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

Quilting for a Cause

The first quilt is a donation to my local "100 Nights Shelter" (see link under "Giving Back"); it will be given to a homeless boy to keep as his own when he leaves the shelter. The second quilt was going to be a donation to fulfill my promise to a local childcare center to donate a quilt to their annual spring auction, but now I think I'll also give it to 100 Nights to gift to a child, and I'll make another one for the children's center auction.

Cotton, Warm and Natural batting, 64" x 76"

Detail

Cottons, Warm and Natural Batting. 46" x 54"

Detail

(Almost) Finished! 100 Quilts for Christmas

I finished the quilt top for my "100 Quilts for Christmas" donation (a nice thing for a Jewish quilter to do after Hanukkah, yes?). I was in such a rush to get it off to the long-arm quilter* that I neglected to take a photo--sorry.  I'll take one when it comes back--hopefully soon--before I add the binding.  My quilt will go to a local shelter, 100 Nights (see link in side bar under "Giving Back"), along with a monetary donation. It was -5 F here two nights ago. Everyone has a right to food, shelter, and clothing.

*No large-scale quilting for me any more until the cast comes off and I can walk again!

(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.