Project Linus Quilts

As many of you know, I've used my quilting obsession to make and donate blankets to the local El Paso Project Linus chapter since arriving here almost a year and a half ago. All the handmade blankets collected by the charity each month are dispersed to El Paso's six neonatal units, six hospital children wings, the child rape trauma center, Child Protective Services, and several police stations. So far the local chapter has collected over 1000 blankets this year and the need is ever growing.

Thus far in 2010, I have donated 11 blankets myself AND have become more involved by assuming the role of Blanket Pick-Up Girl. My "job" is to collect any blankets dropped off at our four locations around town several times a month. I inspect and label the collection before dropping them off with our Delivery Lady, Sara. While some may complain about how far it is from one side of town to the other, I find it a great way to get to know the city AND I run other errands while I'm at it.

Due to the impending arrive of Baby Billy Bob, I have been trying to whittle down my fabric stash (Yikes! I'm slowly turning into my mother!!!) by increasing quilt production. I have worked hard and now have 10 quilts in reserve that I can use to donate for the rest of 2010 ... and part of 2011 ... or until I figure out how to get back to the sewing machine with a little one around.

Here are some photos of my latest creations:

Princesses w/ Sparkly Butterflies

A use for green and blue scraps

A use for pink and purple scraps

Cowboy Stars

Flannel Sharks (fabric donated by our good friend, Sue, during her move)

Fleece Rag quilt (fabric also donated by Sue)

Far Out!

More Sparkly Butterflies

Purple Obsession!

Now that my reserves are somewhat ready, I'm eager to move onto my Baby Sewing To-Do List. Check back soon for those completed projects!

Busy Bees!

We've been a couple of busy bees these last few weeks ... and thus haven't been able to post in a while. Here's a little update on what we've been up to:

Work has been keeping Cam VERY busy between different training courses, prepping ranges, making inventories, and all the usual paperwork that comes with being a platoon leader. After work, he's been diligently prepping and finishing painting our master bedroom and bath. Here's an "in-process" shot:
We'll post some "after" shots once all the clean-up and proper "pretty" staging is done!

While I don't have a job to keep me busy, I find my days filled with dog walking/entertaining, household chores, errands and various activities on Post that I'm involved in. Plus, I always have time to spare for a coffee get-together with girlfriends! I've also been working away at diminishing my fabric stash before Baby Billy Bob arrives. I know once he/she is here, I won't have time to do as much quilting, so in order to build up my Project Linus stash (so that I have things do donate after his/her entrance) AND clean out the craft closet, I'm sewing my fingers to the bone. I've managed to finish 3 quilts (the Mystery Quilt was started waaaay back in March) in the last 2 weeks and have another on the sewing machine awaiting binding.

A mystery quilt done with the Ft. Bliss Blissful Stitchers. It's a little "scrappy" for my taste, but hopefully some lil' kid will love it!

A panel that I just added the black and blue borders and a backing to. I also tried my hand at a little more free-motion quilting on this one.

A panel of four Suzy Zoo prints that I just added the red and yellow borders and a backing to. I quilted the inner and outer square of the red border and did a little more free-motion quilting over the Suzy design.

Athena's also been a busy little dog, trying to be underfoot no matter what we are doing. She's tolerating her mange treatment and the spot seems to be improving. We have to take her back to the vet in a week to get another skin scraping to test for mite production. Keep your fingers crossed that she gets a clean bill of health!

Sleeping in

Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon

This afternoon I was invited to the 11th ADA Brigade Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon. Cam had nominated me for an award (much to my chagrin) a few months ago and then forced me to add up all the hours I had spent on Project Linus activities. After trying to remember how many quilts I'd made, estimating the number of hours each took to make and adding in all the extra activities I do for the group (blanket pick-ups, kit cutting, sorting/inspecting/organizing), I came up with a grand total of 215 hours. A piddly amount compared to many of the other ladies in our Brigade, but I sucked it up and went to the luncheon anyway.

I joined about 150 other ladies from the Brigade in a yummy catered lunch (with a chocolate fountain and ice sculpture!) and in saluting several outstanding soldiers and wives in their volunteerism. We all received an awesome gift bag filled with all kinds of spa stuff, a certificate and a brigade pin as a "Thank You" from the Brigade. I even got a giant bear hug from the Brigade Commander! Thank goodness I wasn't his wife who received a big dip and huge smackaroo from him when her name was called!

I really enjoy what I do to help the local chapter of Project Linus and in turn, to help children of El Paso. I also like having an outlet for new quilts/blankets that I make so that I don't have to overwhelm my family and friends with them. So, while I don't do this for the recognition or for any kind of payment, the Luncheon was a fun way to be proud of my work. Thank you, Cam, for "forcing" me into this.

"Loot" from the Luncheon
(L to R) Flowers, Tote Bag w/ TONS of spa stuff, Brigade Pin, Certificate, and Fancy Pen Holder.

Close-Up of Certificate

Close-Up of Brigade Pin

Close-Up of Fancy Pen Holder.

More Craftiness

I've remained busy these last few weeks trying to finish up all the half-started projects that have been cluttering our office/craft room/soon-to-be guest room. I've promised myself that before I get to start on anything fun and/or new, I needed to get everything else waiting in the wings done.

First up, I finished a couple quilts that had the tops done, but needed sandwiched and quilted:


I then attempted to finish quilting and binding a super cute baby blanket for a friend. She was moving to Austin and unloaded a bunch of unfinished projects on several ladies in our sewing group before she left. My goal was to free-motion (AKA "meander") quilt. I had practiced the technique before, but it never turned out well. So, I decided just to suck it up and try it on a real project, hoping against hope that I wouldn't ruin her beautiful work.

Finally, one morning I was up WAAAAY before I should have been (I had even beaten Cam up for PT) and decided that I needed some new jewelry to wear to that afternoon's Officer Spouses Association monthly luncheon. I had beads sitting in the craft closet, bought ... of course ... when they were on sale MONTHS ago. I fashioned a cute little pair of earrings, a necklace and two bracelets out of my stash.
I still have a few more projects to work on, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel. Plus, I have some ACU tops purchased at the Thrift Shop staring, taunting me to finish so that I can cut them to shreds and make a cute "Army Brat" diaper bag!

Sewing My Heart Out

While Cam was busy painting to his hearts content (...and then some!), I was tucked up in the Office/Craft/Guest Room sewing my little heart out. I've had several UFOs (Unfinished Objects) sitting around for months and decided I need to clear off my sewing table in order to get a birthday present done for my mother-in-law.

First up, a rescued quilt from the March Project Linus meeting. I've been helping sort and bag the donated quilts each month with a bunch of other ladies, all of whom only knit or crochet. We ran across one quilt that was poorly binded and it was sent home with me to be fixed. Once I had the binding off, I discovered that the whole thing was a mess. The top was not square, the backing was too small for the top and the binding was a disaster! Needless to say, I spent a few hours trimming the top, quilting the top to new backing material and then binding it with new binding material. I was so disgusted by the end of it, I didn't bother taking a picture.

But ... after all that ... it whetted my appetite for more quilt-sewing. I finished up a Heart Quilt that I started in January and intended to complete in time for the February Project Linus meeting. I also finished a not-so-"quick" strip quilt pattern that I had picked up fabric for and had cut out months ago.


After all those were complete, I started in on an apron and potholders for Dianne's birthday present. While there were some minor complications with the potholder manufacturing (i.e. I made them WAAAAAAY too big on the first go-around!), 1) I managed to finish in time for the mail, 2) they turned out super cute, I and 3) I think my mother-in-law liked them.


So, I'm onto more UFOs, but at least the pile is a little smaller now!

The Latest Craft Projects

Amidst all the attention to the puppy, Kristy has found time to be very active in the local Project Linus chapter in El Paso.

Starting in January, I became the official Pick-up Girl for our chapter. My job is to go to the 5 different drop-off locations around the city to collect any blankets donated before the monthly meetings. So far, it hasn't been too big of a job, despite one Saturday having to retrieve 100+ blankets from a local quilting shop!

I've also been involved in making additional kits for the meetings. One of my friends volunteered to be responsible for the donated fabric and kit making. A few times a month, she has invited a few ladies over to sort, match-up and cut out fabric for our various kit patterns. It has been fun to socialize as we decide what looks good with what and to trade cutting techniques and tips.

My final act of volunteerism has been helping to label, sort and bag all of the blankets we collect from the drop-off locations and at the meeting. At February's meeting, we collected over 300 blankets, which meant 5 ladies (myself included) spent an entire Saturday afternoon/evening prepping them all for delivery to the local hospitals' ERs and NICUs, the Child Crises Center, the Homeless shelter and police stations.

When I finally found time to sew this past month, I made 4 quilt squares from two Project Linus kits that, with the others donated, will be turned into several group quilts made by our chapter. I completed another kit quilt as well as two flannel blankets that were shipped off for the Haiti disaster relief.

Pink and Blue Quilt Squares

Scrap Quilt from a Project Linus kit

Pink Soccer Balls for Haiti

Blue Alligators for Haiti

I'm hoping to get at least two more quilts completely done for March's meeting. I have them cut out and one top is almost sewed together... If I really push myself in the next week, I might also get motivated enough to finish quilting and binding two more tops that have been done for a while and sitting, gathering dust! Wish me luck!