Market exhibitors’ recent
job derived from a higher calling

PINNING HOPE ON THE POPE

 

Longtime Quilt Market exhibitors Audrey and Tommy Brendel of the Pin Peddlers received a little divine intervention in their business when they were chosen as the exclusive providers of commemorative pins during Pope Francis’ Papal visit to
the U.S.

 

When the couple were asked to submit some samples and quotes for a project - whose identity was not revealed – they did so. But they were also in the midst of busily on their “Row by Row” quilt store project pins, and didn’t think much more about it.

 

But when they found out they won the bid – and what is was for – they had to switch into holy high gear. Fast.

 

“We got the official order for the pins on our cell phone, in an airport, about an hour before we boarded a plane for a two-week vacation in Scotland in July,” Audrey says.

 

“I knew it would be almost impossible to work on the order from Scotland meet the important deadline before the Pope arrived. So I sat in the airport and quickly made arrangements to get the pins into production just before we boarded the plane. It was perfect timing, and our factory started making the pins for the Pope while we were in Scotland.”

 

In the end, Pin Peddlers made two works for the visit: One official “Pope Francis NYC 2015” pin for the Catholic Archdiocese of New York, and one just for employees of the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. The former was offered through a web site, and sold out quickly. Pin Peddlers is now busily making more to fill back orders.

 

The Brendels feel that the entire experience was, well, uplifiting for their spirits.

 

“Honestly, it was just an honor to be asked to do this,” the couple says. “We felt proud watching the Papal visit coverage on TV, knowing that we had been involved in just a very tiny part of it, behind the scenes. We were thrilled to make these pins for such a happy and successful event.”