I just wanted to post a quick reminder to anyone donating fabrics or blocks or quilts to me or to any organization - but especially to hospitals - PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE refrain from using scented detergents or strong fabric softener when washing your fabrics or quilts, and if you are a smoker or have a smoker in your home and around your fabrics, please consider directing your charitable quilt donations to non-hospital settings. Most of these stronger smells are especially troublesome to those undergoing medical treatments, and many hospitals will reject or dispose of quilts that contain strong smells so as to avoid jeopardizing the health of their patients.
I will say that I have received some blocks (though not many) that do not pass the initial "sniff test" and therefore I cannot jeopardize an entire quilt by including them. While these will not be included in my quilts, they will be "deodorzized" as much as possible and passed along to a friend who makes quilts for a local shelter, in the hopes that they can still provide some comfort.
I do not mean this to be an "anti-smoking" statement - but rather a reminder of the guidelines on donations that Project Linus and many similar groups have put forth, and that I have used as guidance for my own projects.
Thank you for your understanding.
4Patches4Hope began as a desire to use my passion for quilting and the power of social media and word of mouth to create comfort quilts for those undergoing cancer treatments and also raise money for cancer research. It was to begin on my mother’s birthday –today - October 4, 2011 and be a birthday gift to her. Unfortunately Mom’s cancer had a different timetable, and on July 12, 2011 her battle with this disease ended. I decided to forge forward in her memory.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
Goal Reached -and then some!!!
As of tonight the quilters of the world have responded with 4118 blocks for 4Patches4Hope!!! Some of you have shared your stories and your reasons, most of you have shared your names, some of you have remained anonymous - but all of you have shared your scraps, your skill, your time, and your hearts!!!
I can't thank you enough!!!
I will continue to accept blocks - and every single one received will find its way into a comfort quilt. Not all by February 28th - but I will continue to assemble them block by block, row by row, and quilt by quilt. My first delivery goal is the week following Easter in South Carolina, and then we will go from there and see how quickly we can get them made and delivered.
I can't thank you enough!!!
I will continue to accept blocks - and every single one received will find its way into a comfort quilt. Not all by February 28th - but I will continue to assemble them block by block, row by row, and quilt by quilt. My first delivery goal is the week following Easter in South Carolina, and then we will go from there and see how quickly we can get them made and delivered.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Mystery Quilter
I have a mystery - a good mystery - but a puzzle nonetheless.
See - I received a box in the mail today - 4Patches4Hope was the address, AND the return address.
Inside was a small bag of blocks... and this:
No name, no note, no return address ... just a postmark from Bowling Green, Kentucky.
The quilt is beautiful - and will be added to the first batch of quilts that will be delivered in April. This makes two completely done, one done except for the final binding, and a bunch more flimsies in progress.
Thank you, Mystery Quilter. And if you had contacted me in the past and told me this was coming, and I am not making the connection in my brain - please forgive. I'm claiming aging brain syndrome -at least for today (my birthday!)
See - I received a box in the mail today - 4Patches4Hope was the address, AND the return address.
Inside was a small bag of blocks... and this:
The quilt is beautiful - and will be added to the first batch of quilts that will be delivered in April. This makes two completely done, one done except for the final binding, and a bunch more flimsies in progress.
Thank you, Mystery Quilter. And if you had contacted me in the past and told me this was coming, and I am not making the connection in my brain - please forgive. I'm claiming aging brain syndrome -at least for today (my birthday!)
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Texas Teamwork
Earlier this month I received a lovely box in the mail from the American Sewing Guild Quilting Group in and around Wichita Falls, TX.
Vivian and her lovely friends worked together to send me a box of 105 blocks, and checks totaling $84 for the American Cancer Society. I loved how each quilter carefully gathered her blocks together with a little note telling me who made them, and how many were in the bundle (which was VERY appreciated!!!!!!) - some were even tied with bits of string or thread, making lovely little "presents" of blocks. (I wanted to post a picture of one but am having trouble blurring out the info on the address... will try again later and perhaps add it in).
Nine quilters creating a box full of sunshine - and nearly 2/3 of a 4Patches4Hope quilt.
Thank you all for sending a bit of Texas sunshine to cloudy and cold western NY! I will take good care and pass these bits of sunshine along to where they can make a difference.
Vivian and her lovely friends worked together to send me a box of 105 blocks, and checks totaling $84 for the American Cancer Society. I loved how each quilter carefully gathered her blocks together with a little note telling me who made them, and how many were in the bundle (which was VERY appreciated!!!!!!) - some were even tied with bits of string or thread, making lovely little "presents" of blocks. (I wanted to post a picture of one but am having trouble blurring out the info on the address... will try again later and perhaps add it in).
Nine quilters creating a box full of sunshine - and nearly 2/3 of a 4Patches4Hope quilt.
Thank you all for sending a bit of Texas sunshine to cloudy and cold western NY! I will take good care and pass these bits of sunshine along to where they can make a difference.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Around the world in an envelope
Today I received 30 beautiful blocks from Raelene in Victoria, Australia - which is WAAAAAYYY on the opposite side of the world. My son was fascinated when we went on Google Earth and "navigated" around the globe to Raelene's home town - it made the world a wee bit smaller for a moment (though he also wanted to know when I met her - lol!)
4Patches4Hope has received blocks now from 3 continents (and email from a 4th) - and I am still hoping (with Hubby's help) to plot all the towns and cities and countries on a map that I can share.
Until then I will enjoy my little bits of Australia - and the cute little Sugar Glider on the stamp.
4Patches4Hope has received blocks now from 3 continents (and email from a 4th) - and I am still hoping (with Hubby's help) to plot all the towns and cities and countries on a map that I can share.
Until then I will enjoy my little bits of Australia - and the cute little Sugar Glider on the stamp.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
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.
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.
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| 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. |
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| Loving all these deep jewel tones. |
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| I thought the majority of the blocks would be pink -but there are twice as many blue as anything else. |
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| First attempts at a blue/orange layout. It looks better in this photo than it did closer up - so I changed directions midstream. |
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| 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. |
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
November Participant Prize - and our first flimsy
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).
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