Old ties find new life in church fundraiser

Local quilter Nina Daniel found a unique way to help the Dyersburg Church of God earn funding for a new building with this one-of-a-kind quilt created from the ties of church members. With the help of fellow Busy Bees Quilting Club members, the entire quilt is hand-stitched and ready for silent bidding. Daniels hopes to display the quilt in the Bank of Ripley's annual Festival of Quilts and Fine Needlework, the lobby of First Citizens National Bank and two area churches to promote bidding. The highest bid will be awarded in time for Christmas. Those interested in more information, viewing the quilt or placing a bid may call Daniel at 285-8527 or 334-1047.

The men of Dyersburg Church of God on Phillips Street have contributed their Sunday best to a project benefiting the church's building fund. And local residents will soon have a chance to purchase a stunning, one-of-a-kind quilt created from their donations.

Church member Nina Daniel recently collected over 100 men's ties and created a unique quilt to be auctioned off for the church's building fund.

"I wanted to do something for our new church building fund, so I prayed about it," said Daniel, who is also a member of East Dyersburg Methodist Church's Busy Bees Quilting Club. "I have been quilting with the ladies at East Dyersburg Methodist Church for about six years. I talked to them about making a quilt that was different."

When Daniel found out that fellow Busy Bee member Lucille Guess had created a quilt out of men's ties, she requested ties from the men in her church and created a beautiful quilt top featuring an array of colors and patterns.

"It took 78 ties for the quilt's center and eight each on the fans in the corners," said Daniel. "It took several months and every stitch is hand made. It's art, really. It is one of a kind."

After Daniel completed the design and the quilt top, finishing the quilt became a project for the Busy Bees Quilting Club.

"We have put out so many pretty quilts," said Daniel. "We finish quilt tops for $100 plus the supplies."

East Dyersburg Methodist Church has used the money raised from Busy Bees quilts to help fund a lift chair, pave the parking lot, add chairs to the choir loft and several other church projects. Members of the club returned the favor for Daniel, completing the quilt top at no charge to earn money for her home church.

"A lot of work went into it," said Daniel. "You have to stretch it very tight, both top and bottom, and then roll it into the frame. Then you have to baste it around the sides and then you can start quilting. It was touch and go each week, (to complete the hand-stitching). (The back) is as beautiful as the front."

Guess brought additional ties from East Methodist church members to provide enough to bind the edges of the quilt.

Members of the Busy Bees Quilting Club include Daniel, Guess, Elizabeth Fowlkes and Mittie Yarbrough.

Daniel plans to enter the quilt in The Bank of Ripley's 18th annual Festival of Quilts and Fine Needlework Oct. 16 through Nov. 13, in the lobby of its main branch on the Court Square, in Ripley. She also hopes to display it in the lobby of First Citizens National Bank and both Dyersburg Church of God and East Dyersburg Methodist Church for a limited time. A box will accompany the quilt to allow residents to list their bid, name and phone number wherever the quilt is displayed. The quilt will be awarded to the highest bidder in time for Christmas.

"It's different," said Daniel. "And very unique. It is one of a kind."

Those interested in more information, viewing the quilt or placing a bid may call Daniel at 285-8527 or 334-1047.