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Saturday, June 25, 2011

Operation Shoebox

I can't remember when our quilt group was started, but I'm thinking it has to have been about seven or eight years ago. We've lost a few members along the way, but there are 13 of us still going strong.

And what a bunch of givers they are. We used Atkinson's Lucky Star block to make many quilts. Each of us makes two or three blocks in a certain color way, and then the quilt tops are put together at an annual retreat. Nancyz has a long arm, and she quilts them up for us. Someone volunteers to add the binding.

We've donated quilts to a home for unwed mothers and a local hospital for infants in the NICU. There is always a supply of quilts at Sarah's house, and some have been donated to families who've lost their homes due to a fire; one went to a child with cancer. Even the scraps are used up. At a recent meeting all the cut ends of threads and small scraps of batting and fabrics were stuffed into old pillowcases, sewn up, and given to an animal shelter for pet beds. A couple quilts were given to returning servicemen and women, and most recently a quilt to the family who lost their son in Afghanistan.

Donna emailed us instructions for our next projects. I tend to like the ones for the servicemen and women. and these are pretty easy. The link for the ditty bags is here.

Here is the link for Christmas stockings for service personnel, too. I haven't made mine yet, but that's part of my plan for this weekend.

10 comments:

Barb said...

Good morning Mary, this is a wonderful blog post, very touching! I am not surprised that you are a part of a *giving group*, you are so very kind! By the way I love your new header, very nicely done! Have a wonderful weekend! Hugs and blessings to you my friend!

Flat Creek Farm said...

What wonderful causes! And I love your header!! -Tammy

Nancy said...

mary I love the chicken quilt thanks for the nice comment about the group nanc

Melanie said...

Wonderful projects... for a fact... quilters giving of their talents always comes back tenfold.... So good to see you post. Juggling the apples of life, I don't have a quilting group toshare with, but I bet it's fun to have others to share with...

Denise said...

Hi Mary - thanks for stopping over at my spot in bloggerville.

Love your header photo! Good luck with your Remember Me's. I'm a follwer now - so, I'll be watching for pics! lol

Angie Berry ~ Berry Homespun Primitives said...

How wonderful is that?! What an awesome thing to do and I'm sure the recipient is very thankful for all the hard work and love put into each quilt and bag! That's a wonderful thing to be a part of and I don't know if you hear "Thank You" or not, but I just wanted to thank you for your part in spreading the love!!

Btw... love your new blog look and beautiful quilts in your header picture!

Karen Sue said...

Mary-
Can you give me a little more info about what you are doing with the stockings as a group? Are you making empty ones, or filling them before they leave? I'm thinking this would be a good thing to do this summer with a few friends.
Lovin' the quilts on the header. The corn there is lookin mighty tall!!
Hope all is well with you and your golfer!

Linda said...

What a wonderful idea...I'm going to get something made to send in myself! Love the new header!

Anonymous said...

Love your header! Can't believe we're already thinking of Christmas! I also think it's great that you're keeping records for your quilting club on your blog. Hope you're staying cooler than I am here in Texas...Whew!

Siobhán said...

Wow, what an amazing way to touch people who are experiencing hardships.

Love your new header!

Enjoy your weekend!