December bibs

This month has been crazy, but I did manage to make 2 bibs and an elephant.  I will get them in the mail to you soon.

Happy Christmas!

On the 12th day of Christmas,
This is what you'll see,
12 quilted potholders
Underneath the tree,
11 little stockings,
All they need is filled,
10 darling bibs,
The babies will be thrilled!
9 table runners,
Four need binding yet,
8 quilted placemats,
A merry little set.
7 tiny cushions,
Meant for holding pins,
6 quilted jackets,
But none of them for men.
5 UFI's
I didn't have time to bind,
4 fancy pillows,
Need trims I couldn't find,
3 pretty purses,
 The handles still to add.
2 dashing snowmen,
Need stuffing pretty bad!
1 Merry Christmas wish,
Sent just for you,
Peace, Joy, and Happiness,
All the whole year thru!

Best wishes,
and may all your UFI's be DIT.

December Project

OK, ladies.  I'm so excited that I was able to finish this quilt for this month's project!  It was basted and waiting to be quilted, so I quilted it on my Bernina and finished the binding today.

It's around 65"X78" so that should be a good size for an older girl.

I also have one pillowcase and I may have time to make a few more.

Are we sending everything to Gayly?

Bibs for Gayly

OK Gayly, here is the deal... I have four bibs ready to go...but I really want to try my hand at pillow cases too...so I definitely plan to mail these to you..but I thought I would wait and mail when I have other things also.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Bibs for babies

Gayly, I am sending you five bibs, unisex and reversible, for the orphanage.  I'm working on some blankets, but I probably won't get them finished before Christmas.  Yesterday was the first day of our Inventory reduction sale, and Rachael and I cut over 700 yards of fabric in our 10 yards for 10 dollars section! 

God bless the quilter who 'finishes the bolt'!

Pillowcases

I wish I had more time to create more but I am leaving the country this morning because I am eloping... Eek! I whipped up two pillowcases for the project this month. They were super easy and fun to make. I used flannel because I personally love sleeping with flannel sheets. I also thought that flannel would be soft and cuddly for a child to snuggle with at night.

The boy's has a rock and roll theme, while the girl's is floral but not too girly. I hope they can provide some comfort to whomever receives them.

I would love to make more goodies for these kids so if there is a way I can continue doing so please let me know. My fiance and I are unsure if we are going to have children, but I have always thought that if I do I would possibly want to adopt. There are so many children in this world in need of a good, loving home. Many of my friends have been blessed by adopting children, both domestically and internationally, so thank you for choosing such a wonderful cause.

Stockings!

Thank you, Thank you, Jenny Fish for picking stockings for St. PJs!
Here at Granma's we were looking for something new we could do for local children this Christmas, since with the decline in gas production there have been lots of layoffs. So we borrowed your stocking idea.  Granma's came up with a very simple pattern and cut 32 kits (our goal), then asked our customers to purchase the kit, make the stocking, simple or fancy, and return them. Returned stockings earned a merchandise certificate equal to the cost of the kit. Then Sherree, a local day care provider helped us buy toys, candy, and books to fill them.  We were hoping for 32 - we ended with 38 - there are still some kits out there, but we are thrilled with the response we got for a first time effort!
So thank you Jenny, for motivating us with a great idea!

Behind. . . I am behind.  By at least 11 days.  But here we are. . .

Now, what is the chance I will be able to get this month's challenge done on time? 

Leisel

Catching up

Here's my contribution to St.PJ's I'll pick up a gift card to tomorrow and get it in the mail.
Hopefully, I'll finish the quilt this weekend and get it out soon. Work's been crazy busy with a ton of correcting to do. November was pretty much a wash for me, I managed to go to work every day, but had little energy to do much more. I'm finally feeling better and playing catch up.

Stocking for St. Pj's Children's Home in San Antonio

 Sorry I'm a little late! Here's my completed stocking and it's stuffed with a Walmart gift card!

If I could do it all over again I would have done a French seam for the inside of the stocking but who looks in the inside of the stocking anyways??


Happy Quilting!

Natalie

Santa Stocking

My stocking is done and sent off so I thought I would share it. I know it's very simple but I don't have a lot of Christmas-y fabric since we don't celebrate Christmas in our house but I thought these warm and fuzzy fabrics are so soft and cuddly that hopefully it would make some child very happy. I also thought these fabrics invoked Santa Claus.

Hopefully Santa will be able to fill it with lots of special things for the child that receives it. Included in the package was a gift certificate to Target to help!

Happy Holidays! - Hollie

December's Project...

I know that last months project was related to orphan care and this month's project is as well. Orphan care is very near to my heart and the need is overwhelming. Statistics say there are 143 million orphans in the world, children who go to bed without a mommy and daddy to tuck them in. Two of my children were once part of these statistics and I am so thankful today that I can say they are part of our family and no longer a number.

 Two of our children were born in China, our daughter lived there until she was 15 months old and our son until he was 27 months old. During our adoption trip to bring our son home, we had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with children who still wait in 3 different orphanages. Many of them wait because of medical needs, others because of their age and others simply because their paperwork has not been processed and there simply are not enough families willing to adopt.

You have a few options of what you can make this month for our project- we will be making items that will go to children in orphanages in China. If there is anyone out there reading that would like to join us, email me at quiltnmama2@gmail.com and I will send you my address to mail items to. The items will be taken by 1 or 2 adoptive families who will be traveling in the spring to bring home their children or by us on our next trip to China, hopefully sometime later in 2011.

So here is the fun part...

If you would like to make items for little ones then here are some ideas...

Baby Bibs- there are a couple of easy tutorials here and here... It would be great if you could make 1 girl bib and 1 boy bib if you choose this option.

"Taggy Blankets" are awesome for little ones too to give them something soft and yet with some texture. Tutorials are available here.

I must admit- these are my FAVORITE... this is a great tutorial for a taggy monster:)

Baby Quilt- size can vary, they appreciate anything warm that can wrap a sweet little one up during cold winter days!

Here are ideas for older kids. Often the older kids are left out when it comes to gifts and items that they need or want to have. I have a great friend who's family is going back to adopt a 2nd older child. You can read about this experience and older orphans on her friend's blog here.

Pillow cases in fun "teen, hip" prints. Again it would be great if you choose this if you could make 2- one for a boy and a 2nd for a girl.  You can use whatever pattern you want but if you need a pattern, here are a couple of tutorials- #1 and here is the link to all the patterns on the 1 million pillowcase challenge.

"Softies" are also a favorite of mine! Who child whether in elementary school, middle school or a teen wouldn't like to have one of these... the patterns are endless but here are  few you can check out!

Squirrel,  Molly Monkey, Plattie the Platypus, purl frog, or Stripe-y Patchwork cat.

Quilts- this is a much bigger commitment but just in case anyone is interested- twin size quilts are great for teenagers too for their beds.

Hope you have fun and find an idea that fits you- feel free to make 1 or 5 or more... I will actually be collecting all through the spring.  Just thought I would leave you with this picture... this is our son while he was still in China- check out the taggie blanket that he has wrapped around him, we brought it home with him and it's still very loved to this day. It was one that I made and sent 7 months before he got to come home!

 Let me know if you have questions... Happy Sewing!!!!

I am in Colorado until late Monday night so I won't have Internet access again until then!

Project Linus

Man, it feels great to get caught up!

I found a few sites for drop off in my area, so I hope to drop this off by the weekend. 

I used a flannel backing that has selvage reading from year 2000!  wow, time to use that up!  I didn't use any batting, I thought the flannel would be added softness enough, but now that it is done, I'm not so sure I would do that again.   I miss fluffy-ness of batting!

Marie's Caught Up!

Hello Everyone,

Well October was a very busy month with fall harvest and our Church ladies have a craft group that host a bazaar every year. I cheated and purchased a baby quilt for project Linus. The church ladies group is called the "Whatever" Craft Group---- (Phil 4:8) Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-- think about such things" Trinity Lutheran Church- Colby, KS. Here is a picture of the quilt.

I also finished up my stocking. I love this fabric - it's Charlie Brown's Christmas- which was purchased from Patty's store- Granma's Treasures (one of my favorite places) - during the Wray Quilt Show. I still like to watch Charlie Brown Christmas cartoon when it comes on every year! (Also reminds me of a little girl named Melissa and her snoopy dog)

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!

Tamera Finished

I finished my stocking today!  WooHoo!

How is everyone doing?  Getting ready for Thanksgiving?

It's a Hoot!

Ladies, here's a question - I just finished this quilt with Life's a Hoot from Adornit. I stitched a row of mini pompoms in lime green around the inside of the first border ( fine green line in the pic), using a zipper foot, which was a REAL pain. The foot kept stretching the trim, causing some puckering. I'm wondering, short of hand stitching the whole thing, what's a better way? Is there a foot for pompoms?
Check out the fabric on the bottom left - that's Ellie's Emporium from Fine Lines. We just got it in and I can't wait to work with it!

Stockings!

Here's my stocking! This is so much fun we are 'borrowing' the idea as a project for Giving Hands of Yuma County, a group that every year collects new items to make Christmas happy for needy children. We at Granma's are furnishing the fabrics and asking people to make the stocking (pattern supplied also) and then we will fill them with tops and trinkets, sticker books and treats. We hope to collect 32 this first year.... I'll keep you posted!

Stocking for a good cause

I finished my stocking last night and had a great time doing it!  I just eye-balled my stocking shape and am pretty pleased with it.  I tried printing out templates of a super cute stocking (aha-hem...like Gayly's stocking) but I had some printer issues, so I just forged on.  I backed the stocking in the cute flannel to the left of the stocking.  so soft!!

We stopped at Target and picked up a gift card too...but I wanted to add some other things, so I will also be sending the following:

and last month I was on a bib making kick, so I plan to include one of those too, I think I saw that on the list of things they need! 

Meet Jenny

Meet Jenny

Where do you live?

I live in Fort Wayne, IN.  Have been here my whole life outside of 3 years in college and 6 months in London, England.  My whole family is here and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
Do you have any hidden talents?

If I do, they are hidden even from me....

Name two things you consider yourself to be pretty good at.

I am a pretty good volleyball player. 
I am a pretty good pen pal...been writing (snail mail) a friend from college at least once a month since we graduated...

Name two things you consider yourself to be very bad at.

I am bad at filling out questionnaires like this one (hence..I am 2 months late in doing so....)
I am a pretty bad driver.  No accidents or things like that, I just don't enjoy it, and always am the first to volunteer to read the map.
Do you have any siblings? What are they like?

I have three sisters.

Shelly is the oldest and the glue that keeps us together.
Penny is next...she is the mother hen...she has 5 kids and they are her universe.  She gives them 110% everyday.
Brina is the baby of our family.  She is my best friend.

Have you ever won a trophy?

Lots of sports trophies in high school and college....nothing that stands out in my memory now though...
Name one thing that not many people know about you?

I have very large bunions.
What is your earliest memory?

When Brina fell off some steps and cut her eyelid on an exposed nail.  My mom was giving Penny a bath upstairs and Shelly and I were in the basement trying to scream loud enough for mom to hear over the bathtub and also trying to stop all the blood...Brina was less than a year old...I was probably 5.  The next day was Monday and I would not come into the house after school because I was so scared of Brina's huge black eye and stitches...

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Geez, still trying to figure that out...I think I mostly wanted to be a good mother.
What are you passionate about?

My husband, my children, my relationship with my family and friends....
Who is the person you respect the most and why?

I think Kent, my husband is a pretty amazing person.  I respect him so much.
What outdoor activities to you like?

I love taking walks, bike rides, mowing the grass.
If your house was on fire and you could only grab 3 things before leaving, what would they be?

I can't think of anything more important than my husband and 2 kids.
What is your most favorite place on earth?

I love England...I love Italy...I love to travel, but home is where my heart is.
***********************************************************************************
OK, see, I told you I was no good at these things...
I finished my stocking tonight will post picture tomorrow...
I got my flannel washed and ready for a scrappy blanket for Project Linus...tomorrow nights project!!
 
Again...sorry it has taken me so long to crawl out from under my rock! 

Christy's Stocking

The stocking is done, but most likely I won't have time to mail it until next week.  I am headed out of town tomorrow and won't be back until Sunday.  I am going to Philadelphia to see my brother.  Yeah!

Meet Natalie

Where do you live?
I currently live in Centreville, VA which is pretty close to Washington DC. I've lived in this area since 2008 but I am originally from Roanoke, VA which is in the south western part of the state in a valley surrounded on all sides by mountains.

Do you have any hidden talents?
I am REALLY good at whistling which always surprises people because apparently girls aren't supposed to be good at it. I can pick up objects with my toes and pinch people with them too. I can cross 1 eye and leave the other one straight.

Name two things you consider yourself to be pretty good at.
I'm pretty good at stippling. I probably don't do it the way I am 'supposed' to but my way works for me. I'm still working on learning other free motion quilting techniques. I'm pretty good at solving problems like helping someone pick out a fabric to go with what they are working on or fixing a block that isn't working. If you have a problem, ask me because I can usually come up with a solution.

Name two things you consider yourself to be very bad at.
I am bad at following pattern directions. I am therefore pretty good at using my seam ripper. I am bad at cutting/saving/using coupons. I am therefore pretty good at finding things already on sale or finding discount codes online.

Do you have any siblings? What are they like?
I have several!

Christopher - step brother - He is always cold so we are always giving him warm socks and sweaters for Christmas and birthdays. He works for a construction equipment rental company and has a very large mustache.

Matthew - step brother - He is very loud and obnoxious but also very thoughtful and funny. He is the president of a paper manufacturing company in Maryland. He and his wife Jodi have my first niece Gracyn and are expecting another girl on November 19th.

Alissa - sister - She is so sweet and funny and generous. She always gives the best gifts for any occasion and I love her fashion sense. She works in customer relations for a very small web design company called Abeedle. She and her husband Keith have my two nephews: Coleman who is 5 and Ben who is 1.

Scott - step brother - He is such a sweet and caring guy but not many people know that because he's very careful about who he lets into his heart. We don't get to see him very often because he lives in Pittsburgh and works as a DJ/club manager.


Leslie - step sister - She is incredibly outgoing and has a wonderful singing voice. Her favorite color is pink (she is pretty obsessed really). She works at Best Buy and goes to school full time.


Michael - brother - He is also a sweetie pie and also pretty outgoing. He loves to fish and will get up at any hour or stay up until all hours of the night to do so. He is an excellent beer pong player and can grow a beard within a couple of days. He has some elusive contracting job with the Navy and we never really know what he's doing.

Have you ever won a trophy?
I have won several trophies in swimming, gymnastics, Odyssey of the Mind, Reflections, dancing, and 2 for a business plan competition in college.


Name one thing that not many people know about you?
I have grown my hair out to donate to Locks of Love 3 times. I took 3 years off between my second and third year of college.

What is your earliest memory?
I remember climbing into my little brother's crib to play with him in the wee hours of the morning. I must have only been a couple of years old but I was very skilled at getting to places I wasn't supposed to be.

What was your favorite musical group when you were in Junior High? Hmm...let's see...Ace of Base, Hootie and the Blowfish, Blues Traveler, Tracey Chapman, Aqua (specifically the Barbie girl song), Everclear, and a bunch of other bands I never listen to anymore. Somehow I still know most of the words to their songs.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
For a long time I wanted to be a fashion designer and then I decided to be a doctor. I stuck with doctor until my second year in college when I decided I would rather have time to spend with a family than a fancy title and a hefty school loan to pay off. I changed to a business major in Marketing after my three year break from college.

What are you passionate about? I love the quote by Mahatma Gandhi 'You must be the change you wish to see in the world'. I try to do little things every day to make the world a better place for everyone else because I want other people to pay it forward.

Who is the person you respect the most and why? I won't trouble anyone with the history but suffice to say that my mom is the person I respect the most because she has stood by me through everything and always made me feel like I am loved and welcomed.

What outdoor activities to you like? I like swimming, laying out in the sun, and playing with my dog.

If your house was on fire and you could only grab 3 things before leaving, what would they be?
My husband and dog of course but then I would save the quilts my mother in law made us and the ones I have made for us unless they were already on fire of course. Everything else is just stuff or in our fire safe box.

What is your most favorite place on earth?
Some beaches come to mind but to be honest, having my husband there with me is what made them so perfect. He brings so much joy and happiness to my life! 

Almost caught up... Finally!

I have basically spent the day sewing and trying to get caught up on my commitments to this group. Please forgive me for being so slow this fall. Life has been a bit nutty and I had not unpacked my sewing machine since we moved the end of July (I was going to one weekend in Sept. but it just didn't happen....)

So here it goes....

Here is Patty's block for August! Hope you like the colors, I love this block and added it to my "someday list!"

Then comes September...

Here is Tonya's Bowtie Block, I love this block too. I don't have many 30's reproduction fabrics so I hope these are ok.

On to October....

This is my "almost" finished for Project Linus. The top is completely done, I just need to sandwich it and quilt it. I am going to mail mine to the Lubbock, Texas chapter. Our son was in the NICU there as a newborn in critical condition and I'll never forget the little quilt that covered his bed. I actually have a 2nd one I am working on to send with it.

And November...

I loved making this stocking for the Children's Home. Ministries such as this have a very dear place in my heart as two of my children were once orphans that God brought into our family through the gift of adoption. I will be forever grateful to those who cared for my children before they became my own. 

I wasn't sure what to do for this one so after seeing Jenny's picture, I drew a similar pattern and went to town crazy piecing Christmas fabrics from a cute little charm kit I was given last Christmas. I like how it turned out :)

It felt good to sew again, I have a huge tub of projects, some started, some planned that has sat untouched for months in the craziness... now that I have things organized a bit and unpacked, I can't wait to get a little sewing therapy in again whenever I have a free moment.

Everything goes in the mail on Monday!

Blessings,

Gayly

November Linky Party

Hello all of you out there! This is where you can post a picture of your stocking donated to a charitable organization! Please follow along; it will be so fun.

The Stocking!

Okay I deliberated over the quilt for Project Linus but actually MADE my stocking so you would have inspiration.

Or not! Haha! I am a Christmas needs to happen after Thanksgiving gal but it was fun to work on the stocking regardless. I just did a freehand stocking pattern and winged it on construction. =O I am happy with it. Now I just need to go get a gift card for St. PJ's. I may look at their list again and put a few other things in the stocking that might be useful to sort of fill out the stocking. If anything I imagine some little chocolates might go over well! I know they are inundated with toys so I will steer clear of those kinds of things. Tempting as they may be. I cannot wait to see what you make! I know they will be appreciated. The staff was very excited about this idea. Know that whatever you have to offer will be graciously received.
Jenny Fish

Better Late Than Never. . .

My Project Linus quilt:

Made with knit fabrics with three rows of ruffles.  A little tricky, but so soft!

XOXO

Leisel

November Charitable Project

Hi all! Sorry I am late posting my project idea. October and well September were both nutty! So I am just so happy I am only a day late! Yay!

I have chose St. Pj's Children's Home in San Antonio as the charity to donate to this month. They are an orphanage as well as a community counseling and service center for families in crisis. I am in the Junior League of San Antonio and this is an organization that we have had a long standing relationship partnering with them in a variety of ways to assist them with their needs. I have heard some of the stories of children that have been through there and it is appalling and heartbreaking.You can read more about their organization here.

I thought since our projects are essentially due at the end of the month which is the beginning of the holiday season we could make them stockings and include in the stocking a gift card of any value you choose. St. P. J.'s has a wish list here. Target and Walmart are two locations listed on the wish list which I assume you have one near you or one you frequent. The stocking can either be sent to me or you can send it directly to St. Pj's at

St. Pj's Children's Home
Attn. Jessica Gutierrez
919 Mission Road
San Antonio, Texas 78210

As for a stocking pattern, I plan to freehand mine. There are a lot of free stocking patterns online or you can use one of your stockings at home as a template. Make them as simple or as fancy as you want. Big or little it doesn't matter, the home will really appreciate whatever you send them. If you need a starting point for a stocking here is a tutorial I found online.

Have fun! Shoot me an email if you have any questions. My car is in the shop so I am the chauffeur extraordinaire which means I am even busier than ever. That being said, I will try to post a stocking later this week. Who knows maybe my project Linus quilt will get made too! =O

Jenny Fish

September Month 2010

I hate to go back in time, but I thought I'd put my quilt together and I'm missing 2 blocks.

Unfortunately, I didn't keep up with who sent and who didn't.

However, I'm sure everyone knows if you sent me a block or not.  Will the 2 of you be sending a block?

Hollie's October Quilt Top

Project Linus Quilt Top

I don't know where the month went! It flew by! And I have never been late in a bee before, alas I am late this month and I am so sorry. I spent much of Saturday getting my quilt finished for Project Linus and the binding is about a quarter of the way done. I am hoping to finish binding the quilt tomorrow so I can send it off to my local chapter on Wednesday. Forgive me!

Christy's Linus Quilt

I finished as well.  What a busy month.  Can't wait to see the project for next month.   

Tamera Finished

I finished my new Project Linus quilt.

Here's the back. I used some left over blocks to make a little row across which enabled me to only have to use one length of the backing fabric. It worked really well.

I have emailed my "local" Project Linus chapter for the address and I'll send the quilt plus a couple of others that I had finished before.

I'm anxious to hear the project for November!

Meet Leisel

Where do you live?
Twin Falls, Idaho (We have been here for about 2 years, before that Las Vegas, before that Olathe, Kansas, before that Rexburg, Idaho, before that Jackson, Wyoming and I was born in Kalispell, Wyoming.  Wow!  I don't feel old enough to have lived that many different places. . .)

Do you have any hidden talents?
None that I can think of. . . how sad!  I guess I am going to have to learn some neat little trick so that I DO have a hidden talent. . .

Name two things you consider yourself to be pretty good at.
Ummmm, sewing is the only thing I can think of.  I'm working on everything else!

Name two things you consider yourself to be very bad at.
I can't cook-- AT ALL!!!  My poor, poor family. . .
I also need a LOT more patience.  Something I try to work on daily!

Do you have any siblings? What are they like?
I have two sisters, both younger.  They both have one little boy and live in Utah.  One is a voracious reader and the other an athlete.  We love getting together to play board games.

Have you ever won a trophy?
I think I recieved a few fair ribbons in 4-H.  And I lettered in several sports in high school, but I can't remember any trophies.  But then, my memory is not that great. . .

Name one thing that not many people know about you?
You wouldn't know it now, but I was a pretty good athlete in high school.  I ran long distance and did well for our cross country and track teams.

Also, my name comes from the Sound of Music-- you know, the 'Sixteen Going on Seventeen' girl?

What is your earliest memory?
I remember standing on the front porch of our home in Montana when I was very little, watching the train pass our house.  According to my mom, we watched the train pass every evening and I would always wave.

What was your favorite musical group when you were in Junior High?Do I have to answer this question?  Okay, okay. . . Britney Spears and the Back Street Boys.  I know, I know. . . what can I say?  And that was actually in high school-- I listened to the Sound of Music and Grease soundtracks before that.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
For a long while I wanted to be a second grade teacher.  I loved my own second grade teacher so much!!!

What are you passionate about?The Gospel of Jesus Christ, my family and sewing.

Who is the person you respect the most and why?This is a tricky one. . . I guess I would have to say Jesus Christ.  It really needs no more explanation than that. . .

What outdoor activities to you like?I am not so much of an outdoors-y type of girl. . . I would rather be up in my sewing room!  (Hee, hee!)  But I do enjoy reading a good book in the sunshine or watching my little girls play a soccer game.  And I still have great memories of picking huckleberries as a kid up in the mountains. . .

If your house was on fire and you could only grab 3 things before leaving, what would they be?
My biggest phobia is having my house on fire-- I still remember my nightmares about it as a kid.  If I could make sure my three little girlies and my hubby were safe, I would be more than happy.

What is your most favorite place on earth?
With my little family!  Wherever that might be. . . (although, I DO NOT like the cold. . . the warmer the climate, the better!)

My Linus

 Here's my Linus Blanket. I've been enamored with the pineapple block, so I made a big one for the center and then just finished it out. In all the straight pieces, I quilted the words of the nursery rhyme "Hey Diddle Diddle". Hope it makes some little one a real nice crib blanket.

Love, Melissa

Linus quilt

Christy - here is a picture of your Linus quilt. I hope to get it quilted this weekend and in the mail next week. I'll send it to you, as we don't have a chapter anywhere near here. (You can't really tell, but it's frogs and caterpillars with stripey flannel) I'm going to back it with bright green flannel polka dots!
Patty @Granma's

Fall Giveaway

So - have any of you checked out the Fall-into-Fall Giveaway going on now? There must be 130+ giveaways going on, and some are really cool. Just go to  http://fall-into-fall.blogspot.com/  to check out the Giveaways.  We're in there too, and it's been a lot of fun 'meeting' so many quilters.

Linus Linky

For those of you playing along from home, here is a place you can link your creations. Also, notice our new sidebar where you can click each member's name to visit their blogs (if they have one) and click the month to go straight to the project instructions!

Linus

                                    
For my charity project I have chosen the Linus Project.  This is a charity that is very close to my heart.  My daughter Marjorie was not breathing on her own at birth and she spent several weeks on a ventilator at Stormont Vail in Topeka KS.  During her stay she was given a crocheted blanket from Project Linus. 

Project Linus is comprised of hundreds of local chapters and thousands of volunteers across the United States. Each volunteer and local chapter work together to help achieve the mission which is to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer "blanketeers."

This month I would like to see our group make baby blankets to donate to this organization.  They can be made of anything (fleece, cotton, yarn,  ect.)  Be creative and have fun!  You can either send the finished blankets to me and I will deliver them to the Topeka chapter or you can send them to a chapter closer to you.  Your choice.  Check out their website to learn more about their organization and/or find a chapter near you.   http://www.projectlinus.org/index.html

Here is a picture of Marjorie now with the blanket she recieved from the Linus Project.  We felt very blessed to be a recipient of one of these blankets. 

Tonya's Block

Hi Tonya- 30 days has September and I am on day 30 but your block is all done and I will get it in the mail- This was a fun block, the bow ties are so cute. I love the 3o's fabric also. Can't wait to see all your blocks together!

Meet Marie

Where do you live?
NW Kansas, Colby KS

Do you have any hidden talents?
Not really- at least I couldn't think of anything.

Name two things you consider yourself to be pretty good at.
Playing with my kids- Riding horses

Name two things you consider yourself to be very bad at.
Getting things done in a timely matter ( I am a bit of a procrastinator)- especially when it comes to paperwork. Keeping our house nice and tidy- Pretty much impossible with two young kids.

Do you have any siblings? What are they like?
I have one younger sister- Karen- She is very pretty, funny, artsy, and a good dresser- I am always borrowing or having her dress me for pictures, trips. She has had a pretty rough year so please keep her in your prayers- Thanks!

Have you ever won a trophy?
Yes, we showed horses in 4-H, rodeo's and college horse shows. The trophy's were exciting when we were little but then we were excited to win buckles and saddles.

Name one thing that not many people know about you?
Well many of you may not know that I was a National Little Britches Rodeo Queen when I was 16-

What is your earliest memory?
Growing up on a farm I can remember always riding in the combine during wheat harvest- It is still one of my favorite times of the year.

What was your favorite musical group when you were in Junior High?
We listened to alot of country and I really liked George Strait, Garth Brooks. I also remember making up roller skating dance routines to Madonna's Vogue with my cousin Leah & my sister in my Grandparents shop.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be alot of things but the one that lasted the longest was a veterinarian.

What are you passionate about?
My family, my faith, sewing, photography, agriculture

Who is the person you respect the most and why?
My husband, he really works hard and has so many talents, I also love seeing him with our kids and the incredible bond that they have together.

What outdoor activities to you like?
I am an outdoor kid of girl- We love being outside! I enjoy my horses, boating, riding 4-wheelers, bicycles, snow skiing, just driving in the country.

If your house was on fire and you could only grab 3 things before leaving, what would they be?
Kids, dogs, laptop

What is your most favorite place on earth?
There's no place like home- I love western Kansas- the wide open spaces!

Answers from Patty

Where do you live?

Palmer, Massachusetts (80 miles from Boston) in the part of the state that the politicians  only remember when they want help paying off the Big Dig or want our votes!

Do you have any hidden talents?
I have a wonderful sense of directions and can drive anywhere. If I get lost I just keeping taking left turns until I  get back on the right trail. Not sure if this is a hidden talent or not.

Name two things you consider yourself to be very good at.

Teaching children to realize their potential to become what ever they aspire to become. I'm pretty crafty too.

Name two things you consider yourself to be very bad at.
This is probably too much information but here it goes.... House work  I hate it so I'm not the best at it. No, my house is not as bad as those Hoarders  or Clean sweep shows. Its very lived in. (LOL) the  other thing I'm bad at is spelling I'm a terrible speller when I write any thing I always have either a spell checker or a dictionary within  easy reach.

Do you have any siblings? What are they like.
I have four siblings, two brothers and two sisters. I'm the second oldest, My older brother is very talented but has made terrible life  choices and has squandered much of his life. My youngest brother is very talented as well, he is a machinist and does things old school, a craft which is dying. He has Polysistic Kidney disease and is not well. He is currently rebuilding his 1969 Chevy Camaro  convertible and it looks awesome. My sister Judy is also my best friend ( she drove me nuts when we were kids), she is a long arm quilter, a grandma and very talented in her own right. She is petrified of mice, and not the bravest about traveling or driving places unlike me. My Youngest sister and the baby, Susan, is a free spirit and marches to her own drum.

Have you ever won a trophy?

I don't think so, and I'm sure I would remember something like  that.

Name one thing that not many people know about you.

I love to sing to my dogs. I was a closet  professional wrestler watcher in college.  Oops sorry that's two things

What is your earliest memory?
Standing at the grave of my grandfather watching them lowering him into the ground with ropes and trying to cry because my mother was. I don't know why this comes to mind but I know I was young.
It's not a bad memory I didn't get was was going on... did I mention I am Irish and Catholic? (LOL)

What was your favorite musical group when you were in Junior High?

Hey Hey We're the Monkeys! I know I'm dating myself.

What are you passionate about?

Teaching... I'm a  special education teacher and I'm love working with children who struggle and don't believe in themselves,  watching them gain confidence and helping them find what they are good a.t Watching them show the "smart " kids how to solve problems, or watching that moment when the light bulb goes off and they get it. I'm so passionate about it that I'm getting goose bumps just writing about it .  I'm also passionate about quilting and reading too.

Who is the person you respect the most and why?

My mother, she has had a lot of adversity in her life and never really had a childhood, she has taken care or a number of her family members when they've been terminally ill. She barely made it out of the fifth grade because of her family situation but managed to  raise  us and teach us that we can do any thing we put our mind to. She is/was a phenomenal quilter, unfortunately is going blind because she has macular degeneration. Despite the adversity in her life, she remains a strong positive person. I only hope that I am half the woman she is.

What outdoor activities do you enjoy?
Camping, hiking, the ocean, gardening.

If your house was on fire what three things would you grab before leaving?

Assuming that my husband and my son were already out and safe... my two dogs and my debit card, or car keys. I know that 's four things but I'm assuming the keys and debit card would be in close proximity.

What is your most favorite place on earth?

I like  my home but home is where you heart is right? So any place that my boy and his father are. But a specifically in the United States, my most favorite place is Monticello VA. Thomas Jefferson's home, my sister -in- law lives in Charlottesville and every time I go see her we have to go there. There  is something so beautiful and peaceful about that place.

Happy Fall Y’all!

Beginning tomorrow anyway :)

Patty, my apologies for getting your block to you so late.  (Seriously need to do a better job of pressing it – amazing what pictures bring out!)

And, Tonya, here is your block. 

 

These will go in the mail tomorrow, ladies.

Being a part of this wonderful group of ladies has been an enjoyable experience.  I will look forward each month to seeing the charity projects the new A Dozen Quilters group create.

Blessings to you all!

Iva

Tonya's Block

Here's your block  Tonya hope you like it. I try to get it in the mail on Monday.