always eager to share tips and techniques with other quilters, Pam has introduced many new quilters to this great art form. A year in the making, we are fortunate to have this gorgeous quilt. It is really like a stained glass window, with the illusion of light rays flowing thru it. King sized, it would be a spectacular wall hanging, or a terrific addition to any room. Done in all batiks (the most expensive fabrics), there are multiple types of stars alternating with "snail trail" curls in beautiful bright colors. It is a vertitable rainbow, a delight to behold. Actually, it looks like a star burst on the 4th of July, or perhaps a mix of stars and a goreous sunset sky. Liz Bowman has quilted this with a terrific overall curvey waterworld pattern, which enhances this quilt's overall flowing motion. The back is also done in purple, blues, and pinks, and includes a great heart batik.  Pam has named it "STAR OF WONDER," and we are wondering who the lucky winner will be?



#8
WON BY: Kathy Lanava (Risk Management at the NIB)
70" x 84" (full)
This is the second year that Ellen Shereda, a FOP (Friend of Pathology...actually a friend of Pam Lincoln) has donated a quilt for our raffle. This year we know that she will make some DINOSAUR-lover VERY happy. This great quilt features realistic dinosaur fabric interspersed with earth toned tans, greens, oranges, and grays. Can't you just see it draped over four chairs to make a fort in the living room, or out in the back yard for a picnic, or on the floor in the family room as a base camp and home to hundreds of little plastic dinosaurs. Of course, it would also be great on a bed. Stegasaurus, allosaurus, T-rex, they're all there (all over the back, in fact)... just waiting for the lucky winner to take them home.
 


#9
WON BY: Lorene Nolan (Ped.Oto in Taubman)
84" x 98" (Queen)
This incredible, Amish inspired, quilt was made by Pat Morrow, related only by marriage to our own Tom Morrow in Pathology. Thirty beautiful stars in pink, purple, teal, turquise, light blue and steel gray make a striking geometric pattern on a black background. Pat is an exceptional quilter, as evidenced by her perfectly matched points and stellarly straight seams. She has also done her own custom quilting, with each element getting special attention. She has placed feathered circles in the black squares, another nod to the Amish influence. The teal inner border and corner blocks give this quilt a striking impression, framed by the wide outer black border. The purple on the back showcases Pat's exceptional quilting ability. This one is a keepsake, and we are fortunate to have it in our raffle. You don't need to go to Shipshawana, if you're lucky!


#10
WON BY: Jessica Wong (UM undergrad senior, Brain, Behavior & Cognit Sci)
58" x 70" (lap)
Do you know a princess? This quilt would be perfect for her. After seeing our quilt raffle last year, Dr. Lindsay Schmidt, one of our own Pathology residents (for the record, this is our first physician-made quilt..thank you very much, Lindsay) made this variation of a split rail pattern set on point for our charity effort this year. We're thrilled that she did. Clearly she is an expert behind the sewing machine as well as the microscope. PRETTY IN PINK is what she calls it...(I should say so!), and it features "Quilt Pink" fabrics by Moda all the way from Racine, Wisconsin. The outer border is a plethora of pleasing, priceless pink print piano keys with blocks of dark pink in the corners. The white set-in triangles in the corners each contain a quilted heart, and the terrific quilting in pink thread (what else), can be seen on the back. Even her label is pretty in pink. One only has to think of bubble gum, strawberry sherbert, and little girls' rosy cheeks to see how wonderful this would be for your favorite princess.



#11
WON BY: Amanda Dillard (NIB)
62" x 84" (twin)
Some quilts are special, and then some quilts are really special. Then some really special quilts are that way for several reasons. This is one of those quilts. Facilitated by Connie Lukacs (see #1), this very lovely quilt, probably made in a by-gone era, was the generous gift of the Monroe County Quilting Guild. They "inherited" this HAND PIECED quilt, and thought it should go to raise money for a good cause. We are very fortunate, indeed, that they chose us. It is VERY rare that a quilt of this size is handpieced, let alone put up for raffle. While photographing it, we tried take a picture of the hand stitches, but honestly, it is so well made, that it was virtually impossible to see any of the stitches. The combination of reds, blues, light green and yellows all work to create a striking pattern. There are pinwheels, and flying geese and incredible piecing of stripes. Stripes can be a nightmare to get straight, however, they are ALL straight in this beauty. The background fabric is a wonderful light blue with fun toys balls....rather Asian looking. Wouldn't you love to know the history of this quilt? Although the person who made this will remain anonymous, we do know that it was given with love by the generous Ladies Who Quilt in Monroe to benefit the patients at UM hospital. And we know that this quilt will have a wonderful future with it's lucky new owner.


#12
WON BY: Barbara Brown (Transportation Services)
66" x 78" (generous lap)
Talk about a starry, starry night, seeing stars, or being star-crossed. This truly star-studded quilt is the generous gift of Dr. Virginia Vega-Warner, with a nod to her husband Dr. Roscoe Warner in Pathology research, her fabric enabler/color consultant. Virginia is also a researcher in Pediatrics, but on the side is a prolific quilter. We are very lucky that she has donated this "stellar" quilt to our cause. Exceptionally fun, filled with really clever 30's reproduction fabrics in a rainbow of bright colors, this quilt would be perfect for anyone. The stars have absolutely perfect points, and they literally radiate brilliantly off the quilt. The back is a checkerboard of red, yellow and blues with tiny stars at each corner. On a wall, over a sofa, on a bed, this one is so appealing on so many levels. What a great gift this would make for that special star in your life.....or hey, you're a star, aren't you. Wrapped in this quilt, you'll definitely feel like one.
 


#13
WON BY: Tammi Dowling (Apheresis)61" x 72" (twin)
Maybe you weren't ever promised a "rose garden" (ala Lynn Anderson's lyrics), but this extremely appealling quilt by Cassandra Narvab, in Pathology's Surgical Transcription at Traverwood, will definitely bring a bouquet into your life. Cassandra caught the quilting bug from Mary Soucie, but she definitely has a special style all her own, and a very generous heart to go along with it. Gorgeous floral focus fabrics in this quilt are framed in pinks, sages, and tans. It looks as if you were looking thru 35 little windows into a beautiful English garden....all you need is a cup of tea and a good book. There is an inner tan border and an outer black border featuring tiny rosebuds. The overall rose quilting pattern ties it all together, complimenting both the front flowers and the back striped floral material. Believe me, anyone's mom would love this quilt. It makes you happy just to look at it. We know the lucky winner will be happy that Cassandra donated it.
 


#14
WON BY: Don May (GI) 40" x 61" (lap)
This extremely cool quilt in hot colors was donated anonymously by one of our Pathology staff. This person didn't want any credit, just wanted to help with this incredibly worthy charity cause, aiding the most vulnerable of UMHS patients. Not only is the quilt special, this staffer is definitely special. Bright and cheery, this quilt makes you smile, and knowing the circumstances of it's donation makes it all the better. The quilt is reversible, featuring 5 stripes of the front in green, yellow, red, blue and orange, seperated by thin red sashing, and the back alternates oranges and yellow blocks with the same red sashing. Just how did she (OK...it is a woman) do that? A really special technique, to make a very clever quilt. Beautiful sewn, generously given. It doesn't get much better.
   


#15
WON BY: Julie Kunkel (mother-in-law of quilter....quilter did NOT draw the ticket) 82" x 97" (Queen)
Done by Robin Kunkel, a graphic artist, electron microscopist and web director in Pathology, this gold and blue quilt has a French country feel. The pattern was called "Blueberries and Cream," but the color combination really said "AMAIZIN' BLUE" to her. The fun of this quilt was that multiple people (her mom, niece, sister, coworkers and friends) helped with the fabric picks. Everyone was on the lookout for new blue and gold fabrics. The numbers tell the story: 61 different blues, 21 different golds, 42 pieces in each of 20 squares, 30 nine patches. The back is a very soft blue flannel. Without a doubt one of the outstanding features of this quilt is the exceptional, custom quilting by Liz Bowman. She has outdone herself here. Each element has been individually quilted with complementary patterns reminiscent of a fleur-de-lis. So...GO BLUE!! But even if you are a MSU or OSU fan, don't let the UM colors deter you...think blueberries and cream on a summer day in Paris.



#16
WON BY: Beth Hand (Kresge Hearing Research Institute)
88" x 95" (Queen)
Teresa Usher of Grass Lake, MI, who is the care giver for Madeline, daughter of Pathology's Peggy (Microbiology) and Roger Mahlmeister (CD), has donated a wonderful “Trip Around the World” quilt for the second year in a row.  We are so fortunate  to have this gorgeous  queen sized quilt. The workmanship is exceptional,  just look at how many seams and corners had to match.   Concentric rows of 4 inch blocks  of deep, rich colors radiate around the center. It is striking, especially when viewed from where the full effect of the pattern can be appreciated.  It’s just like looking at the world from above. Purple mountains, blue waters, teal forests, and; lavender fields could have been the inspiration for this quilt.  The back is a medium blue and it is quilted with an overall ocean wave pattern. This is a beauty, and we know the purple, teal, and blue complementary color scheme will appeal to many.
 


#17 60" x 76" (twin)
WON BY: Linda Rose (Medical Information Services)
This one’s for the guys…well also for the ladies, the kids, and the old timers.  This BIG TEN SPECIAL represents quilting at it’s finest.  Doing things “by committee” can be tricky.   However, quilting has  a long history of being a shared endeavor, where friends came together to sew for a special purpose. This is just such a work.  The brain child of Virginia and Rosce Warner (see #12), each block in this quilt was made by a different staff member. It was designed to appeal to the sports fans among us…..we think there are a few here in Ann Arbor. We hope that this brightly colored quilt will become a classic,  with the Big Ten theme repeated in each year's Pathology charity raffle.  Liz Bowman, Judith Green, Jeanette Jeffreys, Robin Kunkel, Pam Lincoln, Shannon McClintock, Vidya Sarma, Bev Schumann, Ellen Shereda, Bev Smith, Virgina Vega-Warner, and Firaz Zetoune all made a block. The schools' logoes were appliquéd on the middle square (thank you Pam Lincoln , see #7, with Liz Bowman, see #5 monograming some schools' names over the letters…for authenticity's sake, you know).  Half square triangles in the school colors make the corners and four squares of school print  flank the center logo. In some cases we had to cut up boxers, aprons and scrubs to get the print fabrics. Top and center is the Conference block which features the clever Big Ten logo surrounded by miniature logos of all 11 teams. The12 blocks are bordered in their school color, and the quilt is bordered in white and blue, with a dark blue backing. Liz Bowman made each block "pop" with stitch in the ditch quilting.   No matter if your favorite fan roots for UM or MSU or OSU or IU or UW, etc., etc…..we’ve got them covered.   We may be partial in thinking that the Big Ten is the Number One conference in the nation, but we KNOW that there  are a lot of fans who would love to watch a game or two under this special collegiate quilt.


#18
WON BY: Sue Stern (Pathology - Chemistry)
18" X 21" and 27" x 33" quilts
A TISKET A TASKET, two great quilts and a cool basket.  It doesn’t get much better.  The 2005 retired small gathering Longerberger basket (13x8x4, retail value with protector and tan and black plaid liner is $90) was kindly donated by Dr. Beth Moore, faculty in Pulmonary Medicine – www.longaberger.com\bethmoore ). It is paired with two beautiful reproduction 1930’s print little quilts from Melissa Ruff, a former Pathology employee, who also donated a quilt last year.  We thought there were lots of ways to pair these two great donations from two very generous people.  The little quilt  with it’s tiny pinwheels  is just the right size for a doll blanket, and the basket would make an ideal doll bed, complete with handles for going on trips.   The larger  snowball pattern quilt  might make  a  perfect doll house rug.  Or, there could be two table toppers, with the basket  holding your favorite items.  You could put the basket on a book case, with the little quilt, underneath it.  The larger quilt would make a terrific wall hanging.  If you happen not to know about Longerberger, it   is the epitome of quality in workmanship and tradition.  Each basket is  handmade in Ohio, signed and dated by the artisan.  Because this basket is a retired model, it is no longer available for purchase.  They are highly  sought after collector’s items. These two hand made quilts are also destined to be cherished   With their bright, fun colored prints of blue, red, green, yellow and white, they would be perfect in a child’s room.  Then again, they would be terrific in any room.  Honestly, whoever wins this terrific combination will have lots of fun deciding just how to showcase them. We’re grateful to both Beth and Melissa for this wonderful combination.
 


#19 30" x 38"
WON BY: Sue Stern (Pathology - Chemistry)
We’re fortunate that we have the support of our Department of Pathology Administration for all of our charity endeavors.  It is safe to say, however, that Robin Hess, related to our Chairman Dr. Jay Hess only by marriage, needed no “administrative” direction while making this glorious wall hanging.  After seeing last year’s quilts, she wanted to get involved, and we are delighted that she has designed, HAND APPLIQUED, HAND QUILTED and donated this wonderfully bucolic scene to benefit our UMHS charity.  She calls it Devon Pond after their past residence, (actually it was inspired by a photo of their daughter,) but it just as easily  could be a childhood scene on any number of Michigan lakes.  The flaxen haired girl, with yarn braids flowing, is running alongside a deep blue pond, complete with white quilted ripples and pink waterlilies, surrounded by trees, a tiny turtle and a split rail fence.  The entire scene is framed with 16 handquilted stars in rich shades of red, blue, green, and tan while four nine patches make the corners.  The whole effect serves to evoke wonderful memories of our own families.  It is easy to imagine children we know, running with joy.  This piece in particular let’s us reflect  on how fortunate we are when we have our health, and a nice place to live, and how lucky we are to be able to help others.  Thanks, Robin, for this wonderful donation.  We  know it will find a lucky home.



#20 (Blue)11" x 25"
WON BY: Jim Varani (Pathology Professor)
#21 (Purple)
WON BY: Denise Striks (Orthotics & Prosthetics)
11" x 25"
GRIN and BEAR IT and
BEAR WITH ME

This little blue-pawed  bear #20, and his/her purple-pawed sibling #21,  will definitely give you something to grin about.  They are the generous donations of Sonya Miller DeMonner, who is a Research Associate from the Department of Veterans Affairs in the RJW Clinical Scholars Programo.  Sonya donated a beautiful batik quilt  last year to our raffle (see 2005 quilts), and although she has been extremely busy with a brand new baby daughter, Sabrina, she wanted to donate to our cause again this year. We are certainly grateful.   We are also certain that her hand made furry black bears with soft flannel paws and noses will be a huge hit. Perfect for either boys or girls, or teddy collectors, these bears are from a pattern by Vanilla House Designs.  As an added bonus, and so appropriate for a quilt raffle, Sonya has made each bear it’s own especially coordinated “bear tracks ” pattern quilt, in blue and purple or blue and lavendar (from www.quilterscache.com).  The ~18 inch bears are incredible soft, with child-safe eyes, and hand sewn paws, noses and ears.  The quilts are puffy, and are perfect for a bear or child to hibernate under.  These would make marvelous gifts.


#22
WON BY: Mary Nicolasova (NICU - Holden patient)
60" x 79" (twin)
Mary Soucie’s second donation this year is an especially beautiful combination of blue and pink.  As someone who has a bedroom decorated in blue and pink, I can tell you that it would be wonderful as a wall hanging, on the foot of a bed, over a chair, on a sofa, or just about anywhere.  Big enough to snuggle under, this quilt is another one of Mary’s masterpieces of illusion.  It’s pattern is either diamonds or squares, or crosses, or all of the above.  It is definitely a feast for the eyes,  in shades of blue from navy to powder and multiple  colors  of pink. It is quilted in dark blue thread with an overall rose pattern which shows beautifully on the white back  fabric.  Mary is the master of perfectly matched seams, and it is easy to see that she loves what she does. We are incredible lucky to have such a generous donor in our department. 



#23
WON BY: June Possley (Surgical Pathology - Traverwood)
60" x 82" (twin)               

What is red and black and gorgeous all over?  That’s right, Mary Soucie’s third quilt!  This one is a really fun quilt which immediately says “Take me on a picnic”…or was it “ Use me as a table cloth for an Italian dinner” or perhaps it said “I am so retro” or it might have said “I am the perfect accessory for the red room / black room / white room.”  Whatever this quilt says to you, we know that it will appeal to many people.  The color combination is absolutely dynamite, as red and black are so great together.  Mary places these strong colors in a pattern that is both eye-catching and fun. The bright red thread quilting is wonderful in an iris overall pattern. This quilt is special, as is it maker.


#24
WON BY: Jeanne Wyman
56" x 73" (generous lap)

This gorgeous “STAR GAZER ” is a terrific donation by Randi Dishman in Surgical Transcription.   We are thrilled that yet another Traverwood quilter has generously donated one of her creations to help our UMHS patients.  What a marvelous group this is.   Randy’s quilt creates a stunning impression with just two colors.  Twelve sawtooth stars are made of a delicate tan with tiny red flowers, and are set on a moss green leafy fabric background. The two colors complement each other beautifully and are used in the sashing and for the 20 nine patch junctions between the stars.  The back is a light green and tan stripe which shows off the overall daisy quilting. This would make a fabulous wall hanging  as the pattern is especially  striking when view from a distance.  It would also  be wonderful draped over the back of a sofa or chair, just waiting to by used on a chilly night.  Whoever wins it will be lucky, indeed.
 


#25
WON BY: Francine Hugel (UMH Nursing 5C Surgery)
94' x 100" (Queen)    

Rebecca Praznik of the Blood Bank lab in Pathology  has donated this wonderful HAND QUILTED MAIZE AND BLUE BASKET queen sized quilt.  Famous for her generousity, Becky has sewn 20 “cherry basket” blocks (appropriate for a Michigan quilt) in alternating combinations of soft yellows and blues.  Set on point between the baskets are diamonds of pale yellow.  Becky’s amaizing hand quilting is featured all over, as she has quilted the cherry basket pattern in the solid yellow areas,  as well as on the baskets themselves.  The handles of the baskets are blanket stitch appliquéd.  There are three blue borders framing the outside of the quilt, each  hand quilted  with  a “stitch in the ditch” pattern. The back is a very cheery blue and yellow floral pattern. In this day, when time is really our most valuable commodity, a handquilted  piece  - especially one of this size - is really a most incredible gift.  We are very lucky that Becky loves to quilt, and also loves to help others.  We know  that this one will be special for whomever is the lucky winner.


#26
WON BY: Casey Wilhelm (UMH Social Work)
 71" x 91" (full/twin)
This is a very special quilt, indeed. Some people say "...it takes a village." In the case, it has taken at least 5 villages. We are extremely lucky to have the history of this quilt...as much as it is known, on the back label of this quilt (click on label at left). There have been MANY wonderfully generous ladies who have each helped this quilt find it's way to this UM hospital charity raffle. We are indebted to them all. Ninety-three year old Ruth Koch, whose house it was found in, said she never made a quilt in her life, so it was probably pieced by her mother. Likewise, the history of the fabrics in this ~ 70 year old quilt is also fascinating.
So you like retro. Right now many quilters love the 1930s reproduction fabrics (see #18 above). The fabrics in this quilt are not reproductions. This is the real thing. Along with many flower, leaf, and plaid patterns, the prints in this quilt include ballerinas, strawberries, pink elephants, and islanders spearing fish.There may be feedsack fabrics in this quilt.
What are feedsack fabrics? Cotton had been king until the period of 1914 to 1929 when the price dropped out of the cotton market partially because synthetic fabrics like rayon. With the drop in the price cotton companies began using cotton sacking as packaging. Women quickly discovered that these bags could be used as fabric for quilts and other needs. Eventually manufacturers saw a great opportunity for promoting the use of feedsacks. The first feed sacks began to be sold in colors, then around 1925 colorful prints for making dresses, aprons, shirts and children’s clothing began to appear in stores. By the late 1930s there was heated competition to produce the most attractive and desirable prints. Artists were hired to design these prints. This turned out to be a great marketing ploy as women picked out flour, sugar, beans, rice, cornmeal and even the feed and fertilizer for the family farm based on which fabrics they desired. Women also traded feedsacks in order to get patterns that matched fabric they already had or for colors and prints they wanted.
Whether the fabrics in this quilt are truly from feedsacks or not (they do have the course weave), they are extremely beautiful. From it's fabrics, to it's age, to the many wonderful people who worked on it and so generously donated it....this is a very special quilt, indeed.