It can be difficult coming up with interesting ideas for group quilts. I began this project only with the concept of using fabrics from around the world. I asked the local MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) office if a call could go out to their worldwide volunteers, requesting a 1/2 meter of locally used fabric from each country. At that time I had no idea what I would do with this fabric.
Six months later I received a large box, containing 73 unique fabrics from 40 countries! After much thought, I came up with the idea of the "doll quilt". With help of 72 women from the quilt guild and my church, this quilt was put together in less than 6 months during the winter of 2001-2002.
 | “The Kaleidoscope of Nations” (84”x84”) Made by members of the Waterloo County Quilters Guild and Listowel Mennonite Church. Coordinated by Renske Helmuth. Various piecing techniques; hand quilted. Auctioned for: $44,000 in May 2003. |
Named "Kaleidoscope of Nations", our quilt received the prize for the best guild quilt at the Ontario Juried Show, and later received the viewer's choice award. Below are close-up views of the 40 dolls that circled the quilt.
 Albania |  Bangladesh |  Bolivia |
 Bosnia |  Botswana |  Brazil |
 Cambodia |  Canada (Labrador) |  China |
 Congo |  Croatia |  El Salvador |
 Egypt |  Ethiopia |  Germany |
 Guatemala |  Honduras |  India |
 Indonesia |  Iraq |  Ireland |
 Jamaica |  Jordan |  Laos |
 Mexico |  Mozambique |  Nepal |
 Nigeria |  Palestine |  Philippines |
 Sudan |  Syria |  Tanzania |
 Thailand |  Uganda |  Ukraine |
 USA |  Vietnam |  Zambia |
| |  Zimbabwe |
"Kaleidoscope" was auctioned at the Ontario Relief Sale in 2003 for a record-breaking $44,000!
| << Previous Quilt | Next Quilt >> |
