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Versailles, Missouri
6th Annual MCC Relief Sale |
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We stayed closer to home for our second Relief Sale trip, joining in the fun at the sixth annual MCC Relief Auction hosted by the Versailles Area Mennonite Churches, March 20. From our seats in the bleachers we
kept close tabs on the quilts auctioned alongside horse feed, fresh
bread, and sewing machines. Special Quit:
The Kaleidoscope Quilt “Sunflowers and Wheat” (see photo
left) was, a memorial quilt, a focus of the quilt auction. It was pieced
by Mary Ella Zimmerman and quilted with friends in the memory of Clayton
Guhr, who, along with his wife Weisje, had been central to the success
of the Versailles sale since its inception. Clayton, 59, died
unexpectedly on July 22, 2003. As Mary Ella stood in the line at his
visitation, the idea of a memorial quilt came to her. After she’d
finished piecing “Sunflowers and Wheat,” she gathered ten of her friends
at a quilting bee. Starting 10 AM on this bed-sized quilt top, they
finished four hours later. The stitched image of wheat and the
sunflower fabric represented Clayton’s Goessel, Kansas roots. The
Guhr’s eldest son Eric made the winning bid.
In all, eighteen quilts and comforters were auctioned, two-thirds of that number donated by women from the area Mennonite church community and six sent from MCC in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. We logged an unofficial total of $2217.50. Quilts are expected to contribute a higher percentage of income in coming years as this sale has yet to have a quilt committee. An official call for volunteers for next year’s quilt committee was made from the auction block. Photos, again, are courtesy of Curtis and Pat, our innovative and patient husbands. Many thanks. |
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We also made the acquaintance of local Mennonite, Emma Weaver, who was
very friendly and helpful. She answered our questions, pointed out many
of the area quilters, introduced us to family, and gave us a sense of
the community. Her son-in-law, Ed Zimmerman, was one of the
auctioneers. Even though, Emma’s husband outbid Marilyn on the last of
the fresh strawberry pies, the fresh coconut cream and blackberry pies
we took to our area hosts, Gary and Darla, were worthy substitutes at
our evening meal together.
Look
for another of Mary Ella’s quilts as she is planning a second memorial
quilt to Clayton to be donated and sold at the Relief Sale in
Hutchinson, Kansas. 
