If you want to see a really impressive set of production statistics, just take any group of church quilters and divide the number of quilts produced by the number of quilters that produced them.

Moreover, unlike politicians, these quilters aren't stepping all over each other to take credit; they just continue modestly and industriously turning out meticulous work on quilts that are given for missions.

Now the public will have a chance to acquire some of these pieces of fabric art at a quilt auction at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Wing City Park in Wing.

The auction is part of Wing Community Days activities and the quilters are approximately a half-dozen women of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Wing, who have just this year alone created more than 100 quilts.

The bulk of the quilts are sent to missions around the world, but a collection of them will go to this auction to raise money for Lutheran World Relief and for Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Reserve bids will be taken for these quilts as well by calling auctioneer JoAnn Braun of Braun's Auction Way at 701-943-2446.

Quilter Claudia Berg of Wing estimated that there will be about 25 quilts available at the auction, and they are exceptional, said the Rev. Muriel Lippert, pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

The quilting group averages six or seven people, Berg said, including Hester Bailey, in her 90s, who lives in an assisted living facility in Wing. Bailey told the other quilters that if they would set up a quilt at the facility, she could work on it regularly. Remarkably, Bailey has done much of the quilting on of two the quilts herself, Berg said.

Quilts available at the auction include some beloved classic patterns, including "Wedding Ring" (hand-quilted, 76 by 90 inches), "Flying Geese" in shades of purple and violet (hand-quilted, 79 by 98 inches), and a multicolored "Nine-Patch" with a cream-colored border (machine-quilted, 61 by 85 inches).

Several versions of "Basket Weave" patterns are available - in tones of green, beige and rust (machine-quilted, 72 by 84 inches), in shades of medium and light blue (hand-quilted, 71 by 82 inches), in black and white (machine-quilted, 70 by 92 inches), in brown and beige (hand-tied, 72 by 90 inches), and in tan and crimson (machine-quilted, 75 by 90 inches).

A youth-sized quilt (51 by 68 inches) called "Dora's A Star," features the TV character Dora the Explorer.

Also available for auction will be denim jean quilts in various sizes with pillows to match, pillows, other quilts and hand-crafted items.

The auction is being held during the Wing Community Day celebration which includes activities all day, beginning with a parade at 11 a.m.

(Reach Karen Herzog at 250-8267 or karen.herzog@bismarcktribune.com.)