Quilts for Those in Need of Comfort

The last ten days have been brutal for the state of Texas and the City of Boston. When these horrible things happen I know as a quilter I always wonder what I can do to help. One of the things I love about this addictive hobby of mine is that quilts are so comforting. Quilts help cure the most simple to the most complicated of ills. While it is a small gesture, it is amazing what a quilt and the love that is sewn into it can do!

The Boston Modern Quilt Guild is collecting 12.5 inch tall by width of your choice blocks in blue, yellow, gray and white to make quilts for those in need of support after the bombings at the Boston Marathon. They also need donations of fabric for sashing, binding and quilt backs. More information can be found here. There is also a Flickr group to upload pictures of your blocks once you are finished. If you can, I think this would be a great way to help the Boston area start the healing process!

Judy who writes over at Patchwork Times is collecting quilts for the people of West Texas who are in need of comfort after the fertilizer plant explosion and fires. She is collecting completed quilts of any size or if you have completed tops and she has time, she can quilt a limited number. You can find more information about this quilt drive here. I'm sure some of you have quilts that are either finished or nearly finished that you don't have plans definite plans for that could provide comfort to those in Texas.

I hope you can find some time this week to sew for people who I'm sure would love to know that they thought about and loved. Spread the word to your friends, co-workers, church members or blog readers.

Tonight after the kids are in bed, I think I'll pull some fabric to make this block for the Boston Modern Quilt Guild. I collect the charity quilts for my quilt guild, Burke Quilter's Unlimited in Burke, VA and one of the very nice members gave me a quilt last week and I will send it off to Judy this week for the people of Texas.

WIP Wednesday

I've been busy, busy, busy sewing lately! Unfortunately I don't have much to show for it, but I've been making good progress.

This one just needs the binding sewn to the back and it's finished. My plan is to wear my children out this morning and then work on it this afternoon after they've crashed. I really want to take it to my Guild meeting tonight for Show and Tell. I just love this quilt so much! I can't wait to show it to you once I'm finished!

I really need to add the borders to this one, but I just haven't found the time or space.

 I think I will work on it Saturday with my Quilts of Valor sewing group. There is always lots of space there. Not to mention I get to sew without my children around. That always helps my sewing progress!

Remember this?

 I just need to do one more row and then I'll have a completed top. I really want to finish this in time for Mother's Day this year. I think I said that last year too, but this needs to be the year. My aunt deserves her quilt! I love Nicey Jane! It's a good thing I love her otherwise I don't know if I could give this one away...

I have finished two Quilts of Valor Anniversary blocks. If you would like to make a block (or two) to help celebrate please see this post. They are really easy to make and good for using up scraps of red, white and blue fabric!

Last, but certainly not least Hurst's stocking. I'm making good progress on this one! I think I can, I think I can finish this by Christmas. I so wanted to finish Santa's head, but he really wanted me to make the train. Needless to say, he won. I think it's looking pretty good!

I'm really hoping to keep up the momentum this week. A couple of these quilts have been in progress for a long, long time and it will be nice to finish them. My one big goal this year was to finish most of my WIPs. I have way too many and it will be such a relief. I hope this year will cure my bad case of "startitis". I have such lovely projects in the works. I really hate that I lose interest in them so easily.

I joining in today at Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday. Won't you join me?

Blogger's Quilt Festival

I'm so excited this year about the Blogger's Quilt Festival! I love to look at all of the quilts every year, but this year is special for me because I think I'm finally going to be able to participate. I can't wait!

What about you? Are you a Quilt Festival pro or have you just been admiring the quilts every year like me?

Start thinking about what you might want to share with everyone and mark your calendars! The Festival starts on May 17th and lasts until May 31st. See Amy's blog post for more details.