Buffalo Quilting Gals

BQG Service Project History
Photos of Some of Our Projects Below
Service Project Request Form

1996 - BQG was officially founded in 1996, after a year as an informal Block of the Month club. "Minutes" weren’t recorded until Feb. 98. The club Scrapbook documents members showing many quilts made for loved ones, friends, and personally-chosen charities such as the nursing home, ambulances, needy families and churches - in addition to many hours donated in community service:

1997 - The first Service Project was the Big Horn National Forest Centennial Quilt, completed in August 1997, which was started at the suggestion of former member LeAnn Moses. It hung in the Buffalo U.S. Forest Service/BLM building for a year or more before being installed at The Burgess Junction Visitor Center, then recently returned to the Buffalo site. The WY Quilt Project, Inc. recently officially documented this commemorative quilt. The 1930's "Sagebud" pattern in rust, green, and muslin was our first benefit quilt, for the Johnson County Library Foundation Auction in November, 1997. It was won by Hazel Ramsbottom and raised over $600, although Foundation Raffle tickets did not go on sale until October.

1998 - BQG we donated a queen-sized purple and white "Flying Geese" quilt, started after a club Block of the Month paper piecing lesson that February. Raffle ticket sales for this quilt raised $1,118 for the Johnson County Library Foundation. This was also the year members created a quilted BQG banner, and donated 61 lap quilts to the Veterans Home during a special Veteran’s Day reception. In 1998 Nancy Barfield and Gladys Kamberger made a Memory wall hanging for the Susie Bowling Hospice, a tradition they have quietly continued each year.

1999 - When the Gatchell Museum asked BQG to provide a quilt for their 1999 Auction, we completed Sadie Roediger's vintage "Double Wedding Ring" quilt top, which raised $775.00. Members of BQG also completed an unfinished full-size quilt by a deceased member who had planned to give it as a wedding present, bringing much joy to the family. "Thanks for the Memories", our 50" square 20th Century commemorative wall quilt donated to the Johnson County Library Foundation, was won that fall in their Silent Auction by Earl Nimick and raised $550.00. On Veteran's Day BQG presented 12 additional lap quilts to the Veteran's Home.

2000 - When the Wyoming State Library Association requested a raffle quilt, we finished another vintage quilt top, "Seven Sisters" over the summer of 2000, raising over $1,100.00 for the library. The club also turned in 24 lap quilts made for the Veteran's Home! A few members completed a "Sneakers" appliqué wall hanging from an old BOM lesson and donated it to the Johnson County Library Foundation for the Silent Auction at that year's benefit. The winning bid was placed by Paul Barfield and it raised $300 for the library!

2001- Members of BQG made the king-sized "Rhapsody in Blue" Wyoming State Quilt Guild 2002 Opportunity Quilt, with the assistance of Northeast Region WSQG members and friends from Story, Gillette, Wright, and Recluse. This quilt raised a record-breaking $2,243.00 by July 2002, for quilters statewide. A small BQG group donated their 1999 Hoffman Challenge "Iris" wall hanging to the Johnson County Library Foundation for their Silent Auction, which raised $225.00.

2002 - BQG members worked on making a quilt from 1930-40’s fabric Butterfly Appliqué Blocks from more of Sadie Roediger’s donations. Members logged over 80 hours purchasing, washing, pressing, sewing on sashing and border fabrics, designing hand quilting patterns, hand quilting, binding, and making a label for this quilt. It was donated to the Johnson County Library Foundation Auction held in October 2002 and raised $375 for the library. The club initiated The Christmas Stocking Challenge to benefit the Sheridan-Johnson County Youth Home. The public was invited to vote for their favorite with a donation totaling $229 which went to the Youth Home. Kathy Brus was the winner with a delightfully original stocking featuring cross stitch and defined toes. The stockings and quilts contributed by some of the members were given to the teenagers in the home. We received a beautiful hand-made letter of appreciation. Gail Fage came to our meeting with a presentation about a terminal illness (LAM) which has afflicted her daughter. The daughter needed a double lung transplant and Gail asked for a quilt to raffle. The Thursday group constructed a quilt from the October 2002 BOM, the Sawtooth Star.

2003 - Several members worked together to construct a quilt raffled in to benefit Jason Carder, the Buffalo policeman suffering from Leukemia. The liberty star, November block of the month. The quilt was won by BQG member, Liz Tobi, and donated to Jason Carder who was pleased to have the quilt during his treatment. BQG sponsored a team of eight members to walk in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life in July, 2003. The Vintage Flower Basket Quilt assembled by Vikki Chenette from 1930-40's feedsack fabrics left to the club by the family of charter member Lois Herbert raised $1200. to benefit cancer research. Member and relay participant Pam Pionkoski's husband Tom, was the lucky winner. The Gatchell Museum dinner and auction was held September 20, 2003. Members worked together to finish and hand quilt another quilt top donated by Sadie Roediger. The Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt was auctioned, raising $225 for the Gatchell Museum. The quilt was won by Jean Vignaroli. In 2003 the club collected quilt blocks made with a pink and white theme. Several members worked to assemble six small quilts to be hung in the community - to remind women to have their mammograms, in memory of survivors, and in honor of those we have lost to the disease. One of the quilts hangs permanently in the mammography room in the Johnson County Hospital. Some of the others will be hung at school district headquarters, the Medical Clinic, Johnson County Library, Johnson County Courthouse, and other locations in Buffalo. The Guild made Christmas Stockings in 2003 and 2004 and the public voted with cash. Sally Blanford was the winner of the challenge for both years. The funds and the stockings were donated to the Buffalo Youth Home. The Guild participated in the 2003 Festival of Trees with a Christmas wreath featuring handmade ornaments.

2004 - Members provided 40 reversible table runners to decorate tables at the Amy Holt Nursing Home. The new St Francis Animal Shelter, opened in Spring 2004, in Buffalo. The walls are adorned with small animal quilts and we raffled a larger quilt, raising about $800, to benefit the shelter.

2005 - A raffle quilts was assembled for Habitat for Humanity realizing $935.00. A comfort quilt was assembled for long-time Buffalo City employee and friend to many, Lyle Niswender. A special comfort quilt was created for Pam Pionkoski, our president, who lost her battle with lung cancer. Members created a quilt to benefit the Buffalo Senior Center, benefiting them with $260 and the Children's Center raising $51. We continue to independently create and donate quilts to the youth and workers at the Buffalo Youth Home.

2006 - Members created a quilt for the National Basque Festival to be held in Buffalo July 21-23. It was auctioned and realized $3200 for that organization. Some of the proceeds went to the local Food Pantry. Members created a quilt for the National Basque Festival to be held in Buffalo July 21-23. It was auctioned and realized $3200 for that organization. Some of the proceeds went to the local Food Pantry. We will also created a tee shirt quilt for the Relay for Life which contributed about $500 to the Cancer Society.

2007 - A darling Sunbonnet Sue quilt was created by the Loose Threads on Thursdays. The quilt was won by local resident, Janice Fieldgrove. The proceeds from the raffle will benefit the Mothers of Preschoolers local chapter activities. Christmas stockings were donated to the Surprise-You sale at St Luke's Episcopal Church in appreciation for their allowing us to meet. Auction proceeds were matched by BQG to help defray the cancer medication costs for founding member, Helen Harnish.

2008 - A beautiful scrappy bear paw quilt was made for the Buffalo Boys and Girls Club. It was raffled (won by Lisa Noteboom) and the organization realized about $1400 from our donation.

2009 - A blue and yellow pinwheel quilt was made to raffle to benefit the the Child Advocacy Services Agency in Buffalo. The quilt was won by Donna Mortensen.

2010 - A raffle quilt was provided to benefit the Buffalo Food Pantry.