Submitted
ELLIS — Last year, Dana Jones, a former editor of Quilters Newsletter magazine, made a stop in Ellis at Seams Like Olde Times Quilt Shop.
“I knew about her shop because of the great billboard on I-70. My car stops for quilt shops,” said Jones.
While at the shop, she discussed a book she had written, “Pagtinabangay:The Quilts and Quiltmakers of Caohagan Island,” with owner Colette Buchholz. It is the story of the quilts and quiltmakers of Caohagan Island, a 13-acre tropical paradise in the central Philippines. Of 600 residents of the island, more than 100 are quiltmakers.
“I wanted to introduce people in the United States to the wonderful art from this tiny island and to begin to create a market for their quilts in the United States. Sales of the quilts is one third of the island’s income, so expanding the market for the quilts into the United States is important to the lives of the islanders,” said Jones.
From her home in Colorado, Jones will be making a trip on I-70 to make presentations on her book to the Salina Lions Club and a United Methodist Women’s Event in Salina, Kansas and Materials Girls quilt shop in Abilene.
“I contacted Colette to see if she’d like to sponsor a program. From there, we set up this weekend’s slide/trunk show presentation,” said Jones.
On Saturday, July 23, at 10 a.m., Jones will make her presentation to the public at Seams Like Olde Times Quilt Shop, 105 West 9th Street (Next door to Arthur’s Pizza) in Ellis. Space will be limited.
“All who are interested in quilts, art and learning about life on a tropical island are invited to attend,” said Jones. “Older elementary children and youth are welcome if they are open to a presentation that is about an hour in length. Quiltmakers will enjoy learning about the unique quilting techniques on the island while those who like beautiful art will love the images of many quilts and also seeing some of the quilts up close in the trunk show.”
Jones will share images of the quilts and life on the island along with a mini trunk show that will include some of the quilts exhibited at the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky, during the summer of 2015. Each handmade quilt is a unique design that reflects the colors and flora and fauna of the island, made from fabrics produced in the Philippines and incorporating piecing and appliqué. Signed copies of Jones’s book, “Pagtinabangay: The Quilts and Quiltmakers of Caohagan Island” will be available along with quilts from the island available for purchase with all the proceeds going back to the quiltmakers.