Quilt making quite the journey

A quilt that will be raffled off at this year’s Bike the Barn Quilts is making the rounds at Shawano businesses. The quilt was made by Linda Bleser, local artist and quilter who is a member of the Shawano Area Quilters Guild and has taught quilting at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. “It’s just one of my quilts,” she said. It is titled Wreath on the Cabins. After a rug was used as a raffle prize at last year’s event, Bleser’s daughter-in-law, Rachel, asked if Bleser would donate a quilt for this year’s ride. “I took the same idea,” said Rachel Bleser, who along with her husband, Nick, volunteers for Shawano Pathways, which sponsors Bike the Barn Quilts. The quilt, valued at $250, is on display at Angie’s Main Café through Sunday. It will be at Lizzie’s Restaurant and Catering from Aug. 18-24, Old Glory Candy from Aug. 25-31, Body Essentials from Sept. 1-7, Antiques and Collectibles on Main from Sept. 8-14, The Cobbler’s Closet from Sept. 15-21 and Mountain Bay Outfitters from Sept. 22-26. The quilt also has been shown at Anew Tea Emporium and Antiques, Dreier’s Pharmacy and Gift Shoppe, and Generations. Raffle tickets are three for $20 or one for $7. They can be purchased at the businesses or on Sept. 27 at Memorial Park, where the second annual Bike the Barn Quilts will start. All proceeds will go to Shawano Pathways and Bike the Barn Quilts.