A Scrappy Charity quilt made by my guild.

Isn't this a scrap beauty??!  I love all the colors.  My local guild that I recently joined this year makes a lot of charity quilts as group projects each month and donates them to local veterans.  The charity coordinator does an excellent job breaking down the projects into little "homework baggies" and hands them out at the monthly meetings. 

One bag may say make 25 HST's or 20 9-patch blocks... and there may be 10 women making blocks for the same quilt.

The following month you bring back your completed homework and eventually all blocks are made and someone will volunteer to take them home and put into a top.  She'll bring it back and someone will take it home to quilt it....

 

Then the quilt will return once more for someone to volunteer to bind it - that's where I came into play on this one - I volunteered to bind it.  The light pink backing had been left large enough to double fold over to the front and stitch down.

It's a great charity project and our guild has many quilt in progress at different stages all the time.  Majority of the quilts are donated to local Veterans.

However you may remember that at the beginning of May there were very bad tornadoes that touched down in several locations across Southern Indiana and across Ohio and Kentucky.  Our charity quilts have take on a new goal and that is to make 100 quilts to donate to the people of Henryville by their 1 year anniversary.

I love machine finishing the binding - so hopefully I'll get to volunteer to put on more bindings to quilts as they are completed!  It's so great to do such a small thing to be part of something BIG.  Charity quilts are a great way to get involved and I'm so thankful that my guild is very active on giving back to the local community.

Love from Indiana!

February = Pink! ;)

Welcome February :) Have you all see this created by Cabin Quilter? It's always fun to see what she creates each month.

I have a pink project in progress... here is a photo I posted on facebook last week...

I'm happy to report that I have the top all sewn together and ready to add borders onto it - I'll get a photo up in the next day or so. I'm liking how it's turning out! It's starting to get me in the Valentines mood.... although this one is not a keeper. More details soon

Edited to add - for my non bloglines readers - Just wanted to let you know I uploaded a postdated post for September '10 today - CLICK HERE to take a read about the twins first time to see my sewing room in our home. I have lots of pending posts that I will get posted... and when I do I'll try to remember to leave a note to let you know where to find them ;)

Love from Texas!

A Pink Project

Can you believe I did NOT have enough Pinks.... so a trip to Joann's was in order... I do have some pinks in my stash but most of them have been claimed by my 6 year old daughter... which are strickly OFF LIMITS to me! :P

A church friend recently approached me about making a prayer quilt for a friend of hers who is battling cancer. She assured me more than once that she'd pay me to make it but I'm not really interested in being hired to do a job.... at the time I told her that I was way behind on a commitment and couldn't start until that was mailed off...

So we'll see... I know that she needs it ASAP so at least now I'll already have the fabric on hand here at home when I get ready to begin. ;) It also helps that I already have a pattern in mind too..... I will get to use something that hubby gifted me with for Christmas... so you'll just have to wait and see. ;)

Since they want to tie the quilt as they say prayers I'm thinking of makin the quilt top then sewing it to a blanket right sides together and then "Birthing it" turning right sides out and then probably basting with large stitching to hold it in place while they tie it...... any thoughts on that? suggestions??

Love from Texas!

Sewing and a lot of prayers today

So yesterday I met up with Jill, Heidi and Beverly and several other women from their church... we all brought our sewing machines..... only I didn't really accomplish much.

The book above, Errand of Angels, was a gift to me from Heidi. It has beautiful illustrations and lots of Mom Moments poems and quotes. Sorta reminds me of what we were working on as a group yesterday - errands of angels in a way... as everything being made will be donated and sent to The Emmazing Grace Foundation.

Beautiful gift and I love what she wrote to me inside the cover. Can you click on it and read it? I hope so. Heidi is one of the most caring and generous people I've ever had the privilege to call a friend. I love her so much! ;)

So today when the twins napped, I got my machine back to working - minus the light bulb.. urgh -but at least the tension is right now. ;)

In just a couple hours I turned the little fabric pieces into these little mini quilts. And I have enough fabric to probably make 2 more of the same. Lots of prayer and thoughts of love and hope for healing are being worked into these treasures. I will never know the mothers to receive these gifts but hope that they find comfort somehow in knowing that other mothers cared enough to make and share a part of their hearts with them and send to them during this part of their lives.

I can not image what it would be like to experience the loss of a child, much less a newborn. I've known two friends who have suffered such a loss. I really admire each of them for their strength to find a way to pick up the pieces and hold on to their memories of their angels. Somehow both of them have had their faith strengthened and they share freely about their child they lost.. and I'm grateful that they have both shared their testimony with me.

If you have ever known a friend who has lost a child and you are a quilter.. would you consider making a small mini quilt to send in to the Emmazing Grace Foundation? Donations can be mailed to: Emmazing Grace Foundation, 4815 Tabby Stone Drive, Cumming, GA 30028.

Of course if you have questions please feel free to send an email. thanks.

Taking Bernina on a little adventure...

I got a phone call from my friend Jill inviting me to come to her church Friday morning and sew with the ladies form her church while the kids ran and played in their gym.

Sure that sounds fun, right? ;) Didn't take me too long to pack up and get Ber"NINA" ready to go. She was actually easier than the twins. Not once did I have to make her be still or tell her not to take off her shoes *again* :P Where as Paul Thomas had to be RE-dressed not once but twice b/c he kept taking off his pants before I could get Olivia ready...

There were several ladies at the church workin on different things for the project.

It took me a while to finally figure out what to do with myself and my talents... the first hour I was learning about the project and getting set up and not to mention trying to keep my twins off of the table or stage.. and a nervous wreck about the hot iron and them grabbing the cord... but then Jill told me that I didn't have to sew gowns, that I could make a quilt if I liked... and she showed me a whole bag of donated fabrics... then when I was ready to get rockin & rollin - my machine acted up. Great.

It also didn't help that the light bulb over the needle burned out and I could not see what I was doing. Figures. :P

Love from Texas!

You just never know, now do you?

To the right you'll see a photo of my Crayola quilt posted at the very top of my sidebar - I'm going to plan and leave it there for several months to help spread the word about mine and my HGTV friends SUPER raffle that we are holding to help raise LOTS of $$$ for The Ronald McDonald House Charity.

But what I really wanted to share with you was the photos that Nora and I took today of my quilt. It's been super wet here for over a week now and I was just itching to get a better photo of my quilt now that it's 100% completed... so Friday after her "Grandparent's Day" program at school - she and I took it by Super Walmart b/c inside there is a McDonald's and no need to worry about getting my quilt dirty on the wet grass...

There were two shoppers parked by the dairy isle catching up and chatting with each other who I politely asked if they could help do me a favor and hold up my quilt in front of the golden arches. They were more than happy to help me and I think having Nora with me was my good luck charm, b/c they both complimented her more than they did my quilt ;)

And naturally I told them both all about why I made the quilt and how I was mailing it off to be in a raffle for raising money for RMH charity..... and yes, I also told them all about the crayons, and how we all got one in the mail...ect. :) you know me, never met a stranger... LOL :)

Well while folding it up this nice lady Mrs Trina, asked how could she buy a chance to win - so she and I sat down at one of the tables and she wrote out a check for some tickets. I was thinking that she would pay for 3 chances for $5 b/c she was talking and saying how this wasn't much and she wished she could do more... she asked me to fill in the "TO" place for her and I was happy to do so.

(All checks are to be made payable to Ronald McDonald House Charity)

Well imagine my excitement when she handed it to me and it was made out for $60!!! Just goes to show you, you just never know! Thank you Mrs. Trina!!! You made my day and weekend!

Last week, I also sent out quite a few emails to my friends and family with attached photos of my quilt and explaining how I'm helping to raise money for RMH charity. A dozen or so have already replied saying they will help me and are mailing me checks. So I'm excited to see what comes in the mailbox this week!

My personal goal is to sell chances to 100 people!

Yes, 100 - and that's just the natural sales person born into me... ;) Wouldn't you like to help me meet my goal? I think it would be awesome to be supported by my blog readers and followers! If by only $2! Every little bit adds up!

Chances are $2 each or 3 for $5.00

If you can help me, please email me at bminor (at) gt (dot) rr (dot) com and I'll send you the email :) Thanks!

Love from Texas!

Looking forward to Mother's Day 2010

If you are a regular reader of mine, then you'll remember last month when I blogged about the Library Quilt Rafael fundraiser. No??? Well...

This BEAUTIFUL and very large quilt was made and donated by JudyL and given to the Bridge City Library. Read more about it on her blog here and here or from my blog where I posted last month here

This week while at Story Time Ms. Ginger updated me that the committee met recently and have decided to draw the WINNING RAFFLE TICKET for the quilt on Mother's Day! ;)

Well maybe the Friday before or the Monday after, as the library is not open on Sundays.... :P

So grab your cell phone, b/c I'm betting you have free long distance on it and call the Bridge City Library to find out how you can purchase tickets to win this treasure!

Just ask to speak to Ginger Tuttle @ 409-735-4242 about the quilt that JudyL made and she will be more than happy to help you get signed up to win! ;)

I do know the physical address of the library - but not sure if that is the mailing address... sometimes places like this get their mail at a PO Box...? when I find out the correct mailing address I'll edit it and add it here to let you know where to mail your check if you'd like to purchase a ticket.

All proceeds will go to the Library to help with damages from Hurricane Ike that devastated and flooded the entire town on September 13, 2008.


Love from Texas!

My SECOND Quilt top Completed for 2010!

Well there is a title that I thought I'd never have - not me.. but yes, it's true! I've started and completed not one, but TWO quilt tops so far this year! I know, I know - such a rare statement I had to be sure and put it in print! :P LOL While I'm at it - let it be noted that today is just January 16th, 2010!!! ;)

Here's the new project I started and posted about Thursday of this week, maybe you already read my post? no? I guess I sorta got a little head start on JudyL's quiltathon weekend challenge didn't I? ;)

The borders are on, and Friday while the twins napped I laid it all out on the tile floor in the foyer and pined it into a quilt sandwich. I have no real plans on how I'm gonna go about quilting it but take a look at this beautiful fabric they sent in the kit for the backing!

If I actually knew what I was doing, I'd consider quilting it from the backside and following the flowing design that is printed on the fabric. But that's not gonna happen. #1, b/c I have no experience using my machine for free motion and #2, I've already pinned it from the front! :P

I'm glad I thought to take a photo that showed the manufacture b/c I think I'm gonna hunt for this and see if it's available in other colors too b/c I think it would be great framing borders for more I-Spy squares in upcoming quilts that I have planned for the twins later this year...

So I bet you are wondering if I've started on the actual quilting yet.. well no. Simply b/c I have no thread here in my house that is suitable to use. I don't have any yellow or aqua blue NOR to I have any WHITE! Can you believe? no white? That's b/c I always piece using a beige or a greenish neutral thread... and I admit I tested it and it look terrible... so I'll wait until I can go buy some proper thread to use on it before I get started.

Until then, I have another project I can work on.... Stay tuned! ;)

In other news - I got an email from Margaret and she DID receive my Crayola Quilt TODAY! :) Yeaaaa! I'm glad it made it, and especially today since the mail will not be running on Monday. I'm sure that as I type this, she already has it loaded and ready to go ;)

Happy Weekend everyone!

Love from Texas!

A new project is like a new puzzle

This morning the twins had a fun time playing puzzles at the kitchen table. And then after lunch when they went upstairs for nap time, I opened up a "Quilts for Kids" kit that I received about two months ago in the mail and got started on a new puzzle of my own ;)

Do you remember when I posted about Downy's Touch of Comfort a while back? The organizer of Quilts for Kids even commented on my blog that after I posted they got about a dozen requests for kits! ;) And I'm sure since then there have been dozens more b/c I've seen/read all about them on the HGTV boards and also on the Heartstrings yahoo lists. ;)

Here is the whole kit, all pre-cut out and ready to go - they provide backing and even a label! Aren't these little rubber duckies cute?

Getting started was Easy - just match up the strips, pin & sew them together. 3 strips of blue paired up with 3 strips of yellow...

then sub-cut and join back together to make 4 patches that will finish up at 6"

This quilt pattern only calls for 15 of the 4-patches! that's it folks!

Anyone can make 15 of these blocks in NO time at all!

Then it was time to get down on the floor for the layout.

Although if I had cleaned off my dining room table it would have all fit on there probably.

I did do some cleaning up in there yesterday and carried a lot of "stuff" out of there... but just never got around to clearing off the table...

The photo above is where I got to before it was time to wake up Olivia & Paul Thomas and go pick up Nora from school. All blocks sewn together and then into rows except for the last two...

Nora took this one of me holding up the top after she got home from school - Ta-Da! ;)

...and you want to know what is so great about doing these smaller kid sized quilts? they fit on the table when you are ready to pin the borders on! No more bending over the top down on the hard floor on your knees!!!

I love how it's coming right along... and I'm lovin using my adorable little pin cushion from my special friend Kathy aka Shawkl ;)

I think since this quilt is for charity and they ask for heavy quilting, that I'm going to play around with some little gifts I received for Christmas and quilt it using my machine... so stay tuned. ;)

Oh, and before I go - I'm currious... have any of you made one of these kits already? Did you hear about it from my blog post back in October?? I'd love to see what you've created if so - so leave me a comment and feel free to past a link to your blog post about yours ;)

Love from Texas!