Cheers to Quilting for a Cause in the New Year

I read an article in American Patchwork and Quilting (February 2011--yes, I know, it's till 2010 here in northeastern U.S.--the issue arrived in the mail yesterday) about a nonprofit organization called "Quilts for Kids."  I just sent for their kit to make a quilt for a child in need.  The kit comes in one to two weeks, so I'll be in China when it arrives, but it will be here waiting for me when I return. I need projects with a purpose, and because I'm still in a cast (week twelve begins Monday...) this seems like a great focus for a couple days. The organization asks that, for every kit you receive, you make a second quilt of your own fabric to return with the first quilt.  You can read more on their site.  The url is included in this post or you can click the link under the sidebar, "Giving Back."

One of my New Year's resolutions is a commitment to what I call "Art Activism" on my website or "Sewing for a Cause" in my new, soon-to-be started, blog of the same name ("art activism" was not available).

www.quiltsforkids.org

(One of) a 100 Quilts

I've been working on my quilt for the 100 Quilts for Christmas project.  I chose a masculine theme and colors, as mine will go to a homeless shelter where most visitors are male.  This quilt will be sent out of the shelter with someone in need, a gift and a reminder that someone cares.

These are 8.5 x 11.5 blocks left from an early project.  I've got them put together into a 47 x  54 top so far.  I changed the orientation of the rectangles about half-way through, from lengthwise to widthwise.  Now I need to figure out a very wide border, get it on and get the whole thing quilted.

Functional Quilt

76" x 94"

Finally! The quilt I started this summer is finished. It would have been done earlier had I not broken my foot. The cast really slowed (and is slowing, weeks later) me down. Not the best image, but better than nothing.

Detail of "Swirl" quilt pattern

This is the first quilt I haven't quilted myself--it was just too large for my sewing machine and too difficult to handle on crutches. I'm quite pleased with The Quilt Studio (see Links). They have a two week turn-around time--even during this gearing-up-for-the-holiday season!