Staff photo by Fritz Busch Sewing for Sight featured quilter Kandyce Peton of Courtland displays more than 20 quilts she has made and works on another at the St. George Parish Center Saturday. Staff photo by Fritz Busch Anita Esser, left, of New Ulm donates a quilt she made that was won by her daughter Johanna Esser, pictured at right, at the Sewing for Sight event at St. George Saturday. Staff photo by Fritz Busch Despite cold, windy weather, several dozen quilters participate at Sewing for Sight event at the St. George Parish Center Saturday. Money raised at the event goes to the Foundation for Saving Sight to help restore sight to needy residents at the San Lucas-Toliman Guatemala Catholic mission. Staff photo by Fritz Busch Sewing for Sight featured quilter Kandyce Peton displays more than two dozen quilts at the St. George Parish Center Saturday.

ST. GEORGE — Pipestone native Kandyce Peton of Courtland began sewing her own clothes at age 7.

“My dad said I could have a sewing machine if I sewed my own clothes. My mom did knitting,” Peton said while working on another quilt at Sewing For Sight at the St. George Parish Center Saturday.

She hasn’t stopped sewing and quilting since, working as a seamstress at various places she and her husband Greg have lived.

Peton was the featured quilter at Sewing For Sight. More than 20 of her quilts were on display.

She enjoys wood applique most now.

“I can take it along when we travel,” Peton said.

“I do something daily with fabric. I’ve done a little bit of everything with it,” she added.

When the Petons lived in Des Moines, Iowa, she made drapes for her own window fashion business.

She worked on a 70 by 84-inch quilt and another slightly smaller one Saturday.

Also a traveling nurse, Peton did quilting in her spare time while on the road.

“I’ve been all over the United States quilting and working as a nurse in Omaha, Sioux City, Sioux Falls, Arkansas, on an Arizona Indian reservation, Des Moines,” Peton said.

“I love the work ethic here (Midwest), for living and working,” Peton said.

She and her husband still travel a lot.

Some of her favorite places to visit are Fort Myers and Cape Coral, Florida, especially this time of year.

“But I still like coming home to the Midwest. I used to ski a lot but I still like coming back home here,” she said.

Sewing For Sight began in 1992 when eye doctors Christopher Wallyn and Michael Merck established the Foundation for Saving Sight, a non-profit organization.

The travel to San Lucas annually, giving their medical knowledge, talents, time and a sincere desire to help deliver sight saving eye care to the needy.

Ann Wendinger of rural New Ulm accompanied Wallyn to Guatemala in the fall to 2009 and said she was moved by the experience.

“I promised upon my return that in some small way, I would strive to raise funds and continue to support the mission,” Wendinger said.

Sewing For Sight was established in 2012 by Wendinger and her friends and business partners, Jackie Forst and Cindy Wendinger. A one-day quilt retreat began with hopes of raising $500. The 13th annual event has grown to accommodate up to 72 quilters at the St. George Parish Center.

“We couldn’t do this alone,” said Wendinger. “From the start, we’ve been supported by the St. George Catholic United Financial and now team with Sewing Seeds Quilt Company.”

Over the past 12 years, more than $170,000 has enabled the foundation to improve surgical equipment. The San Lucas hospital has been able to purchase badly needed medication, inter-ocular lenses and instruments needed for surgery and eye disease treatment.

“We never imagined our quilt retreat would grow to the magnitude it has. Many other professionals use our facilities and help in many ways. Together we made a difference. We know the need is real and it continues,” Wendinger said.

For more information, visit www.regeyecenter.com/foundation-for-saving sight. Follow Sewing For Sight on Facebook.