Interrupting Our Regularly Scheduled Program

 Hey quilt friends!

I wanted to let you know about an exciting fundraising auction happening from August 17-25 for Faith Seeds International. As you may know, I am currently serving on the board of directors for this great organization that provides scholarships and more to impoverished children in Guatemala. All proceeds will support La Escuelita, our after-school program that serves 193 students this year. La Escuelita provides essential tutoring, homework help, nutritious meals, and a safe space for our kids.

Check out the auction for some amazing items, including experiences, gift baskets, sports tickets, and more!

A vintage quilt and baby quilt as well!

There are donations from all over the US and many items can be mailed.

Even if you don't find something you'd like to bid on, you can still support the cause through the GIVE feature. Anyone who donates $100 or more will get a Faith Seeds t-shirt!

Your support makes a huge difference. Please take a look and spread the word!

Here's the auction link! Bidding is open now!

This is the link to it: https://qtego.us/qlink/faithseeds

Thanks so much!

Quilts and Oregon Fires

Hubby and I had a quick overnighter planned for Saturday night. It was nice but we were smacked in the face with the reminder that although the Oregon fires are out the ramifications are ongoing. 

If you can help, below is some info. 

Love to you all.

This was a sweet photo of quilters helping! Read the touching article HERE. 

It rips my heart out! 

One way to help:

******QUILT DONATION UPDATE******

October 31st....

In 52 days we have collected 2312 quilts in varying degrees of completion!

Thanks to all the generosity and outpouring of love from you, we reached our initial goal for the Beachie Fire and are now able to expand our reach! We have partnered with other Oregon Wildfire Relief groups to the north and south of us who have also experienced devastating wildfires. Rest assured, your quilts will be placed in the hands of someone that lost their home in the wildfires to give them comfort, love, and hope.

What we are asking for:

1. Completed quilts in throw and child sizes are our main focus as they are the most versatile in different temporary housing situations.

2. Some bed quilts are needed as some will not be rebuilding and moving to permanent housing.

Please put your name and address in the box with donations which can be mailed to:

To The Point Quilting

1221 N Evergreen Ave

Stayton, OR 97383

Please contact me at (503) 539-0870 if you have any questions.

Drop off sites for completed quilts:

*PLEASE put a note on the quilts designating them for the Santiam Canyon - Quilt Drive with To The Point Quilting

Bella Rose Quilting

15375 NW Satellite Dr

Banks, OR 97106

Contact - 503-324-7373

https://www.bellarosequilts.com

Cedar Creek Quilting

15702 NE 181st St

Brush Prairie, WA 98606

Contact - 971-227-1438

Instagram @cedarcreekquilting

Or

Facebook - Cedar Creek Quilting

We have some amazing partners helping spread the word out, donating their time, and donating supplies for our quilt drive! Thank you doesn’t express our gratitude!

Thank you in advance for any quilt donations you can offer!

I am a home-based longarm quilting business registered in Oregon.

#SantiamStrong

#CanyonStrong

**********************************************************************

BOLTS TO BLOCKS

We currently still have requests for around 350 quilts for individuals displaced by the Oregon wildfires. We have received quilt tops from individuals throughout Oregon as well as 30 other states. It is costing anywhere from $15 to $20 (at wholesale cost) to complete a twin sized quilt. We are asking for individuals to help sponsor our remaining quilts. This is quick and easy to do using Venmo and sending your donation to @boltstoblocks. Funds will be used to continue purchasing backing and batting.

BOLTS TO BLOCKS: Collecting quilt tops and finished quilts to support those in the Phoenix & Talent areas. (these towns were nearly completely burned down)

Contact: Barb of Bolts to Blocks, boltstoblocks@gmail.com, (541) 704-0386

Mail or deliver to: Bolts to Blocks, 950 SE Geary St., Ste C, Albany, OR 97322

How Can We Help?

 It is likely you've heard of the devastating fires here in the Pacific Northwest. When the entire town of Paradise, CA burned quilters jumped into action. My niece and I went to Chico to deliver quilts and it was so rewarding. If you want to jump back real quick it is pretty heartwarming what ya'll did for the survivors of that horrible fire. See it HERE.  

Here are a few options if you are willing to donate to Oregon fire victims.

If you are in WA state this may be a better choice.

Our church quilting group / local Chapter of Project Linus are making quilts and will collect them in Skagit and Whatcom counties in Washington to be sent to Oregon or wherever needed. We have a long arm machine so will finish any tops that are donated. Contact us at: 

Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1006 Wicker Road, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284

Mt Hood Quilt Guild is accepting and distributing completed quilts to go to victims and evacuees from the Riverside Fire in Clackamas County. You can mail or drop off at: My Quilting Loft, 253 E. Historic Columbia River Hwy. Troutdale, Oregon 97060

I'm not sure about this, but here is an email and phone number that you may call and get more info. 

communityoutreach@mthoodquiltguild.com

If anyone needs a kit to work on, or has completed charity tops or quilts ... call or text me! (this is a number that was online, it isn't me)

503-577-1434

BOLTS TO BLOCKS: Collecting quilt tops and finished quilts to support those in the Phoenix & Talent areas. (these towns were nearly completely burned down)

Contact: Barb of Bolts to Blocks, boltstoblocks@gmail.com, (541) 704-0386

Mail or deliver to: Bolts to Blocks, 950 SE Geary St., Ste C, Albany, OR 97322

MORE DETAILS FROM BOLTS TO BLOCKS:

“Update on what is going on with this amazing quilt drive. This is a picture I took after my husband and I organized tops into stacks those needing binding and those needing backing and binding and those that are ready to quilt. Four volunteers will be in the shop tomorrow measuring and cutting backings and bindings, sewing labels on, quilting, and helping me to run our small business. Individuals throughout our quilting community will be picking quilts up to bind and to wash. Thank you everyone.

Pete and I drove to Monmouth this evening to drop quilts off that are headed to 7 families in the Phoenix and Talent areas tomorrow. Each individual in those families is receiving their own quilt. We are doing the best we can to match the sizes of quilts that are requested along with the colors that the individuals like, we are taking extra care with this when it comes to the children! 

We are asking for any quilts that you no longer need or use and or any quilt tops that you can donate so that we can get them into the hands of those who are in need. When you bring in a quilt top for this cause Pete and I will donate the backing and batting and will quilt a quick meander so that we can get them ready to go. We will need volunteers to help machine bind. With Covid being an ongoing part of our lives I will also need individuals that are willing to wash and to place quilts in bags that can either be tied or sealed. We will place a note with them so that the receiver will know that everything has been done to help prevent the spread of the virus. I have some quilt tops that I will begin on this morning that have been previously pieced for another community project (thank you Camille and Janet). We ask that you look around and take a moment to be thankful for everyone and everything that you have. We love you all! “-Barb

100 quilts went to Talent And Phoenix Elementary school children today. Still need another 350 twin or lap size so every child who has lost their home will have something to snuggle with. Then we will try to serve the middle and high school kids. Please help by sending new or barely used quilts to Sew Creative Ashland at 115 East Main St. Ashland, Oregon 97520

Thank you for your consideration! Love you all!

Dignity Days Sewing

Some of you may remember when a few friends and myself got together to sew washable pads for Dignity Days in the Ivory Coast.

 If you haven't been here that long and you want to know more, click HERE. 

We made quite a few, enough to get the idea off the ground. 

It was always Agelika's hope and prayer some women could start a little cottage industry in the village where they are missionaries. 

I just got these photos this past weekend!

 

I love it when I hear of a vision and that vision becomes reality! Hopefully more girls will be able to stay in school and these pads will make a gentler impact to the environment in the Ivory Coast of Africa. 

Have an amazing week!

Quilters are the Best Part 2

Here is Elizabeth and Roy snuggled in the quilt that Mona sent. 

Here is a comment she left on Wednesday's blog post:

Dear beautiful ladies,
As I sit here, tears streaming down my face, holding a beautiful baby boy wrapped in a love quilt, I am humbled by your kindness and generosity ❤️
Thank you Mona for the amazing quilt you sent us; I love it so much. Little Roy gets warn out really easily right now during this healing period and he loves me to hold him when he sleeps, now he’s all comfy on my lap wrapped in his beautiful new quilt. I can’t thank you enough ❤️
I read that many offers were made to send us a quilt, so I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
You humble me with your love...thank you.
��
I don’t know how to post a pic here, so I’ll post it on my fb page: Elizabeth Higbe Crouch
Love you all❤️❤️❤️

I made sure she knew the quilt was for HER! 

It truly is beautiful. 

Thank you Mona and thank you to all who offered to send quilts! 

I did find out last night that Little Roy has a fever and was heading back to the children's hospital. They could use your prayers!!

In the midst of this outbreak of COVID 19 please heed the warnings and stay away from others if you aren't feeling well. Avoid large gatherings.  My plan is to stay in my sewing room as much as possible this weekend!

Much love and thanks

Quilters are the best!

A lot of spontaneity happens on the Humble Quilts facebook group. 

This lovely quilt was donated to this lovely grandmother, who is also an acquaintance of mine.

Thee is a lot of backstory but Tina cares for Ezra, her grandson, who was beaten by his mom's boyfriend. Ezra will likely not ever grow up to be a teenager. 

Laura V donated it to Tina. She lives a selfless life. Right now she is on the forefront of getting Oregon laws changed to have longer punishments for those who cause irreparable damage to another person. Ezra's abuser only got 12 years. 

Look at this beautiful and amazing quilt! 

Tina and Ezra, 

This is Little Roy and this is what started the facebook conversation. Do you see his quilt? That is Roy's grandmother's and Little Roy was recovering from brain surgery. Elizabeth is also caring for her grandson who was beaten by his mom's boyfriend. The 2 strong women have come together and they will be a force to be reckoned with when it comes to changing our laws. 

But day in and day out, they deal with the lifelong health issues these little boys have. 

Mona is sending a quilt to Elizabeth and we will see it when it arrives. 

I made the first post on March 5th and several of you came forward offering to send quilts! I love you all so much and your kind and generous hearts.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Tina was speechless with the generosity shown to her, a stranger. 

If anyone would like to follow their progress they have a public facebook group that you can join HERE.  

It's called Team Ezra. (Roy's journey is on there too)

Much love

Quilts for Empowerment

I found out about this awesome ministry when I was giving my quilt lecture in Bend, Oregon. I made sure to look them up on quilt show day and support them by purchasing this wall hanging. 
Their main goal:
We teach quilting to impoverished women in Kenya, including obstetric fistula survivors, and young sexual assault survivors. We help women gain the skills and self-confidence to become economically independent and assist the girls to complete their education.

 This just really makes me happy!

This handwritten note was tucked in the little basket in front of the chicken. 

The back has this info about the maker.

I'd love for you to check out their website HERE.

We had a quick getaway to the coast over night this past weekend. 

It was an interesting weekend but all is well now. 

I've never seen these cool dunes on the beach before. 

I had an opportunity for a long training walk early Sunday morning. I love seeing the iconic Newport bridge and couldn't help but snap a photo.

Let's make it a really great week!

A Look Back 2018

Happy New Year friends!!

It's always good to look back and see the year in the rearview mirror.

Here are my quilt finishes in no particular order.

Rose of Houston- a challenge quilt using an antique block purchased at IQF. 

Our amazing 2018 quiltalong- Sweet Land of Liberty designed by Cheri Payne.

Brick Wall of Wabash Co- designed by Tara Lynn Baison. 

Our Humble Quilts little quilt quiltalong- Sajou.

A swap quilt .

Another swap quilt

One final swap quilt. (I'm seeing a theme here!)

Swiss Cross. 

Fall Festival was our 2017 quiltalong 

I was thrilled to be in AP&Q Designer spotlight this year!

And big life events in 2018 but not quilt related:

 A mission trip to Colombia that I feel completely blessed to have been able to go. (And look at those adorable girls in the dresses you made for them!)

My niece and I made a trip to Chico to personally hand out quilts, cash, clothing, blankets, coats, and a cheerful smile. I'm pretty sure we were blessed way more than the recipients.

Made a memorable trip to Italy with my beautiful daughter. 

I summitted Mt St Helens! (Hardest thing I've ever done after running a full marathon) 

 Proved to myself that all my muscle building workouts paid off by backpacking for my first time this summer!

Ran a 197 mile, 36 hour relay with complete strangers!

Wow! What a year! I look forward to 2019 and all the memories and quilts I'll be making!!

Happy New Year!