Houston Bound

I have four Priority: Alzheimer's Quilts headed for the International Quilt Festival in Houston, TX this year.  No, my quilts may not be hanging in the main gallery with the quilts made by the big name quilters, but I still count it as a privilege to have quilts for sale at the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative booth October 31st to November 4th.  If you visit the International Quilt Festival be sure to stop by the AAQI booth in Row S and see all 2000 quilts that are for sale and while you are there buy one or two to take home with you!  All profits fund Alzheimer's research!

Hurricane Project

I have been on a mission to use up a bag of flannel that has been taking up space in my sewing room closet for I don't know how long.  Last week I started cutting 9 1/2" flannel squares and came up with enough to put together a rag quilt.  I have never made a rag quilt before and was quite surprised at how quickly the quilt went together, but I think the time consuming part is going to be snipping all the seams.  I suppose if hurricane Sandy lives up to all the hype I will have lots of time to snip by candlelight over the next day or so!

Silent Sunday

For The Guys!

I was talking with the social worker at the hospice recently and asked her if they were in need of any particular kind of quilt.  Her answer was immediate, "We always ALWAYS need quilts and blankets geared towards men!"  It hit me like a brick!  Isn't it true?  Those of us who make quilts for charity often make fun quilts for kids or quilts from our stashes (which most likely consists of flowers and "pretty" fabrics).  How often do we make quilts to donate with men in mind?  I put out a plea for help to my guild sisters and the response has been tremendous!  Last month I delivered 18 "manly" quilts to the hospice and the blocks, tops and finished quilts are still rolling in. I just finished quilting and binding the quilt in the photo and once a few more are finished up I'll have another batch of quilts to deliver for the guys in hospice care. 

Adding Up!

I just finished two more star blocks for the Scrappy Star Sew Along at Terry's Treasures!  Now that the blocks for October are done, I have a total of six blocks!  They are starting to add up!

Many Hands

Have you ever heard the expression "many hands, make light work"?  This quilt is the perfect example of that old saying!  The scrappy jelly roll quilt top was made by a friend, another friend donated the fleece backing, I did the wavy quilting and another friend donated the binding and in no time we have a beautiful quilt to donate to the local hospice without any one person having to spend much money or do a lot of work!

Silent Sunday

Stitches Of Love

For the most part I like to stitch for charities within my community, but every once in awhile I end up with a finished project that cannot be used locally...such as this single preemie blanket and baby hat.  There's not a thing wrong with either project, but for one reason or another they just don't fit the requirements of any of the particular charities in my area.  Not to worry, Stitches of Love will find a great home for them!  Stitches of Love is a 501(c)(3) corporation based out of the Providence Presbyterian Church in Quakertown, Pennsylvania.  Their mission is to provide hand-made items wherever there is a need whether it be here in Pennsylvania or another state in the country or even foreign counties such as Haiti or Afghanistan.  There's no doubt in my mind that these items will end up just where they are needed most by sending them to Stitches of Love and that's so much better than leaving them in a bag in my closet!

Mountain Laurel Quilt Guild 2012 Exhibit

As promised, here is the slide show of all the entries in the Mountain Laurel Quilt Guild's 2012 Exhibit. Many thanks to Anya (Hills Creek Quilter) for putting it together for us!

Finish 6 Challenge

This month begins a new challenge for the members of the Mountain Laurel Quilt Guild...Finish 6.  Those who want to participate are asked to make a numbered list of six UFO's.  A number will be drawn at the guild meeting and for the next month you are to finish the project with the corresponding number.  It's no secret that I am not really a quilter, I am a piecer, so I knew it wouldn't be hard for me to find six quilts that needed to be finished. (Actually, I have enough quilts to do this challenge twice, but I don't want to be that challenged...I'll save those for the next guild UFO challenge!)

My Finish 6 Challenge List

1. Purple Jelly Roll Quilt
2. Tumbler Quilt
3. Thangles Quilt
4. Bonnie Hunter Quilt
5. Calico Blocks Quilt
6. Batik D9P Quilt

Silent Sunday

Thank You!

Just a quick heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make this birthday so very special for me!  All of the comments, emails, cards, phone calls and get-togethers only helped to prove that friendship really is the best gift anyone could ever receive!

(Click over to Hills Creek Quilter to read about another special gift that I received for my birthday!) 

Happy Birthday!

I was really hoping to visit a local fall festival for my birthday, but cold, windy and rainy weather made me rethink my plans.  My husband said he would do whatever I wanted with a smile on his face the whole time (meaning if I wanted to go to the mall and shop, he wouldn't complain). Not a bad offer, but I know from experience that shopping with my husband is no fun for either of us.  I decided that a Jeep ride through the woods would still be pretty this time of year even if it was raining.  Follow that with a nice dinner out and how could I go wrong?  About half way through our adventure we passed an antique shop that was open and hubby asked if I wanted to check it out.  I couldn't pass up that deal, so around we turned and in we went!  Just inside the door I spotted a sewing machine case marked $45.  Imagine my surprise when I opened the case and found this 1912 Singer 66 with "red eye" decals inside!  There was no doubt in my mind that this machine was meant to be mine for my birthday...and so it is!

Silent Sunday

I'm trying to let this birthday go by as quietly as I can, 

but I know I can't ignore it completely...

The Beaver Valley Piecemakers 18th Annual Quilt Show

Beaver Valley Piecemakers 

18th Annual Quilt Show

Holy Family Parish
1851 3rd Avenue
New Brighton, PA 15066

Friday and Saturday
Oct 12th and Oct 13th
10 AM till 5 PM

Sunday
Oct 14th 2012
11 AM to 4 PM

Admission $ 7
Children 12 & under Free

 

I wish that it wasn't such a long drive from here to there...it sounds like this is going to be a great show!  If you are a little closer than I am be sure to check it out and let me know how it was!  For more information visit  www.bvpiecemakers.com

Polka Dots And Plaid For Progress

Polka Dots and Plaid for Progress was the theme for the Mountain Laurel Quilt Guild's 2012 Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative Competition.  Guild members were challenged to make a Priority: Alzheimer's Art Quilt using at least one polka dot and one plaid fabric.  Fifteen entries were on display during the guild's exhibit and viewers were asked to vote for their favorite.  At the awards ceremony later this month the viewers choice winner will be awarded a prize, but the real prize will go to the AAQI when all of these quilts are donated to help raise money for Alzheimer's research!

On a side note, last week our efforts were recognized by the local newspaper, The Wellsboro Gazette!  Yes, that is me standing in front of the quilts, and those who know how much I love having my picture taken (not) know just how hard it was to get me to pose for that photo!  The only reason I allowed the photo at all was because the editor wouldn't run the article without it!  I guess I'll do just about anything to get the word out about what great work the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative is doing!

September Is Over

I don't know how it happened so quickly, but September is over and so is the Mountain Laurel Quilt Guild's 2012 Exhibit.  Eventually I will have a slide show to share of each and every quilt that was on display this year, but for now, here is a sampling of what was hanging in the gallery.