The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Dessa Rodeffer - Quill Publisher/Owner
Janice Neff and her Stronghurst business, Quilts & More, have been serving the area for several years now and draws people from out of county and out of state. One of the fun things about her business that provides all things for quilts, bags, purses and more, is her quilting club which meets montly for three days, currently at the American Legion Hall in Stronghurst.
Janice grew up in Stronghurst, the daughter of State Representative Clarence E. and his wife Elaine Neff. She has dealt in many business adventures over the years, beginning as a youth, sellling tickets to the Republican Fish Fry to running her father’s Buick and John Deere dealership, to Real Estate, and now settling into her quilt shop located one black south of the Stronghurst Fire Department.
Sunday evening, ladies were busy making many beautiful and colorful items, many for gifts, some for their own enjoyment.
Around a dozen take part in the club, but some had gone home to come back the next day when these photos were taken.
At left is Janice, who is ironing patches she had sown together.
Below, Angela Myers of Stronghurst holds a tea towell she had fashioned for Easter and also displays a Heritage quilt she has been workiing on using all the scraps of quilting material she has collected over the years. Angela says it is her favorite quilt over the many she has made. Angla has given quilts to her family members as well as helps lead with the Quilts of Valor that are presented to veterans as a gift for their service to our country
A Quilts of Valor presentation will be made in front of the Ameircan Legion at the second Stronghurst Farmers Market.Angela said, where the community is encouraged and invited to attend. to help honor our special veterans.
At th left bottom of the opposite page, Peggy Shutwell of Biggsville displays one of the Quilts of Valor which is being made for the occassion. She was busy working on a quilt for a wedding gift which is in various shades of blues and white hoping to be finished by the couple’s June wedding.
Below, at right, is Beverly Thacker of Biggsville who is ironing a piece for her quilt. Many steps go into making these beautiful heirlooms. The ladies quilt bags to store plastic bags, tea towels, bags, hot pads, microwave bowl holders, and a variety of other items besides many many beautiful quilts.
At right center is alerie Weeks, who was a former Socil Worker at Union High School who travels from her Galesburg home to quilt. She is working on the beautiful Southwest Mosiac quilt for her son in Arizonial to give as a gift to a neighbor there who is moving to remember his time spent in Arizonia.
At her right is Rita Moore who travels from Macomb to be a part of the quilting group. Rita is holding a teal and black Mosiac quilt wall hanging that is for a graduation gift, she said.