Happy New Year!!!

Thanks to everyone for their support of 4Patches4Hope so far - we are now at over 2600 blocks.  I am working on a 12x16 block layout for the quilts, so at 192 per quilt we now have enough for 13 - and counting!

The sew-in at Chestnut Bay Quilting earlier in December was well attended - 3 quilters plus Patty the owner were busy sewing away when I arrived, and as those 3 left, 2 more joined us.  It was a wonderfully relaxing time and the combined quilting experience helped me think through the next steps of assembly and layouts - plus it was a great way to meet some new faces.  We are doing it again on January 18 between 10AM and 5 PM, so if you are local to western NY and want to join us, please contact Chestnut Bay at (585) 538-4420 so we can be sure we have enough room for everyone.

Here are a few pictures of the blocks as I sorted them by color - and then as they started up on the design wall.

Sorting blocks.  This was kind of a good way to ease into the day - and the first time I had sorted these out of the packets they were sent in.

Loving all these deep jewel tones.

I thought the majority of the blocks would be pink -but there are twice as many blue as anything else.

First attempts at a blue/orange layout.  It looks better in this photo than it did closer up - so I changed directions midstream.

Over half way done on our bright colored "rainbow" layout.  Going to add some more oranges and blues to the other side of the green before this one is all done.

November Participant Prize - and our first flimsy

Support for our little project continues, and our block count is now 1367 and growing.  I am off to a 4Patches4Hope Sew-In at Chestnut Bay, a wonderful local quilt shop that embraced our cause wholeheartedly - don't worry - I am bringing my camera!!!  My goal for the day is to do some block sorting - and hopefully some top assembly.

This month's winner of a little thank you prize for supporting this project is Selina from NJ - who not only sent us 14 blocks, but this beautiful quilt top flimsy for us to finish and donate.  So I guess this is our first official flimsy - I will be posting other tops as we get them assembled so you can all play "I spy" and try to find your blocks and fabrics!

I love this little top - and have been trying to figure out the pattern so I can recreate one for myself.  If anyone can tell me the name of the block and/or pattern, it would be appreciated!

Thank you so much Selina for your generous heart - a little gifty will go out in the mail to you soon (my apologies if it gets bogged down in the Christmas mail rush).

So much to be Thankful For...

For my wonderful family.  For my loving friends.
And for all the quilters and bloggers out there who have embraced my project and given me encouragement, support, treasured stories, and LOTS AND LOTS of blocks!!!

As of today - we have REACHED our goal of 1000 blocks - and then some!  1092 is the current count!!!

I am so warmed by your support -and excited at seeing how word continues to spread.... and I am revising the goal to 4000 blocks.

Happy Thanksgiving to all our American quilters -and to our quilters worldwide -I am so Thankful that your life has touched mine - even in this small way!  All the best wishes to all of you, wherever you are!!!!!

Treasured Stash

The cards and stories that are coming in with the blocks are tremendous - thank you all for your kind words, and for sharing your reasons behind joining my project.

And even more special is the sharing of your treasured stash - like Cindy in NC who shared scraps from her Mom's stash... another Mom lost to cancer.  It is so special to have your Mom as part of this project - I know both our Moms would be glad.

A letter from across the sea

I received this letter in the mail today from a quilter in East Souburg, the Netherlands -with these three quilt blocks.

I don't think English is her preferred language for writing, and the lovely European script was a challenge for me to read in spots -but the meaning was clear (I am copying what was written to the best of my ability)

Dear Quilter,
Here is myn 4 patches.
I am a nurse, I work with a lot of cancer patiences.
I know how they feel.


Here are three patches.
One is cotton from a woman with breast cancer
after 4 years fighting she died.
She wear these culture clothes.  A nice old woman.


One is the break's again and again trying to build a new future.
One are the break from near by the beach.
Slippery.
That means after all the chemo cure's they are sick (most of the time.)
After all they get the answer if the cure's are getting on or not.


Any whey I try to give you what I saw.
It's always grey.


Only when you get the good answer YES!


Success with the collection.


Rika

Oh Rika - your patients may be unlucky to have cancer - but I believe they are lucky to have a nurse as caring as you are.   Stories like yours are a big part of why I am doing this project. Thank you so much for reaching across so many miles and across the ocean to share this important reminder.

One Month

In the one month since we began 4Patches4Hope, generous quilters from all over the US have sent in 245 blocks and donations totaling $185.  Just as cancer knows no boundaries, I have had email responses from as far away as Brazil and France as well but no international parcels have arrived as yet.

October "participation prizes" will soon be in the mail to Patricia Sturm of NY for being the first to send me blocks, and to Marie Joerger of NH, whose name was picked at random from the "one block one chance" entries.  Of course Marie so generously sent 72 blocks - matching ones that will easily transform into a child's comfort quilt.  I also love that her blog post gave me 2 great ideas for easy layouts of these blocks!  Thanks Marie..

Donations varied from 1 block to 72... each and every one beautiful, heartfelt, and appreciated.

Humbled and Awed

Quilters are THE best!  Hands down - no question about it!

Your response to my call - and your willingness to share the word - has been overwhelming!  I am scrambling to keep up with linking everyone's kind posts.  Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!!

Envelopes have been coming to my mailbox daily now - some with a block or two - some with 70+, and I am meeting with my contact at the local American Cancer Society office soon to turn over a small pile of checks.

I need to update both tickers - but prepping the 6 year old for Halloween (he's Batman and we made his costume) has had me tied up the past few nights...  best guess is that we are closing in on $200 and 200 blocks - but that is just a rough estimate.  Once Halloween is past - I will have an updated count on both, and our first monthly participant "door prize" - drawn from all the names of people who have sent blocks by October 31.  We will draw again in November...and December... and however long we decide to keep going!!

This weekend the first "non-electronic" publicity went out from me - in the form of flyers dropped to two of my local quilt shops.  The plan is to hit more local shops this month (...my own shop hop?  sure!) - and keep spreading the word!

FAQ: Can I give blocks but not $$$

This is perhaps my most asked question so far. 


YES!!!!  We welcome as many blocks as you are willing to send - but I realize that the financial donation is not necessarily in everyone's means.

My aim is to reach the financial goal - but to FAR EXCEED the block goal!!!

Blocks are starting to come in - I will be updating the counts very soon!!!

Thanks to everyone for spreading the word, and for sending blocks! 

What is this all about???

4Patches4Hope began as a desire to use my passion for quilting, and the power of social media and word of mouth, to create quilts to comfort those undergoing cancer treatments and at the same time raise money for cancer research. The original timeline was to begin on Valentine’s Day, 2011 and culminate on my mother’s birthday –today - October 4, 2011.

For one reason or another, I did not get the ball rolling and start to get the word out about the project, so then I revised my start date to START on Mom’s birthday.

Unfortunately Mom’s cancer had a different timetable, and on July 12, 2011 her battle with this disease ended.

As I worked through the emotions that came after - I decided to forge forward with this project - as there are mothers, sisters, aunts, cousins, daughters, nieces, friends and more who could benefit.

The concept is simple - Make a 4 Patch... Make a Donation... Make a difference.

How to Help:

1.  Make light-dark 4 patch block(s) using 2 1/2” squares (blocks should finish at 4 1/2” square).     
Use any colors you like for your “dark” but please try to use white or ivory for your “light.”

2.  Send the finished block(s) to: 

4Patches4Hope c/o Regina Arlauckas, PO Box 363  Churchville, NY  14428

3.  Please consider making a $4 donation for each block you make to the American Cancer Society via the link at The American Cancer Society or enclose a check to the American Cancer Society with your blocks. (Please do NOT enclose cash and be sure your checks are to the American Cancer Society.)

4.  The goal is 4000* blocks and $4,000 by February 28, 2012. (*goal revised to 4000 blocks on 11/24/11)

5.  Received blocks will be assembled into “comfort quilts” and donated to the Anderson Medical Center in Anderson, SC and the Pluta Cancer Center in Rochester, NY. 

6.  Each block donated will enter your name into a drawing for “participation prizes.”

7.  Donations of backing fabrics, batting and services are also appreciated.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

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...Share the dream of a cure.