Charity Sewing Day(s)

2017 : Do Something.   

As many of you know, I don't agree with certain things that are going on these days.   So I'm doing something about it.   Actually lots of little things, which added together, will change the world.   Maybe only my minuscule part of it but I believe that matters.   I believe the good that I can add to the world matters.   So we start.   Or continue.  

This year, once a month, I will open up my sewing studio, the Carriage House, and host a sewing day.  On that day we will sew for a specific charity or two or thirty-seven (good is limitless).   The first of those days was today, January 15th.    I chose two causes and we started.

Seven of my friends showed up, at various times and stayed as long as they could.   Some have been quilting for years, some for months and for some it was their first introduction.   There was some ironing, some cutting, some hand stitching and some piecing.   Everyone did something and worked toward a common good.

The first group we are donating to is the refugee community.   I would like to be very clear that some of the national rhetoric and spewing of hate and otherizing does not reflect America.   It does not reflect me.   It does not reflect many that I know.    So here's a little welcome to some family who might be missing their first home, who might be feeling a little out of place and unsure.   So we say -

You are Welcomed

You are Loved

You are One of Us

We will be donating the quilts later this month after the labels arrive and are added.  I am so very happy to report that we will be donating 15+ quilts after this day.   Some I have been rounding up from previous sewing.

This one was finished today -

The backing for another was finished and quilting has been started on it -

Binding was started and nearly completed thanks to four different people on these two quilts -

And then there is the series that I privately refer to as We've Got Your Back.   I've pulled out the tubs of flannel from quilt backings of past quilts and started cutting them into useful sizes.   8 1/2 squares, 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 rectangles, 3 1/2 squares and 2 1/2 strips.    Blocks for 1 full top and 3 partial tops were completed today.    And a whole lot more squares were cut by someone who had never picked up a rotary blade before today (and might still not know that's what it is called).  

The other community we sewed for is a local LGBTQ project.   The blocks were originally started after the Pulse nightclub tragedy but these quilts will go to our local community.  (tutorial)   I'm talking with some friends who will know the best way to distribute.     It's just a few more blocks to add to the rainbow blocks already done.   Love is love is love.   Even when it might not look like the way you love.

It's hard to explain how putting this event together makes me feel.   Hopeful.   Proud.   Delighted with how many busy people showed up.  Anxious to do more.  

So as you go through your own busy day, look around.   There is someone you can help.  There is someone who has helped you and you can show some gratitude.   A little thank you can encourage even the crankiest to do a little something.   Sew a little colorful block for us to add to a few other colorful blocks.    Plant a pepper.   Lend a hand.

It's for humanity.

Bits of Wood

Bits , originally uploaded by shanleytulip.

This is a picture from when I was quilting the Bits quilt. I was basing the quilting on a filler pattern from the Free Motion Quilting blog called Desert Sand but as I was stitching it, I mostly thought of it as Dragon's Breath. Except for this picture which is the strip of brown I added in to make the backing big enough (the bits really added up!). This one is wood grain for sure.

Bits , originally uploaded by shanleytulip.

Here's a closeup of a couple of the squares. I made this with leftover bits of the Bento Box that took years (by not working on it) and started out just sewing as many 3 inch strips together as I could. Then I cut those into 3 inch bits. Then I made a gazillion 4 patches. Then a bazillion 16 patches. Then just started sewing those together. Until I ended up with 952 squares all in a quilt.

I'm happy with the final outcome but don't have any full pictures to include since I finished it just in time to drop it off on the porch for the birthday I intended it for. I hope he likes it. And if not, I hope he lies about it.

Bits Label

Bits Label, originally uploaded by shanleytulip.

First present is done and delivered! Here's the hand stitched label. It slows me down on the part where I just want the project to be over but at least I know it won't fade. And to some extent I can use fancy fonts.

Really Good at Math

White Stack, originally uploaded by shanleytulip.

I am, as the title of this post suggests, good at math. Ask my mother. Mom, you can comment directly on the blog instead of emailing me if you want to back me up on this one.

So with my math skills and my rotary cutter, I misjudged the number of squares one might need from the rolls of fabric and I know have enough 3 inch squares (in pairs) for a 70 x 85 inch quilt

AND

a 40 x 63 inch quilt

AND

a 28 x 18 doll quilt

at minimum, since I suspect the number of squares out in the sewing room will have doubled by the time I get out of work tomorrow.

I also found the rest of the backing flannel for the Whirlygiggle II, which is another showcase of my math skills because for the last two weeks, I thought I was short a bit. Nope, I have close to a yard remaining. Not counting the big scraps. Ah well, if I don't get 6 yards to back a quilt (even a baby quilt) I'm sure to run out.

Rolls of Strips

3 inch strips, originally uploaded by shanleytulip.

I'm using up some extra strips of fabric on a little (well, that depends on how many squares this ends up making) project. I'm still binding away on my grandpa's quilt this weekend as well.

According to my handy dandy Excel tracking sheet, I will need to finish a quilt every 5 days in order to finish all the quilts I have planned before the end of the year. Not holding my breath on that one. Some are presents though so I'll finish out the year with pictures of previously done quilts mostly. Or you know, pictures of my shelves of pretty folded fabric.