Omaha World-Herald | Story and Photo by Linda Wuebben | February 6, 2010

RANDOLPH, Neb. — The Randolph Senior Citizens Center wants to “quilt the town” in celebration of Randolph’s quasquicentennial in 2011.

“When it was suggested, we thought it would be a good community project for our elderly residents,” said Leila Arduser, director of the center. “Our members cannot get around the best, and this was something we could do at the center.”

The suggestion came from Darlene Dowling, a local interior design specialist. She suggested painting “quilt blocks” and selling them to Randolph businesses and residents in celebration of the coming 125th anniversary of the city’s incorporation.

The funds could benefit the center or the Q125 Committee.

In September, the center’s board members decided they would like to oversee the project. The blocks can be staked on a front lawn, hung on an outdoor building or attached to a porch rail.

The first quilt block painted was called “Pudding & Pie” and was staked outside the center. The first block hung was for resident Irvin Arens. It now decorates his garage.

Since then, the center has received requests for 23 painted quilt blocks.

Originally the blocks were to be painted by the center members, but a former Randolph native, who wishes to remain anonymous, offered to paint the blocks as a way to contribute to the celebration.

It takes about 10 days to two weeks to get an order back, and the artist keeps track of the time spent on each block. An average for the total project is about five to six hours.

There are two coats of primer and three coats of top paint for each block — and the corners meet and the lines are straight.

“The local lumberyard is very helpful and cut the boards for us,” Arduser said.

She takes several to the painter so there are some on hand whenever the orders come in. Arduser said she hopes that when the weather warms up, more requests will come in.

There are three sizes: 2-by-2 feet for $35, 4-by-4 feet for $70 and 8-by-8 feet for $150.

The group has yet to sell a large quilt block made from two 4-by-8-foot sheets of half-inch plywood, but there have been some positive responses from rural residents.

The center has several books people can look through to choose a favorite from among the samples of quilt blocks. Once a block is chosen, that pattern will not be used again.

A copy of each quilt design chosen is kept in a folder by the director’s desk. The first blocks already staked around town offer a colorful explosion against the deep snowbanks.

“They also can come in with their own favorite quilt pattern,” Arduser said. “One carpenter in town came in with a pattern called ‘Carpenter’s Square.’ ”

When a business or individual comes in with a pattern choice, Arduser scans it into the center’s computer and prints several copies. She tells the person to take the copy home and experiment with different color combinations.

St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church chose “Lily of the Field” for one block and a pattern called “St. Paul” for another. Arduser said there are religious choices as well as traditional patterns.

If a business needs help, Arduser and others at the center have already found some quilting patterns to fit the bill. For the town welder, she has a pattern called “Anvil.”

“We are having a lot of fun with this project,” Arduser said. “We have painted some for Christmas presents and a few were birthday requests.”

http://omaha.com/article/20100206/NEWS02/702069915