A collaborative effort to brighten people’s days will now fill a wall at the Olympic Medical Cancer Center’s main waiting room at 844 N. Fifth Ave.
“Flower Power,” an art quilt by 18 members of the Sunbonnet Sue Quilt Club, was donated on May 13 at the club’s business meeting inside the Sequim Masonic Lodge to Ken Berkes, center director, and Susan Clements, patient navigator.
Completed in 2013, the group of quilters decided to seek a place to display it publicly with club member Peggy St. George taking on the task.
“Many members’ lives have been touched by cancer, either through their own diagnosis or family members or close friends, including some of the quilt artists who contributed to this quilt,” St. George said. “Displaying it at the Cancer Center became the No. 1 priority of the group.”
St. George was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 and said displaying “Flower Power” in a place where people are facing difficult health issues and treatments will provide at least a moment of enjoyment and distraction. “I also believe the staff serving cancer patients and their families will be cheered by it as well,” she said.
Originally, Cancer Center officials couldn’t accept the donation because there weren’t funds available to frame the quilt for about $1,000 to meet health and fire codes. However, club members were told of the framing cost on May 13 and donated more than $1,300 within 20 minutes to the OMC Foundation for framing.
They also donated a quilt made by Nancy Davis and Irene Snodgrass to pay for framing with any leftover funds helping directly with patient care.
“This type of spirit personifies that kind of (community) spirit we love,” Berkes said. “We’re incredibly thrilled that there is so much talent and generosity in our community.”
Quilter Merrie Jo Schroeder spearheaded the creation of “Flower Power,” based on a quilt seen at an international quilt show in Houston, Texas.
The 18 quilters each made a 16-inch block featuring a flower in bright colors on a background of blue-green fabric.
The blocks were cut into quarters and new blocks were assembled using four different quarters. Quilters embellished their portions and the blocks were sewn together to form one large quilt by Schroeder measuring 48 inches by 96 inches.
Quilters who created blocks are Carolyn Abbott, Joyce Alford, Kath Beecher, Dana Burback, Mary Ann Clayton, Liisa Fagerlund, Lindy Feigenbutz, Mary Liebsch, Julie Malone, Sherry Nagel, Sue Nylander, Diane Ross, Peggy St. George, Sany Schlechter, Merrie Joe Schroeder, Kathy Stanley, Stephanie Swensson, and Joanne Thoma.
“Flower Power” will be displayed at a date to be determined.
