An accountant during the day in the diocesan Office for Finance, Barb Scoggins enjoys quilting in her spare time. Some of her handiwork was on display at the Calico Heart Quilt Shop in Fairhills Mall in Springfield, where she was featured quilter of the month for February.

Just a block west of the Catholic Pastoral Center in Springfield at Fairhills Mall, the handwork of a Curia staffer was on display during the month of February at the Calico Heart Quilt Shop. The quilts and wall hangings were made by Barb Scoggins, an accountant in the diocesan Office for Finance, who was featured quilter of the month.

Scoggins, who started quilting just four years ago, describes quilting as a great way to spend time relaxing and having fun away from work.

"It's neat to take a stack of fabric, and turn it into a quilt," says Scoggins. She's been doing handiwork for years - crochetins, knitting, crewel and cross stitch - and had always wanted to quilt. But it wasn't until she and her husband moved to a house with more space that the former St. Cabrini school secretary took up quilting.

She started with a pattern, picked fabrics she liked, then followed the process using her Bernina sewing machine to do the quilting. "I took a basic class to learn all the techniques that my machine has available. I have friends who quilt, who have helped guide me through the process. Once you get going, you just keep going."

Janet Vespa, accounting manager in the diocesan Finance Office, and Vespa's sister, Mary Agnes Albers, are two of Scoggins' quilting friends. 

Scoggins has made a dozen quilts, most of which she has given as gifts. The blue Log Cabin quilt on display at the Calico Quilt Shop is one of her favorites. In the Fairhills shop window, the St. Louis Cardinals' red fabric motif backing on the quilt she made for her dad was visible from the sidewalk. The front of the quilt features a fabric design depicting baseball game tickets from National League ballparks.

"My brother asked me, ‘Didn't it hurt when you were quilting that Cubs ticket?' That quilt was the greatest gift to give my Dad. He loves the Cardinals," says Scoggins. A red and white cherry-themed patchwork throw she made for her niece covers a bed in the exhibit.

Some of her work on display started from kits. She has made two quilts each for her grandsons - a baby quilt and a quilt to reflect the individual tastes of each older little boy. She's only made one quilt so far for her granddaughter. "She's still a baby, there's time," says Scoggins.

Jane Reynolds, owner of the Calico Quilt Shop, says that so many people have stopped in to see Scoggins' quilts, she calls it "the Barb Scoggins Fan Club."

Vespa offers suggestions to people who are thinking about taking up, or renewing interest in quilting. "Pick projects that you are interested in, and are going to hold your interest. Pick fabrics that you are going to enjoy working with. We try to pick fabric lines that intrigue us. Usually if you're making a quilt, a quilt shop has a higher grade of fabric to choose from. But Jo Ann's Fabrics is helpful too."

In the industry "they're always coming up with ways to make quilt blocks easier. They now have square rulers that are down to the size that you need. They really have everything that you ever need. You're always tempted by everything that comes out."

It isn't necessary to be an accountant to do patchwork quilting, says Scoggins, but it doesn't hurt either. "Edges have to be even, you have to square everything up. It takes a lot of concentration.  Me, I tend to gravitate towards straight lines, and everything being more exact. But people who are more artistic do some fantastic things."