The Creative Edge: Little Balkans Quilt Guild

By Kristi Spencer

Mary Ann Wilson, Debbie Hurt Walker and Sherry Jagels have been part of the Little Balkans Quilt Guild for decades. They recently sat down to share how the group began, what keeps them involved and why quilting means so much to their members.

In 1990, Joyce Bardeen and Janis Ward moved to Pittsburg, Kansas, and immediately noticed something was missing.  

“They had been active in quilt guilds where they lived and when they came to Pittsburg, they found we didn’t have a quilt guild,” said Mary Ann. “And they thought it was almost a sin not to have a quilt guild, so they joined forces and organized it.”  

Their love of quilting sparked a movement that continues to grow 35 years later. Today, the Little Balkans Quilt Guild is a creative community that gathers monthly, hosts educational programs and showcases remarkable work that blends tradition, talent and fellowship.  

The Guild’s biggest moment each year is its annual quilt show during the Little Balkans Days Festival. It’s a popular attraction that draws hundreds of visitors. The 2025 show will take place the Friday and Saturday of Labor Day weekend, with an entry day Aug. 23. The fee to display a quilt or quilted item is $5 per item and anyone can participate. Visitors must purchase a $5 event passport to attend, which includes access to the show.  

Quilted pieces in the show must be new to the event. Once it has been shown, it can’t be entered again. “It’s like a brand-new show every year,” said Debbie. The show includes 175 to 200 quilted entries. Items include wall hangings, bags, clothing and traditional quilts. But it’s not just a show, it’s a competition. A certified judge will look at the items and a panel of celebrity judges is asked to pick their favorites.

Guild members create a donation quilt that becomes the centerpiece of the opportunity ticket drawing. A chairperson selects the pattern, the board approves it and then it’s divided into kits for members to complete together. The finished quilt is displayed at the show and awarded to one lucky winner on the final day. The funds raised go into the Guild’s general fund, which helps support educational programs throughout the year.  

In addition to the drawing, the show also features a boutique where members sell handmade items, including potholders, pincushions and table runners. Another highlight is the popular basket walk, where themed gift baskets created and donated by Guild members go up for a raffle.  

Pulling off a show this size is a full guild effort. “It takes all of us,” said Debbie. “I’d say 75-plus, probably, to do all the jobs. That week is just dedicated to the quilt show.”

The show is just one piece of the guild’s busy calendar. Members meet monthly and gather twice a month for “sew days” to work together and build relationships.

“I enjoy the programs and the meetings, but I think the sew days are just as important because it’s a fellowship,” said Mary Ann. “You get to know your members better. You glean from their knowledge.”

Proceeds from the show help bring in speakers and support hands-on workshops. “At our meetings, we always have a program,” said Sherry. “We had a speaker talk about machine maintenance and some who brought trunk shows.”

The guild members also use their talents to support others. One of their projects is the Quilts of Honor program for veterans. In November, they invite veterans to a monthly meeting, where they share their stories and they are then presented with a quilt. Last year, they gave out 13 quilts.  

They also donate community quilts to those affected by fire or disaster and make doll quilts for Toys for Tots.  

“If they have a disaster or a fire, we provide a quilt,” said Mary Ann. “They’re anywhere from a baby size to a regular quilt.” These acts of kindness reflect the Guild’s collective heart for their community.

Another beloved tradition is the Get R Done program. Members are encouraged to finish old projects and share the stories behind them.  

“I ask people to finish something they started in years past or something they bought a pattern for and never started,” said Debbie. “It’s an incentive to have people finish up.”  

Stories are shared anonymously and members vote on their favorite project before the makers are revealed. Sherry remembered a story she once submitted, where she joked that if her husband asked her one more time when she was going to finish a piece, she’d sew his lips shut “with a pretty blue thread that matched his eyes,” she added with a laugh.

Membership currently stands at around 70 to 75, with ages ranging from 30 to well into the 90s. Debbie joined the Guild alongside her mother and the two often work on quilts together.  

“When people join the guild, they usually want to learn,” said Debbie. “They’ll say, ‘My mother or grandmother quilted and I never got a chance to learn.’”

For members like Sherry, quilting is more than a hobby. It’s an art form and a way to preserve memories, not just a way to keep warm. “People think, ‘Why would I pay $400 for a quilt when I can get one at a store for $50?’” said Sherry. “But there’s so much time, effort and skill that goes into every piece.”

“Most of the time, I see things on Facebook or Pinterest or I’ll be at a quilt show and see a pattern I love,” said Sherry. “You just never know when inspiration is going to strike.”

The trio’s favorite memories include bus trips and quilting adventures, themed luncheons and being there for one another through life’s ups and downs.  

“We laugh, sometimes we cry,” said Mary Ann. “Even though you’re quilting, you get to know people’s personal lives. We have a common thread that binds us together.”

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