Quilts for an Enlarged Family

One year ago I was asked to make Christmas stockings for a family who had just adopted several older children.. I think it was three that they adopted, increasing their number of children from three to six. So I made 8 Christmas stockings for them, from fabric they had all chosen as their particular preferences, with one same fabric in each to show that they all belong together. That was a lot of fun to be a part of. I asked the mom if I could keep the scraps. She said sure.

My plan all along was to use the scraps for quilts for the same family. They didn't ask for quilts, but the "scraps" were so numerous that I knew I could get a couple of quilts made.

Recently they were completed, and I will soon mail them to the family. They will be totally surprised as they did not ask for quilts and are not expecting them. Wish I could be there to see their faces, but it's fun just to send a happy surprise like this and to be part of the celebrating that this family was able to expand their hearts and welcome in three more children.

Latest Charity Sewing

 

Three above - all VA quilts that measure 36" by 45"  to fit wheel chair or laps.  They'll go to our local Veteran's Hospital.

These last three for our Church's quilting group - St. Anne's.  All destined for new low-income mothers.  Last one is just a flimsy - I make them for other members to sandwich and tie, then someone binds it. That way four have prayed over it and worked on it.

On behalf of all the charities you all work for, I'd like to say Thank You! during this time of Thanksgiving.  Blessings!

Two Little Quilts

Two little quilts added to the stack to take for Project Linus:

This used up the remainder of my cowboy boots fabric and the "No Girls Allowed" fabric.  I have two other quilts that I quilted while in the quilting mood, but it may take me awhile before I get into the "binding" mood.  I did forget my cute little labels for these two quilts.  I'm glad I finished them, I was just going to send the  pieces off and let someone else finish them, but a finished quilt to touch and look at is always nice!

Checking In

It's been awhile since I checked on the blogs on my sidebar!  I've been busy, but it doesn't seem like I have much to show for all the busy-ness!

Today is my mother's birthday.  She turns 89.  She's quite the gal for that age.  She gets around even more than I do, I think.  I had a quilt I was going to give to a friend, but I just couldn't quite get that feeling that the quilt was for her, so I set it aside. Then I thought, maybe I'll send it Project Linus, but that didn't feel quite right either.  When I thought about my mother, I realized the colors are just perfect for her.  Her birthday is in the fall, she loves fall and loves fall colors.  So this quilt went to her and she has already opened the package and loves it.  I don't know how many more birthdays she'll have.  I live too far away to enjoy them with her, but at least now she has a wrap up from me.  I didn't think she'd like one because she has many cover-ups.  But, again, I'm shown that I don't know my mother that well.  She has table toppers, and wall hangings, but maybe she'll use this one and think of the love that went into it. Scrappy quilts to her remind her of the poverty she knew as a child.  I love scrappy quilts and making things from scraps, but she hasn't been too enamored by that process I love so much.  I don't know, but I did feel that I needed to give one to her.  My sis gets many because she loves them so much and I didn't want to have mother felt left out--it's just that she and my sis look at quilts in two opposing viewpoints.  

and the quilting on my home machine

I have a bag ready to take to the pick up place for Project Linus here.  These are the quilts I've finished

 

and this recent one:

In that bag, I had put some quilt tops for someone else to finish, but today, I feel like quilting so maybe I'll take one of the smaller ones out and quilt a bit.  It's always fun to get a finish and then that way my bag to Project Linus won't look quite so small.  :)

Each month I make blocks and send to our Sunshine Lotto which means that some of the blocks are made into quilts for Quilts Beyond Borders and Wrap a Smile.



This month the theme is black and white:

 

I won the lotto in July and have a couple of tops put together for quilts, but I don't have them finished yet.  Maybe soon...

Little Tiny quilts

What are you giving away these days?

 

I've been making and giving

LITTLE tiny quilts away!

There's ALWAYS an occassion

for a little quilty GIFT!

 

These little coasters are always welcomed.

Not QUITE a quilt....

But

ALMOST as nice!

 

I call them little quilty HUGS!!!

And my scrap basket is HAPPY

as I DIG AROUND in the corners.

Looking for the VERY best SCRAPS!

Here's the REALITY shot!

 

Quilts don't HAVE to be big

to show you CARE!

 

 

Comforts for Children

Just sharing a couple of quilts I am donating to Comforts for Children.  Comforts for Children is a local organization here in Eugene Oregon that provides quilts to agencies that work with at-risk kids.

These quilt are being donated in support of Katie's 100 Quilts for Kids quilt drive over at swim bike quilt.  Remember, you have until September 30th to participate.

Latest VA Quilt

Our guild had a sew day.  We were asked to make blocks for the quilts we give to the VA hospital. I decided instead of making 12" blocks to make an entire top instead.  I found this patriotic rooster that was part of a pillow panel and added borders.  It was easy to make the 36" x 45" wheelchair quilt by adding borders.

Feeding the Hungry One Bowl at a Time

Just a quick post to share a fun idea.  Our local food bank holds an annual event called the Empty Bowls Fundraiser.  Many talented artists in the area donate work and some friends and I wanted to join in the fun. As few of us work in ceramics, glass or wood, we decided to focus on what we know and make some fabric bowls.






We simply sewed scraps onto heavy interfacing in a mosaic fashion.  There are all sorts of tutorials available and they were really fun to make.

You can even add other embellishments like beading and metallic threads.

In all, I think we made about 15 bowls.  Each has its own personality and beauty.

I highly recommend trying this great idea if you have a similar fundraiser in your area.

100 Quilts for Kids

Just sharing a couple quilts I am donating to Bags of Love.  Bags of Love is a local organization here in Eugene Oregon that provides bags filled with essentials to kids who are in crisis and are being removed from their environment.  Each bag also includes a quilt for comfort.  I tried to fill these two quilts with lots of hugs.

These quilt are being donated in support of Katie's 100 Quilts for Kids quilt drive over at swim bike quilt.  You have until the end of September to participate.  Need an idea for a quilt?  String quilts work great for a quick quilt.  Plus you utilize some of those pesky scraps around your sewing room!

Kids Helping Kids!

Hi, all!

I wanted to share this picture with you - the children in our church decided to join in the Hands2Help Charity Quilt Challenge this year when they found out that one of the charities was quilts for Ethiopian orphans.  They have been studying mission efforts in Ethiopia and this was a perfect tie in.  They worked together with the ladies in our quilting group to create seventeen quilts that were sent to Quilts Beyond Borders for distribution in Ethiopia.  

Carla from Quilts Beyond Borders has written a very sweet blogpost that features these quilts and some others donated through the Hands2Help Challenge that you can read here.  If you're looking for a place to donate a quilt for the 100 Quilts For Kids charity drive (you can read about that here), I would highly recommend these folks.  They do great work!!

Hugs!

Sarah

Blocks for crossing borders

 

 

 

I saw the posting from last week and knew I could particiapate in making slab blocks to send to Cheryl in Calgary.

I

I managed to do the 3 blocks in 2 evenings afterwork. So easy to put together.

 

They take so little time and really help with the scrap bin.  afterall they are 15.5 inch squares. A win all the way around.

 

I'm including the pic below because I thought it was so amazing how fast the lens of my camera clouded up when I took it outside for pictures.  The heat and humidity were brutal.

 

These blocks made it into this mornings mail. Thanks to Cheryl for taking on this awsome project.

Introducing Myself and Project:Quilt

Hi Everyone!  First, I thought I would take a moment to introduce myself.  My name is Cyndy but you might have seen me around the blogger and magazine world as Cynthia Brunz Designs.  I recently came across Quilts are for Giving when I was reading Sarah's blog and knew I wanted to contribute.

Early last year I started toying with the idea of leading a sewing group.  I wanted to create an opportunity for members to learn new piecing techniques, try out various aspects of quilting (like applique, paper-piecing, etc.) and challenge themselves with occasionally working outside their box.  I wanted a venue where creativity could occur without creating a situation where a bunch of UFOs were started to clutter everyone's sewing rooms.  The idea of giving was important to me so Project:Quilt was founded.

There are 12 women who meet once a month at Our Sewing Room.  Each month, a member of the group agrees to sponsor the project.  This sponsor then gets to choose the activity, they choose the organization that receives the finished project, they are responsible for getting the project to a finished form and they get to choose how much control they have in the materials that get used for their project.  After a few initial projects that focused on some basic sewing, cutting and pressing skills, we were ready to spread our wings...

So far the quilts have been amazing!  Here are just a few...



This wall hanging was made for Reaching Out Mentoring Program.  The sponsor supplied the black fabric to unify the quilt and everyone else provided the solid colors for their block.  I love the personality each word projects.  It is hanging in their Mentor Center at Lincoln Middle School for both the students and the mentors to enjoy.



This fun lap quilt was made for a fundraiser supporting the Lane County Sheriff's Office K9 Unit.  The sponsor supplied the unifying navy blue fabric and everyone else brought dog themed fabrics for their blocks.  We used Kate Conklin's fussy frames tutorial (found here) as a guide to make the blocks.

 

In this activity, we learned how to make 3D geese and pinwheels.  As the sponsor was donating this to a fundraising auction for Eugene Vocal Arts Ensemble, she donated her vast collection of music themed fabrics.  Rather than a large quilt, a striking bed runner was made.



You can follow all of our projects on our Flickr site - Each monthly activity is organized and captured through its completion.  And I will also be sharing each monthly project on this site as well.  All of the projects we do can easily be done by a group or an individual.

 

 

If you are interested in starting a group of your own, feel free to contact me.  I am more then happy to assist you with getting started.

 

 

Crossing Borders

It seems there have been more natural disasters lately.  And in each one, whatever country in which it happens, our neighbors need help to recover and move on.  Cheryl at Dining Room Empire has started a Quilt Block Drive - you just have to make a slab of color. 

As Cheryl says, "Thank-you so much for continuing to think of us here in Southern Alberta. Now that the emergency situation is behind us it is time to think about recovery. Quilts go a long way towards that."

Here's mine that I will be sending along:

Have another one almost finished.  These would be great stash busters as the slabs are 15.5" square.  You just sew the rectangles together and square them up.

Quilts to Quilts Beyond Borders

I have a stack of quilts ready to be sent to Quilts Beyond Borders.

A Mountain of Love

A shout out to everyone that helped created this mountain of love.

Sarah for sponsoring the Hands 2 Help project and choosing Happy Chemo as a charity to help.  Each quilt will be given to a patient with cancer.  Thank you for helping me to bring a little comfort and joy to these wonderful people who are in need of a pick me up.  Your generosity will touch so many lives and give hope and healing.  Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Graduation time

This is the time of year I'm always BUSY!

Getting quilts ready for the graduating seniors at my church.

This year there are 5 quilts.

Ready to HEAD off to college!

 

I love making them.

I love giving them away!

 

 

Giving quilts away warms my heart.

;)

Quilt for QBB

This is a quilt top for Quilts Beyond Borders. I had fun making this... it fell into place easily.

--carol e.

Blocks for Boston

Made 4 blocks for Boston modern Quilt Guild. They plan to make and distribute quilts to those who would benefit from a show of support.

If you want more information, here is a link:
http://bostonmqg.blogspot.com/2013/04/quilts-for-boston.html