A handmade quilt becomes an heirloom because the creator stitches so much of themselves into the work. Raynell Coleman brought together the design, colors, and people to begin work on this quilt. Her dear friend, Dianne Slattery, and many others in the guild, completed work on the quilt when Raynell became ill. She was able to see here vision come to life before her passing. The quilt was graciously given to Raynell’s daughter by the raffle winner, and remains as an heirloom in their family.

Opportunity Quilt Chairs
Raynell Coleman and Diane Slattery

Pattern Information
The design was adapted from “Swarms of Summer” by Sherri Bain Driver and Barbara Tone Lister, published in American Quilter, Summer 2007. The adaptation from the original pattern was drawn by Raynell Coleman, with input from various guild members.

Fabric Selection
The fabric for the nine-patch floral blocks, and bee wings and bodies, were primarily donated by guild members. The quilt backing, and blue for borders and bee block centers, were ordered online from Missouri Star Quilt Company, because we could not find enough in our local stores.

Block Construction
Ten guild members completed the 77 paper-pieced bees, and the 19 floral nine patch blocks. The work took about 100 hours

Appliqué
Bee heads were appliqued, and antennae were embroidered by three guild members for 36 hours.

Layout/Assembly
The layout and assembly of the quilt top took 5 people 90 hours.

Hand Quilting
Fifteen guild members spent 407 hours hand quilting.

The quilt require a total of 668 hours to complete all piecing, appliqué, embroidery, quilting and finishing.

Materials
100% cotton fabric and Quilter’s Dream Wool batting.

Techniques
Paper-piecing, appliqué, and hand quilting.

Raffle Winner
Susan Pilieri, who gifted the quilt to Raynell’s daughter Shirley.