Finished piecing

Just finished piecing the second patchwork baby quilt. Now I have to find the time to put the borders on and quilt them to their backings. My new Janome 6500 just whizzed through the piecing. I was wondering if I would really be able to notice the speed difference in my new machine (it can sew up to 1000 stitches per minute). Sure enough I could. Wow! It is the one place I can really have a 'lead' foot.

I received some more quilting and machine embroidery books in the mail this week. I have gotten way behind with my reviews, but hope to have a new batch up soon. I am very impressed with what people can come up with to be creative when making quilts. Quilting just isn't about sewing two pieces of fabric together anymore. As our technology changes, our ability to manipulate fabric and threads grows also. My fingers are itching to try some new techniques, but I needed to stick with easy piecing for the current projects I'm working on. I would hope to have at least three baby quilts in the hands of children affected by Hurricane Katrina before winter hits.

Please remember to help out with Project Hurricane Katrina: Books for Kids if you can!

Another quilt pieced

Just finished piecing another child sized quilt to donate to the children affected by Hurricane Katrina. I have been doing assembly line piecing so it has been going really fast. I have another quilt already cut out, so I set everything out to begin piecing the next time I'm back in my sewing room. I am amazed just how fast you can piece a small quilt if you are organized and take advantage of spare minutes here and there. After this next quilt is pieced, I put them together with their batting and backing and then bind them. I plan on doing that assembly line style as much as possible. Then they will be done I can send them off. I still haven't researched where to send blankets, so if someone knows, please drop me a note in the comment section. This is one of those weird times, where you know the item is needed, but not quite sure how to make sure it gets to where the need is the greatest.

Please remember to help out with Project Hurricane Katrina: Books for Kids if you can!

Piecing another quilt

Got up early (for me) and started piecing together another quilt to donate to the children affected by the hurricane. I'm so glad that sometimes I just spend time cutting out fabric, as today I was quickly able to lay out 6 16" blocks (enough for a large crib sized quilt). I think I had about 1/4 of the piecing done before the washing machine finished its first load and I had to go on to do other things. Hopefully I can do the same tomorrow.

Please remember to help out with Project Hurricane Katrina: Books for Kids if you can!

Helping Others

Some times we want to be able to help others and aren't sure how to best go about it. Many times when a need is great, like now after Hurricane Katrina, I am burdened by what can I do and how can I make a contribution that will help. I am a hands on kind of person and so that is what I am concentrating on. I just finished making a baby quilt and will try and get several more done that can be given to children who have lost their own 'blankies' during this tragedy. I realize that currently most relief organizations are asking for money, but eventually no money in the world will replace lost comfort objects and every child deserves their own blanket.

In like manner, as a committed reader, I am concerned about the loss of books these children and their schools have suffered. In that regard, I have set up an e-book fair titled Project Hurricane Katrina: Books for Kids. Please visit the website and purchase books for your own children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews. ALL profits from this sale will be used to purchase and donate quality Usborne books to children affected by this horrible storm. This sale will be going from September 4 through September 30. These books make great holiday gifts and with the ability to be shipped to your home will help you avoid the cost of gas to drive and pick up gifts at the store.

I will be researching the best organization to receive these books over the next couple weeks so that we know they will all be going to a good home. Please join me in this worthwhile mission of providing books to needy children.