Quilt donated to raise money for Tri-state Family Services, Chrysalis home

Scrapbag Quilters donated this crazy quilt for the Tri-state Family Services and Chrysalis Shepherding Home. The winner will be chosen during the Carthage Christmas open house.

The Scrapbag Quilters from Fort Madison, Iowa, has donated a quilt that will be raffled this holiday season to raise money for the Tri-State Family Services and Chrysalis House.

Tickets are available at State Farm Insurance, Country Pastimes, The Flower Shop, all on the square in Carthage, Marine Bank and Trust on Rt. 136, and at Tri-State Family Services. It is now on display at Country Pastimes. It will be displayed at Marine Bank Nov. 21 to 28, and at The Flower Shop Nov. 29 to Dec. 4. The winner will be drawn on Dec. 4 at the Carthage Christmas Openhouse.

The Scrapbag Quilters is a group of four women that formed seven years ago after meeting at a quilting class. When the class was finished, they had enjoyed sharing quilting ideas and found a place to continue meeting regularly.

They chose the name because they put together scraps from their own projects to make quilts that are donated to a charity.

“The Crazy Quilt we made this year was the result of a box of fabric that was given to us that contained many pieces of material that would not normally be considered suitable quilt fabric. It was the perfect opportunity for us to try our hand at another form of quilting we hadn't tried yet. We still love to learn techniques new to us,” said Janet Page, one of the four members.

“This year we chose Tri-State Family Services as a recipient of our quilt after hearing about their cause through a visit from one of the staff members at a local church. We hope that this quilt will be of value in their efforts to raise funding for the new women's home, a very worthy service.”

They have donated to church fundraisers, benefits for people stricken with serious illness, a family who lost everything in a house fire, the Relay for Life cancer drive, Hospice House in West Burlington, and to an auction for a local soldier who was seriously wounded in Iraq.

In 2004 the Maryland Quilt Guild sent out a call for help to all quilters. They wanted each wounded soldier returning from the wars to Walter Reed Hospital to be given a quilt to honor their sacrifice. They made and sent 12 patriotic quilts.