My First Bee

I've just completed the blocks for my very first mini bee ever.

There's a whole group of quilters doing this over at the flicker group.

There are 6 people in each "hive."  Each person tells the others two or three colors that they want their quilt to be.  Each person then makes the same block in each color palette that the others have chosen.

So I made five blocks to send out to others.  I also made a block for me, in the colors that I chose, as a way to test the pattern.

In the end, after I receive my blocks, I'll have 6 different blocks made with different fabrics.  I can't wait to get mine and see how they go together.

Here is a picture of the blocks I made.


Denise's Star

As you can see, the colors are very different.  Some are for boys' quilts, so I didn't want anything too girlie.

I had a good time making them and now I'm sending them off!

Quilting for Kids Update

Things are really hopping along over at the newly founded  Quilting for Kids Flickr group!

If you haven't joined, feel free to.  But I have to say, that we only need 2 more commitments for the Garden Fence block (shown below) and then we're done!


Made by Jennifer at Knotted-Thread
  
We've reached our goal for the Charming Stars Quilt.  Here's a great example from Amy at CraftyDame:


I can't believe that so many of you have joined in this group and have already completed your blocks and sent them on their way! (Okay, I have to stop using exclamation points so much...but I'm really excited.)

You see, I'm a new blog.  When I posted this Call for Help a week ago, I had about 32 followers.  So I didn't really know if I would get many responses.  But those followers came through and then passed the information on to their followers.  Now I'm at a *whopping 45*.  Small potatoes, I know, but it's still exciting to me!

I really am very grateful that so many have helped out.  Please go on over to the flickr group and see what great purple and pink blocks have been made. 

And again, go on back and check out why we're even doing this.  You can find the story here.

I think when these are finished, we may do another quilt.  There is no shortage of kids in the foster system who could use something to call their own.  So, what do you think? Would you make another block? Would you be willing to receive the blocks and make them into a quilt for a child?  We can really do something here!

Linking with

WIP Wednesday

It's been a busy week here!

New school year, and new projects!

I would love for you all to read my blog post about what I'm trying to do for two foster children that my mother works with.  You can read it here and updated here.  We're trying to create two quilts for two sisters. Please check it out and see if you'd like to help out.  Thank you!

This is a block that I've made for one of the quilts for the sisters:


You can see the other blocks here. They're easy to make and get put together quickly.

I've also started making my first block for the 3x6 bee block that I'm in on Flickr.
Here is my test design.





Other than that, so far this week, I finished my mom's quilt and she loved it! You can see it here.

Thanks for checking in and once again, PLEASE Read my CALL FOR HELP and see if you can join us!!! Again, the blocks and more information are here. 

Today I'm linking with Esther's Blog,  Sew Happy Geek, Freshly Pieced, and Quiltstory - thanks for the link ups! You guys are awesome!

You girls really know how to jump in when you're needed!

The response to my CALL FOR HELP has been tremendous!  I got many replies of people willing to help out with these two special quilts for the girls in foster care.  Please read the rest of the story if you haven't already and see if you'd like to help.

There are a few changes.  We've decided on two blocks. And we will use pink and purple in all of the blocks.

One block will be made using this tutorial from  Moda Bake Shop. It's called "Charming Stars" by Stefanie from Little Lady Patchwork,  and it's beautiful! Here is one of the blocks that a member has already made:





by: jenjohnston 
 
The other block we will be making is called "Garden Fence" using this tutorial at Hyacinth Quilt Designs.

Here are two that have been made already.


by: Jen at Punkin Handmades

I am so excited about doing this.  Even more excited that you all are joining me.

If you would like to join us, now that you know that the blocks are not crazy hard, please feel free to do so!  Let me know by leaving me a comment, and I will send you an invite through Flickr to join our group Quilting for Kids.  Please tell me your flickr name.

Once part of the group, there are two discussions.  One is a sign up for the stars blocks and one for the squares block.  You can sign up to do as many as you wish.

And one more thing, if you have a blog, feel free to spread the word about this.  You can link up to this post or the previous one and see if any of your followers would like to join us. 

Thank you so much!

I Need YOUR Help!

Can I sit down with you over a cup of tea or coffee and just like we're old friends, plainly ask you for help?

Here's my idea. My mom works with foster children. She's their "guardian" which means that she's objectively looking out for the best interest of children in foster care. She's doing what the parents of these children should be doing.

This job has rewarding days, and days that make you want to cry. She's seen great victories, when parents are rehabilitated and reunited with their children, when children are adopted by wonderful people. She's also seen horrible days when parental rights have been terminated, when children are left with no hope.

My mom is really very good at this job. A tender and open heart, but stern and stubborn. She doesn't give up on people.

She's been working with a set of sisters. It's been 5 or 6 years now. She's seen them go from sweet, loving, caring, hugging 7 and 8 year olds to closed and scared 12 and 13 year olds. She's still there. Their one constant over the many years and many houses they've lived in. She fights for them at school and receives their calls when they're crying.

When I was telling my mom about the different bees there are that benefit children by giving them quilts, I could see her eyes light up. I knew she was wishing for something like that for her set of sisters. Something that they could take with them that would give them comfort and remind them of her and all that she's poured into them.

This is where you come in. Would you be willing to send me a 12 inch block? With your help I could make two quilts for them by Christmas. I know that it would mean so much to these girls to have their own beautiful quilt that they could take with them wherever they go.

So if you're interested, their favorite colors are pink and purple. They are 12 and 13, so no little girlie things. I will need these no later than October 7th. We'll be doing a lot of traveling after that.

Please leave me a comment. Tell me if you'd like to join the Flickr group Quilting for Kids and I'll send you an invite. (Leave me your flickr name.) Also, tell me if you'd like to make one or two blocks. We'll be deciding which blocks to make together on Flickr.

I'm really very excited about doing this for these girls. I know it will mean so much to them. Thank you in advance for your help!

And I hope you enjoyed our cup of tea!

****Please see this link for directions on the blocks.  We have decided on two patterns.  Please check this link before you make any blocks!****

Mom's Birthday

My Mom is great. She really is.  She is so great, that for her 50th birthday, my sister-in-law gave her a granddaughter.   And then for her 60th birthday, I gave her a grandson!  Can you believe it?  Two grandkids born on your birthday?  August 24th is a busy day around our family.

So this may not be the "best" gift she's ever received, because how can you top two grandkids? But she says this is the best "non-living" gift she's received (from me, at least) and she's very happy with it.

Here she is holding it up.  She didn't even want me to show her feet.



And here's the back.



I basically just traced around the existing lines for the quilting.

I also added a special note for her on the back:


"I love you, Mom! You're the best. <3 Sarah 2011"

I stitched this and then whip stitched it on to the back. I also had this great fabric that says, "I love my family" and "One big crazy family." These statements go great with our family.

I love you Mom! Happy Birthday!

WIP Wednesday

I've been on vacation for 5 days, so I didn't get much done other than some more hexagons for my hexalong with Lynne at Lilysquilts.  Here is the whole big happy family.  I do believe that I will be adding in more solids and some hexagons that are just one fabric.

I also finished the quilt top for my Summer Sampler Series and made a tutorial for my "Mitered Tiled Borders" as I'm calling them.  Here is the link for that tutorial.

 

Probably as you read this, it's either being basted or quilted....or maybe I'm just being ambitious?

So tell me, who's ready for school to start?!

And I'll leave you with the view from my sewing machine this afternoon.  

The only one who will not be going to school this year:

Peek-a-boo behind the sewing basket...and eating apple sauce on the same table I'm sewing on.  

I'm crazy, I know.