What I Learned This Week

For a short work week, I sure learned a lot.   Here are some tidbits.

Quilt Donation Organizations Need Quilts.   Well, DUH.    But the light finally went on when I was finishing off the Project Linus quilts I brought home from the last chapter meeting.   These are pretty basic quiltts, just square blocks of fun fabrics sewen in diagonal lines (each patterned fabric one line diagnonally).   That's it.   Two of them were thin enough to machine piece with a simple zig-zag pattern.    Finished quilting both quilts in less than an hour.   As compared to my friend's quilt I made for his wedding that took 11 hours to handquilt.   Here I have been planning these elaborate quilts, when what they need is QUILTS.   They need the actual item more than they need me showing off my piecing skills.    There are lots of simple patterns using strips or blocks that can still make a beautiful -- needed-- quilt.  

Of course, any blocks made through donations will still be something pieced to make a pretty patterned quilt.  

People Need to Be Listened To.   Got this one driven home HARD this week.   First I met with a new client.   He was just so grateful I heard his story out and didn't treat him like he was crazy for even thinking of trying to get custody of his kids.   He thanked me for just listening.    But the real lesson came at clinic on Thursday night.   It was NFL kickoff.   I wanted to get through the cases and get home.   I was trying to explain to a very nice man what he needed to do to respond to the papers he had been served.   He kept interrupting me to try to give me the background.   At clinic, we don't need much background.   It's a general advice clinic where it's more "Oh you got served, here's how you answer, here is what the court process is like, here is how you get a pro bono attorney."   Not a lot of detail.   But he kept trying.   Once I got through explaing how he answered and counter claimed, then I talked to him a little more about the case.   We would up talking for quite a bit of time.   Turns out he had a horrible domestic situation.   I mean terrible.   He was trying not to cry while telling me.   I told him it was fine to cry.   But screw football (blasphemy I know), this guy needed to tell his story.   So I listened as long as it took.   Then I told him he wasn't wrong to act as he did, he wasn't crazy, and his feelings were normal.   I didn't lie and say the court process would be easy.  But just getting through his story to me will hopefully make it a little easier the next time he has to tell it.   I hope I helped.   And next client, I will be a little more patient when they are interrupting me.   Well, I'll try okay?

September is Blood Cancers Awareness Month.    Yep.   So make a donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Soceity this month.   Help them fund research to eradicate cancer.   Because cancer SUCKS.   Don't forget to let me know of your donation so I can make your quilt block.

New Project -- Make Your Donation Count

I just volunteered to make some quilted toys for the Montgomery County Family Justice Center's children's room.   The FJC is a one-stop shop for victims of domestic violence.   They can get therapy, legal help and other assistance without running all over the county.   They can even leave their kids in the children's room while they are meeting with counselors or their attorneys.   The children's room always need toys.  

One of the toys I will be making is quilt balls.   These are fun balls to make.   They are soft so good for children to play with in a confined space.   I made a soccer ball one for my niece her freshman year of college.   I figured she could kick it around the dorm halls as a stress reliever.  

They have smaller balls which is what I will make for the FJC (that soccer ball was harder than I thought).

I know the picture is a little blurry.   But trust me, this a great fun ball.   You can use bright colors that kids will like.

How do you come in?   Every $10 donation to one of the chosen organizations on the right makes 1 toy for the room.   Instead of one block that goes into a quilt, you get the joy of knowing you helped make a whole toy.   You helped ease a parent's worry about the child while giving a child a little fun during a very difficult time.  

Inspiration Has Struck

While quilting tonight I had a brilliant idea what to do with my Constitution fabric.

I don't have a lot of it, so I have to use it wisely.    Then it hit me.   I always wanted to do a Courthouse Steps quilt.   It's a nice simple pattern.   I decided I can use the Constitution fabric as a center medallion solid block then put Courthouse Steps blocks around it.   The dark part of the steps will be red on one side and blue on the other.   The light part of the steps will be white as will the center piece of each block.   I think this will turn out quite nice.

I have some red fabric and I think enough white.   I have to get some blue.   If you want to help with the fabric of this quilt, you can use the donate button on the right below the notification form.   If you want to commission this whole quilt through a donation to an organization on the right, just make your $200 donation and let me know.

When I finish it, I will donate it to Blankets of Hope. They donate quilts to wounded soldiers.   Hopefully, I will finish this quilt by Veterans' Day.

Let me know in the comments (I know by the stats page I have readers, I want to hear from you), what you think of this quilt.

---

Reminder1:  August is still Back to School Month.   1 donation to Room to Read gets you 2 quilts block in your name.

Reminder 2:  If you make a donation to one of the organizations on the right, you have to send me proof of your donation so I know to make your quilt block.

Hanging With Project Linus

Today was absolutely insane at the office.   Must be the sun switching its polarity or something.   Fortunately, I had an out.   The local chapter of Project Linus met today.   Normally I can't make meetings because they are in the middle of the work day.   My clients tend to get irked if I am not around during the work day.   But like I said, if I stayed in the office today, it would not have been pretty.

Off I went.   So much fun.   It was just sewing Project Linus labels on already made quilts, but still it was fun.   The quilts were beautiful.   The other ladies were friendly and fun.   The effort worthwhile.   Project Linus donates quilts to kids who are undergoing health crises or other traumatic events.   The Montgomery County Chapter has donated TWENTY THOUSAND quilts since it began.   That's a lot of kids comforted.

I also learned what kind of quilts work.   I mentioned the directions seemed kinda scary.   That they only take the highest quality quilts.   I quilt, but highest quality is probably a reach.   Fortunately what they mean is remember these are for kids who are in need.   Make them pretty, make them sturdy.  Make them with love.   I can do that.

Project Linus takes knitted or crocheted quilts too.   Those were some awesome quilts too.   They also accept knitted premie caps.   You don't have to be a quilter to be a part of Project Linus.

It was fun and just the mental break I needed.   Plus I brought home some quilts that weren't quite quilted enough to finish off.   YAAAY.  

Finished -- Binky Patrol Blanky

I finished the quilt for Binky Patrol.    Here is the completed quilt.   It is finished with fleur-de-lys quilting using light yellow thread..   Not sure you can see the quilting even the back photo, but trust me it is there.   The good folks at Binky Patrol will add the labels.

It will be shipped off this weekend (day job for the next couple of days).

I want to do more of these.   Remember the more donations, the more quilts.   And August is back to school month with Room to Read.   Two quilt blocks for every $10 donation.

Back to School with Room to Read

It's August.   Schools will be getting back in session soon.   Here in Montgomery County, they start the end of August.   Parents are in that back to school mode, getting new clothes, buying supplies from the extensive and detailed list put out by the school, threatening their children that they must go back to school so Mommy and Daddy can get a break.  

In honor of Back to School, this month's featured charity is Room to Read.   Room to Read establishes libraries and literacy programs around the world.   Give a kid a book and he/she is transported to another world.  Everything is possible if you can read.  

For every $10 donated to Room to Read this month, I will make two quilt blocks.   Yep, a 2 for 1 back to school sale.   You make 1 donation, I make 2 quilt blocks.   More quilt blocks means more quilts for special people.   Make your donation by clicking the Room to Read Link on the right.   Then send me proof of the donation and I will get quilting.  

New Month - New Ideas

Wow it's August already.   Where did July go?   It seems I was just getting excited about going to NADWCON, now that event was almost a month ago.   Day job keeping me busy, but I am still quilting.

I hope to have the quilt I am finishing for the Binky Patrol ready to show you by the end of the weekend.   I will probably quilt while watching the Hall of Fame game between the Cowboys and the Dolphins.  Yes, I quilt while I watch football.   Makes for some surreal moments when I am yelling at the tv, but I get a lot done that way.

In the meantime, anyone got any ideas how I can get this Quilt Challenge in gear?   Contests?   Giveaways (within reason)?   Anything?   Post your ideas in the comments.  

Still waiting for the elusive first donation.   I know if I can get that first one, others will follow.   So any ideas to get that first one -- and lots of others -- are welcome.