Candyce Dreher of Marion remembers her grandmother quilting when she was just three years old.
“I remember her putting her quilting frame up in the living room. She and her friends would quilt on it. I’ve always been a creative person but quilting really opened something in my heart,” Candy says.
In 1988, Candy learned the secret to faster quilting while working in a quilt shop in Akron.
“I went crazy with quilting! I just exploded after that,” Candy says. “I like unique patterns and geometric patterns. Whatever strikes my fancy!”
Moving to Marion
After Candy’s first husband, Butch, died of cancer, she would come to Marion every weekend, where her daughters, Evie Collins and Michelle Miller, live.
“About three years after Butch died, life was getting good again. A friend introduced me to Dan Dreher. We met on the bleachers at Pleasant High School. We saw each other almost every weekend after that,” Candy recalls.
Candy and Dan both knew they had found someone special.
“We both lost spouses to cancer in 1992. I met him in September of 1995. Both of us having good marriages before, we knew what we were looking for. We met and got married eight months later,” Candy recalls. “I was very fortunate to have found two good men in my life.”
Stitching Hope for Cancer Patients
Dan is also a cancer survivor. Candy decided to put her quilting skills to work to help cancer patients and survivors. At the time, Evie worked for the American Cancer Society while Michelle organized the local Relay For Life. Candy spent months making a quilt with 18 different cancer ribbons for a raffle.
“I really enjoyed doing that one. It was for a cause. It just made me feel good to be able to donate something like that,” Candy says.
This was the first of many quilt donations to Relay For Life.
Helping Seriously Ill Children
Candy also spent several years making quilts for children with serious illnesses who stayed at Flying Horse Farms in Mt. Gilead.
“What they do out at Flying Horse is amazing. They have doctors and medical staff to deal with each child’s particular illness. They tell the kids that when they walk through this bridge, they leave the disease on the other side,” Candy explains.
A group of volunteers called the Bias Buddies made at least 100 quilts a year for campers with cancer and other diseases.
“We put a quilt on each bed. When they go home, they take the quilt with them. Each quilt that we make, you pray over it for the child that’s going to receive it,” Candy says.
Creating Custom Items For Customers
Candy also makes a variety of items including wall hangings, window treatments and custom quilts for local customers. She made a quilt for a 12-year-old All-Star baseball player with T-shirts from tournaments he won from around the U.S.
“When he saw the quilt – you don’t expect a boy to get excited about a quilt – he said, ‘Mom, that’s not going on my bed. That’s going on my wall!’” Candy remembers.
Both the Marion Area Chamber of Commerce auction and the downtown Christmas Tree auction have benefitted from Candy’s generosity. She has also made may quilts as gifts for family members.
“I just make them because I love them and I love to give them. If I see a need when it comes to something in the community, I will offer that,” Candy says. “I can’t even tell you how many quilts I’ve made.”
Volunteers Move Marion in a Positive Direction
The quilter encourages others to share their gifts.
“I just think it’s important that people get involved in their community. If there’s a certain talent you have, step out, reach out, do what you can,” Candy says.
The local artist is excited about Marion’s future.
“I think it’s headed in a very positive way – especially downtown with all the new construction and buildings that they are renovating. CAN DO! is also bringing in a lot of large businesses into the community. They are helping by providing jobs. It’s just amazing!” Candy exclaims.
For More Info:
Email Candy at lovequilting33@gmail.com.
MarionMade! is a program of Marion Technical College.
