If you have never experienced a Heart of Gold quilt up close, you are missing out on some incredible artwork in quilting. According to Facebook, “Hearts of Gold Quilters in Fallon, Nevada is a service organization making and donating quilts to many people in our community. We welcome quilters of all skill levels to meet, socialize, learn, and teach quilting techniques.”
Nancy Bradley, the group's point of contact and Facebook page administrator admits she's not a quilter, but she is really good at sewing. “This is a group of extremely talented, and hardworking ladies.” These are the same ladies that make the Hearts of Gold quilt that is raffled off at the Cantaloupe Festival and County Fair every year. They start working on this one quilt well in advance, investing over 100 woman-hours to make the king-size quilt that has a unique themed design each year. Bradley said, “This year's quilt is of a Civil War theme, and it's quite different than anything we've ever done. Quite beautiful, and tickets are on sale now.”
Bradley described the mission of the club. “The most important thing about our group is that we donate 50 to 80 quilts every year to various local non-profit organizations such as Rooms for Ruth and Domestic Violence Intervention. Plus, we also donate monies that we raise from the Hearts of Gold quilt raffle, too. The wonderful thing is typically we use our own fabrics, and the club pays for the batting and some of the backing. But a year or so ago, we received a donation of 20 to 25 boxes of fabrics. When we started opening those boxes, we were like kids in a candy store. All colors and designs, and that's what we are using now.”
Bradley said the group started with 13 members and has now grown to about 32 members, “and they are at all stages from beginners to extremely advanced.” The group currently has 20 to 25 of their quilts in a variety of sizes and styles from king-size bed quilts to table runners on display at WNC.
On Mondays, the group holds its member meetings and classes at Oasis Church, and Bradley said that the meetings are open to anyone who would like to visit. On the first Monday of each month, members start by sewing on their own, then hold their monthly meeting. On the second Monday, they gather to sew on their own and celebrate any members’ birthdays that month. On the third Monday, one of the members will teach a class on a particular quilting method or topic. On the fourth Monday, they all work on a donation quilt, and if there's a fifth Monday in the month, they have a potluck.
Bradley said the Hearts of Gold Cantaloupe Festival quilt is their moneymaker. “That's how we make money to buy donation quilt fabric and supplies. We also give money from the raffle to local non-profit groups such as CAPS so that we are true to the money. The winning raffle ticket is drawn on Sunday afternoon at the Cantaloupe Festival around 3 p.m. All of our quilts for sale are on display during the festival, along with all of the donation quilts.”
The Hearts of Gold raffle quilt travels to different locations in town during the spring and summer seasons. “It was at the Soroptimist Home and Garden Show, and I think it's currently at the credit union. Plus, there are four different places that allow us to display it and sell raffle tickets there, too.”
Bradley's enthusiasm can be contagious when she talks about the club and its projects. “I probably jabber too much, but I really like the club, and I really like the ladies, we have a lot of fun. They are an amazing group.”
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