Jan Kramer came to quilting after a lifetime of sewing garments. Her mother was an excellent seamstress and Jan learned from her, taking pride in careful sewing, good material, and a professional result. So, it’s no wonder that when she happened upon the Village Quilt Shop in Stone Mountain in the late 90s, quilting was a natural fit. The shop, which many of us remember fondly, had a block of the month program, and Jan was all in. Soon, she was taking classes and a quilter was born. Jan has tried lots of different styles but finds that she returns to piecing and traditional patterns – often with bright colors.
Jan has been active in her church for many years, so when there was a chance to go to Honduras with the Lamb Institute, a group helping poor families there, Jan volunteered. Her first question was “what can I do?” The answer was to teach sewing. Some of the women there had sewing machines, but they were in terrible shape, so Jan raised money and bought five new ones, taking them 2 at a time on flights from Atlanta to Honduras. Working through a translator, Jan taught various projects including tote bags and clothing. Lots of sewing was accomplished, but there was also a lot of fun along the way. Despite the poverty in which they lived, the women found enjoyment in sewing and in the camaraderie of the group. Holidays were celebrated – even if the calendar didn’t cooperate! One memorable Christmas came in February, due to Jan’s travel schedule. Although the project is not active any longer, Jan is still in touch with some of the people she met and worked with.
Sewing projects with the Honduras Lamb Institute.
Jan joined the Guild when she retired from nursing. She enjoys being in the midst of others with the same interests and is proud of the Guild’s community service projects. Jan also likes the “great workshops” offered by the Guild and takes advantage of them to learn new techniques and brush up on various skills.
At the Day meetings, you will find Jan ready to record and recognize Golden Scissors quilts, so stop by and say hello.
This is one installment of Who We Are, a monthly series in this newsletter and on our blog spotlighting ECQG members and giving them a chance to tell their quilting stories.