Sixty-Seven Quilts Delivered!

Wow!  The Quiltsy Team really came through with SIXTY SEVEN donated handmade quilts for the victims of the Tennessee fire.  Forty-three people signed up to send a quilt (or more) and the final count truly eclipsed all expectations. There are baby quilts, lap quilts and full sized quilts ... there are bright quilts and some in subdued colours ... some quilts are fuzzy flannel and others are smooth cotton ... and they all come with a warm hug from the person who made it.

The Quiltsy Team is a group of quilters who sell their handmade quilts on Etsy.com and when one of our team members alerted us to the plight of the victims of a forest fire in Tennessee, many wanted to send comfort to them.

The sixty-seven quilts filled the backseat of Jennifer and Lynn's car for delivery on Friday.
They were delivered to a distribution centre that has been set up for the fire victims.




Jennifer tells us that the people there were so excited to receive the quilts and that the manager and helpers came out with shopping carts to help unload the quilts. They began sorting them as soon as they got them into the building.

The quilts will be distributed to those still recovering from losing their homes and belongings in the fire that swept down on the town of Gaitlinburg, Tennessee just over two months ago.  The volunteers at the centre told Jennifer that the quilts will all be distributed within a day or two.  There were people there receiving assistance at the time of the drop off and it seemed to be a very well run centre with cheerful volunteers helping people. 

Thank you so much to all of those who donated quilts to help these people.  They are truly grateful and wanted us to pass along those thanks to you. Special thanks to Susi for making the hang tags for all the quilts and to Jennifer's husband, Lynn, who contributed so much time and energy to help accomplish this.

Now look at all those boxes and bags to go to recycling  . . .

Piling Up Quilts for Tennessee

The Quiltsy Team has started shipping handmade quilts to Tennessee.  These quilts are headed to Jennifer, one of our team members who lives in the area (etsy.com/ca/shop/atthebrightspot) . Jennifer and her husband have offered to receive the quilts and then get them to the victims of the devastating forest fire that roared into Gaitlinburg on the night of November 28, 2016, as winds hit 80 mph

We know that receiving the gift of a cuddly quilt can mean a lot to people who have lost everything and we hope that the recipients will feel the warm hug that comes from those who made the quilts.  Some of the quilts are just the right size for babies and others are designed for teens and adults ... all made with love.

Quilts for Tennessee

WOW ... I can't wait to share the news of how many quilts the Quiltsy Team has earmarked for the folks in Tennessee ... As of December 15th, there are more than FORTY quilts promised!  What an awesome outpouring of compassion from so many quilters.

Quiltsy Team Comforts Tennessee

The Quiltsy Team closely followed the recent devastating wildfire in Tennessee, getting first-hand reports from our team member, Jennifer, who lives in nearby Knoxville.  Concern for those who have lost their homes and all their belongings circulated among team members and a desire to help with comfort quilts became a focus of conversation.

A decision was reached to help provide quilts to the victims as soon as our quilting fabric and needles could do the job.  It is a busy time of year but already there are more than fifteen teamies signed up to contribute a finished quilt ... or to quilt and finish pieced tops made by others.

In spite of the busy holiday season ... quilts are being finished and readied for shipment to Tennessee from all over the United States and Canada.

Quiltsy Cares!  We will show some in-progress photos of the quilts and their destination over the coming weeks.

Quiltsy Cares - Gina Massop of Gina Marie Crafts

Quiltsy Team member, Gina Massop, has donated these delightful crib quilt and puppy rag quilts to CADA (Committee Against Domestic Abuse) House in Mankato MN. 

This charity is special to Gina because of the many families affected by domestic violence. Many of the victims of domestic violence are blamed and shamed in to believing they are somehow responsible for their abusers behavior. CADA offers safety, advocacy, and empowerment to those affected by domestic violence and provides education to victims and our communities to work towards changing attitudes and behaviors that perpetuate violence.

Gina hopes that these quilts will give the children affected by the instability and insecurity of a violent home, a warm, snuggly, secure feeling ... and a quilt to call their own.

Gina lives in Minnesota Lake, MN on a country acreage with her husband Tom. They have four grown children living in several states. Gina has been quilting for twenty years and has been a member of the Quiltsy Team for four of the five years she has had a shop on Etsy. Her Etsy shop is called Gina Marie Crafts. She make bibs, burp cloths, table runners, ornaments, and lip balm holders; but her favorite things to make are quilts. 

 Written by Quiltsy Team member, Kathy Kinsella of kathykinsella.etsy.com

Quiltsy Cares .... Karen Relfe of Make Mine Patchwork

Today the Quiltsy Team is recognizing the donation of Karen Relfe , of Birmingham, AL. Karen's mother began teaching her to sew when she was old enough to thread a needle and she has never stopped.This beautiful baby quilt is one of those that she donated to charity this year.

Karen has donated several items including her baby quilts, Christmas stockings, zipper pouch and soft toys to One21, a Christian ministry whose primary purpose is to take the story of Jesus Christ to young people struggling to find peace in the world. They do this by partnering with another organization, Back2Back, helping young people in Mexico, Haiti and India. Karen's daughter and son-in-law have traveled with One21 to Mexico twice to help set up and teach at camps for students.

Karen has been quilting for about fifteen years and she simply can't stop designing and making all things quilted. Karen has had her Etsy shop, Make Mine Patchwork, for about four years and has been a member of the Quiltsy Team for about two years. She loves to make anything that can remotely be called a quilt, from patchwork burp cloths and bibs to quilted purses and makeup bags to full size bed quilts. She enjoys designing things that are unique and beautiful but still serve a practical function. Karen especially enjoys working with people to create a one-of-a-kind gift for someone they love that holds a special meaning for them.

Karen has received so much joy over the years from her craft, she decided it was time to pay it forward and bless others with her gift so she began donating to charitable groups such as Project Linus, the Million Pillow Case Challenge and The Sleeping Bag Project. It is especially meaningful to be able to donate to a group like One21 that has touched her family personally.

This blog post was written by Quiltsy Team member Kathy Kinsella of kathykinsella.etsy.com

Quiltsy Cares-Judith Messenger March 15

Today's Quiltsy cares donator is Judith Messenger from  FabriArts. She donated a soft, flannel rag quilt to Project Linus, Canada. http://projectlinuscanada.org/ Project Linus provides love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized or otherwise in need of a hug, through the gifts of new, handmade, washable blankets, quilts and afghans, lovingly crafted by volunteer "Blanketeers".

When she first started making quilts, her family loved the cuddliness of flannel rag quilts.  She enjoyed making them and soon after came across information about Project Linus. She used to haunt the remnant bins at the local fabric store for pieces of flannel to have on hand to make quilts for the kids who need a special hug.  She have since "graduated" to more traditionally made quilts, but still tries to make a few rag quilts each year to use up her stash of flannel fabric! While she was sorting through the fabric for this Project Linus quilt, she also found enough smaller pieces to make a smaller rag quilt for the charity initiative of one of the quilt guilds she belong to - collecting layette items for single mothers.

Judith lives in Toronto, Ontario Canada for most of the year, but she lucky enough to spend much of the summer and autumn months at her cottage on Lake Muskoka, in Ontario's cottage country. Of course she moves her quilting studio with her! Judith is an active member of two local quilt guilds and help with the organization of the guild quilt show and Quilts at the Creek, a summer outdoor quilt show.  

Judith's Etsy shop, FabriArts, was opened in late 2012 She joined the Quiltsy Team in 2013.  According to Judith"I have found a wonderful group of friends that are always ready to support each other, and their communities both personally and professionally".

Judith enjoys making baby quilts - with bright colors and fun prints. She also enjoys hand stitching and embroidery, so her crazy-quilt greeting cards and postcards allow her to use luscious threads and fibers on small projects.

ETSY Store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FabriArts

Blog:  https://jmstitching.wordpress.com/

Website:  http://www.fabriarts.com/

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/jimmuskoka/

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/fabriarts/

Written by Pat Young of PatsPassionQuilteds, Quiltsy Team member since May 2011.

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Quiltsy Cares - Kelly Wilbur of SewEverAfter

Our featured Quiltsy Team member today is Kelly Wilbur, whose Etsy shop, Sew Ever After showcases patchwork quilts of all sizes. Take a good look at the beautiful quilting on this modern quilt.

Kelly's charity donation has been to the Skagit Rape Relief Crisis Centre, through the Fidalgo IslandQuilters in Washington State. This quilt guild provides enough donation quilts to this worthy cause so that every child who uses their services gets a quilt of their own to keep. Kids coming to the center are experiencing enough negativity in their young lives, they want each child to know there are adults who care about them. A quilt provides a tangible way of wrapping our arms around them in a hug of love and compassion.

Kelly received her first sewing machine for Christmas when she was 9 years old and she has enjoyed a love affair with sewing ever since. She feels fortunate that she gets to indulge her fabric addiction by working at an independent fabric shop that is filled to the brim with inspiring goods. She made lots of her own clothes for years until she discovered quilting. Now quilts take up most of her machine time but she loves handwork as well. Wool applique', embroidery, & cross stitching keep me busy.

Written by Kathy Kinsella of KathyKinsella.etsy.com who is an art quilter selling one of a kind purses, cuffs, art quilts and eco print fibre art.

Quiltsy Cares: Featuring Gail Straka of QuiltSewPieceful

Our featured quilter today is Quiltsy Team member, Gail Straka. Gail's charity is Arizona Blankets for Kids. AZ Blankets 4 Kids is an all-volunteer non-profit organization serving children in need in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Their goal is to provide comforting blankets and quilts to seriously ill and traumatized children in the local community.

When I asked Gail why this charity was special to her, she replied "I love this charity because the donations stay in Arizona. I have given to AZ Blankets 4 Kids before, donating both fabrics and quilts and wanted to take this opportunity to be more supportive of this local charity for children."

This year Gail has chosen to donate three baby quilts and one lap quilt pictured at left and again below.

In the picture below you see Cheryl from Arizona Blankets receiving the quilts from Gail. That's Gail on the left. This photo was taken inside the Quilter's Ranch in Tempe, Arizona.

Gail said "This is the shop where I learned to quilt in the early 90's.  Later I taught there, and eventually managed the shop for about 6 years."

   

Gail lives in Gilbert, Arizona and has been quilting for almost 25 years, starting in the Fall of 1991. She has been a member of Quiltsy Team for 5 years.

Her favorite thing to make for her Etsy shop is Christmas tree skirts, but she loves making items for any holiday.

You can find Gail Here;

http://www.quiltsewpieceful.etsy.com/

http://www.quiltsewcover.etsy.com/

http://www.QuiltSewLace.Etsy.com/

Quiltsy and Forbes Magazine

You might never think of our little team of Quiltsy being included in an article in Forbes Magazine, but that is just what happened a week ago! Forbes Magazine ran an article about Etsy celebrating their 10 year anniversary. The article was about the ten most notable successes. The #2 success was about the connections withing Etsy-aka teams. Within this paragraph the Quitsy Team is highlighted about the Quiltsy Cares Promotion we had in March where we did 31 days of donating quilts to various charities and organizations. This was a great recognition for the Quiltsy Team, and showed how caring and team work could make a difference. And how a group of people who have never met and live all over the world can come together to make something wonderful happen.

If you would like to see this article:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/nicoleleinbachreyhle/2015/06/18/etsy-celebrates-10-years-today-discover-their-10-most-notable-moments/

Written by Pat Young of PatsPassionQuilteds, Quiltsy Team member since May 2011.

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Quiltsy Team recognized in the Etsy Newsletter

A few days ago the Quiltsy Team was delighted to read this wonderful report on the team in the Etsy Community News: May 2015 .

Etsy shop owners know they can do more good when they work together. The Quiltsy Etsy Team put this idea into practice in March when they organised a team promotion to benefit their favourite charities. Founded in 2007, the Quiltsy Team is a group of active of Etsy quilters who use their team as a virtual meeting place where they offer each other support, swap tips and advice, and grow as a quilting community. They’re also responsible for one of the most recognisable features of Etsy’s Brooklyn office: quilted banners that spell Etsy.com.

In celebration of Worldwide Quilting Day on the 21st of March, the team organised a month of charitable quilting called Quiltsy Cares. Each day in March, members of the team donated quilts or knit items to a charity they support. In total, 24 different charities received donations, including Quilts of Valor, which gives quilts to US service members and veterans, and Project Linus, which donates handmade blankets to children in need. The quilters’ stories and their chosen charities were featured in posts on the Team’s blog. “When you wrap up in a handmade quilt, you definitely feel loved,” says Team Captain Pamela Boatright. “Quiltsy Cares allowed many of us to donate to and spotlight a charity that’s important to us, so it was very gratifying. We all really love being able to help and comfort others by giving.”

Thanks to Kimm Alfonso, author of the above post, for mentioning our Team in such a great newsletter.

Quiltsy Cares' Lauren Krueger

Our final Quiltsy Cares' star is Lauren Krueger of Cactus Penguin, whose dedication had her up to 4:00 in the morning finishing her charity quilt. Lauren is donating her quilt to Queen Creek Fire Dept..In her own words, Lauren explains why this Charity is so important to her- "A few years ago, I witnessed a fatal car accident. After the mother was taken away, the emergency personnel had only plastic ground sheets to wrap around & cuddle the kids. I have donated other quilts to fire departments so that they have something more comforting for family members. That's why I made a flannel youth quilt--something to comfort a baby or small child that they can hang on to.


Lauren started her Etsy shop two years ago. Her Shop, CactusPenguin, represents living in the cold Midwest (Illinois & Wisconsin) for the first 35 years of her life, then moving to cactus country. She kids that when she can stop sewing long enough, she plans to change the banner in her shop to a picture of a cactus with snow in it! Lauren currently lives in Sun Lakes, Arizona, where she will never have to shovel snow again.

Lauren has been quilting for 15 years, but has been sewing since she was 6 years old. She made her clothes in high school and college, including her prom dress and first wedding dress. But to her, quilting is so much more fun and creative.

Lauren joined the Quiltsy team 16 months ago through Gail of QuiltSewPieceful, who is still taking Lauren's pictures, helps and inspires her in her quilting everyday.

Lauren's favorite things to sew are anything patriotic and anything Christmas. Her newest creation for her shop are candle mats for every holiday and season. She is making them for a friend's centerpieces at his wedding, and she just kept creating more

for every holiday and season!

Lauren works a full-time job that she enjoys, except it takes her away from her quilt studio! She has also refereed soccer for the last 21 years. Best times for her are working on a quilt while watching soccer on TV. Go Chelsea & Galaxy! Good luck USA Women at World Cup in Canada this summer!

You can look for Lauren here also:

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https://twitter.com/CactusPeng

Written by Pat Young of PatsPassionQuilteds, Quiltsy Team member since May 2011.

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Quiltsy Cares ... Catherine Butt

On this beautiful Monday morning, I would like to introduce you to Quiltsy Team member Catherine Butt. The name of Catherine's Etsy shop honours her dad who passed when he was only 52.

The charity that Catherine is supporting this month is Project Linus as it is one of the few charities she has found in Columbus, Ohio, her home town, that accepts donations for babies/children/teens. Since she doesn't make the larger quilts, this lends itself well to the size she make and gives her a good feeling that she is helping these children with a craft that she is passionate about.

Catherine is donating a girl’s baby or toddler quilt this time. Her last donation to Project Linus was for a boy. She enjoyed working with the pink fabrics, and the delightful appliqued birds add such a touch of whimsy.

A detail photo of the birds is seen below.

Catherine has had her Etsy shop since September 2007.  It has been a wonderful place to sell her quilts that are mostly art quilts. Having been a professional artist for over 25 years, she suddenly developed a passion for quilting after seeing an art quilt in a quilt show and buying it! Ever since she has had a passion for fabric and art and she taught herself how to machine quilt and appliqué by trial and error. She first started selling wall hangings to fellow employees and three years later found Etsy.

Catherine is one of the original members of the wonderful Quiltsy Team.

Art quilts are her passion, where she doesn't even start with an idea. She says she just starts pulling out fabrics that go well together and then starst sewing and cutting and piecing. It’s so much fun to see what the end result is.

Catherine has two wonderful grown children in their twenties and a generous supportive husband who loves to race cars. Her son follows in his dad’s footsteps and her daughter loves animals like she does, so their home is full of car talk and animals. She is the grandmother of three dogs so far that we babysit quite often. She still also loves to do her artwork that was her very first true love ... watercolors and colored pencils are her favorite mediums.

You can find Catherine online at:

Etsy

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Written by fibre artist Kathy Kinsella, a Quiltsy team member since 2010.
Kathy's Etsy shop 

Kathy Kinsella on Facebook

Kathy's Fibre Art Blog

Quiltsy Cares interview with Sally Manke

Today's featured quilter is Sally Manke, Fiber Artist.  Her charity is the Elizabeth C. Hosick Dialysis Center in Paul Oliver Hospital.  Each year she participates in the donation quilt project sponsored by the local Ben Franklin Fabric Department. They choose a different local organization each March and this was the charity they chose for this year.  Sally dontaed two lap quilts sized to keep dialysis patients warm as they receive treatment. 

 Colorful flannel scrap quilt backed with minkey

Sally is a retired home economics and art educator who says, "I am doing what I love and loving what I do!"  Sally lives on the beautiful western shore of Lake Michigan in Lower Michigan

Whole Cloth Quilt with delicate feminine long arm quilting

She has been sewing and quilting since before she could reach the foot peddle on her great Aunt Han’s Featherweight. The foot control sat in her lap so she could make the machine go!  

Donating the quilts at the local Ben Franklin Fabric Department. Sally on right with fabric department employee on left.

She has been a member of the quiltsy teem since February, 2011.

Her favorite things to make in her shop are Art Quilts and Rope Coiled Clothesline Baskets.

Social Media Links:
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As Captain of the Quiltsy team on Etsy it is my pleasure to occasionally feature one of my team-mates.  This post is part of a series on what the Quiltsy team members do for charities they care about! This is a lovely group of talented quilters who make a variety of quality quilted and sewn items for sale. I have sold my own quilts in my shop, Pamelaquilts, for almost 9 years now and enjoy quilting and pattern designing. I have been sewing all my life, thanks to my mom, and fell in love with the art of quilting over 25 years ago. I have worked hard at learning the art of quilting and have mastered many techniques, from the time honored skill of fine hand quilting to the modern methods using quick piecing and machine quilting.

Quiltsy Cares: Featuring Stephanie Hateley of StephsQuilts

Stephanie's charity is Elim Kids. Stephanie's friends,  Sam and Julie, both doctors, started this organisation.  I asked Stephanie what makes this charity special to her. She answered, "Sam and Julie spent a few years in China setting it up, training and educating the Chinese doctors, government agencies, and orphanages about HIV. They adopted one of the Chinese HIV orphans, Maggie, into their family where they already have two sons.  Maggie is adorable and so healthy now. They are a wonderful family who act out the Christian faith in amazing ways. Sam and Julie started a foster home in China to house some of the orphans with HIV that they managed to get permission to remove from orphanages. At the moment there are 6 children in the home being cared for by wonderful Chinese Christian women, who are often ostracised for their work due to the fear of Aids and HIV."

Stephanie is donating a quilt for each of the orphans in that home and when they are adopted they can take their special quilt with them. Quite a few have already been adopted, some to the USA, some to Australia.

Pictured at right is David, a young boy who has just been fostered and will leave the hospital soon. Sadly, David may lose both of his feet due to gangrene brought on by no heating in the hospital. David will receive the blue patchwork quilt pictured below.

So far Stephanie has made a quilt for the baby (not pictured here)  and two girls, seen in the picture below, sleeping with their quilts. One of them has her quilt folded up under her head. Apparently they thought the quilts were too grand for the bed and walked around the apartment all day with their quilts draped around them when they first received them. Stephanie has two more boy quilts to go.            

Stephanie has been quilting for over 3 years and really enjoys making baby quilts and table runners. She lives in Anna Bay, a part of Australia called Port Stephens in New South Wales about a 2 ½ hour drive north of Sydney on the coast.

An accomplished quilter, Stephanie has been invited to have her quilt, Butterfly Garden, appear in the Australian Magazine, Homemade, later in the year, quite an honour!



Social Media Links:
Elim Kids

You can find Stephanie here:
Etsy
Facebook
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Steph's Blog

Meet Holly Yingling of Holly's Hutch!

Holly Yingling of Holly's Hutch in Mt. Vernon, Indiana is donating this Americana quilt to the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Chillicothe, Ohio.

Here's Holly's story:

My family has been very active in the Military, my husband served in Vietnam, 2 sons have served in Iraq, one of those same sons has also been to Afghanistan, and a third son serves in a Reserve unit in Indiana. By the grace of God, all came home physically unharmed. Soldiers and their families need to know that their sacrifices are appreciated and these men and women are all heroes. This is just a small way I can let them know that they are not forgotten.

I pieced and quilted the Americana throw for a wounded soldier. I very rarely do bright colors, so didn't think I should change now. I have been quilting for over 30 years and I am a co-owner of the Quilter's Nest quilt shop. My quilted samples were piling up and I needed something to do with them, thus I opened Holly's Hutch on Etsy in 2012. 

I joined the Quiltsy Team about 6 months after I opened my shop, and have enjoyed many new friendships. This team is the best, supportive when you need, always cheering for each other, giving advice when asked, and just listening when you need to rant. I am very thankful and honored that I was invited to join. The talent on this team is unbelievable and I am still in awe of my team mates.

My favorite part of quilting is piecing, the smaller the pieces the better. I would like to improve my machine quilting skills. I have a long arm quilting machine, but I don't get to spend a lot of time on it. Someday when I retire from my brick and mortar shop, I will devote more time to improving my skills. 

I live in southern Indiana with my husband of 38 years who has just retired and is my biggest fan. We have 4 sons who are all happily married, and we are expecting our 14th grandchild in July.

Thanks for sharing your story, Holly!

Holly's quilt shop is the Quilter's Nest in Evansville, Indiana. She owns it with her best friend Mary. They offer classes and give lots of personal attention. Holly says their customers are like family.

Mary Brass (left), and Holly Yingling (right).

Visit Holly on Facebook and Pinterest.

Applique Stars and Flowers Quilt by Holly Yingling. See it on Etsy here.

This post was contributed by Quiltsy member Karen Griska of Karen Griska Quilts. 

Quiltsy Cares ... Treese Pflum

Today, in our month-long Quiltsy Cares campaign, it is my pleasure to introduce you to Quiltsy Team member Treese Pflum who is from the Palm Springs desert area of California. Treese creates charity quilts for the Coachella Valley Quilt Guild where she is an active member. 

Asked why this charity is special to her, she replies “I believe in giving back to the community and as a quilter and guild member, I have found a perfect way to clean out my stash and make others happy too! The guild donated 311 quilts last year, and I am happy to say several of those quilts were mine.” The current quilt that she is working on is a lap quilt made of fabrics from other projects. It has a mix of colors and patterns, suitable for any age. I use 100% cotton fabrics, Heirloom batting, and will do free motion quilting with my longarm machine.

Treese lives in Cathedral City, California (about 100 miles east of Los Angeles). It gets very hot in the desert climate of Coachella Valley so she gets a lot of work done between dips in the pool. In the summer she starts early in the morning to beat the heat, which has been known to hit 120-127 degrees at times.

Asked how long she has been quilting, Treese responds, “I made my first quilt in 1978, without a clue about how to create a quilt. Since that time, I made quilts whenever I had a spare moment, mostly weekends. In 2005, I bought my first longarm machine and by 2012 I had quit my day job to quilt full time. I now run a professional longarm quilting business, and do custom quilting and sewing for others, and myself when I have time.”

Treese has been a member of the Quiltsy Team since 2012. She loves making quilts but her favourite thing to make are the quilted cards that she sells in her Etsy shop Quiltnutz. They are playtime for her; she gets to drag all her bits and pieces out and let her imagination fly. Her mom is her shop helper and another quilter, so she is very involved in the design and construction of the cards. Its very collaborative, and a lot of fun. They make a big mess, drink a little wine, and laugh a lot on the card making weekends.  I love the wonky log cabin blocks that Treese used to make this quilt and I'm sure that it will be precious to the recipient.

Social Media Links
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Etsy shop

Written by fibre artist Kathy Kinsella, a Quiltsy team member since 2010.
Kathy's Etsy shop 

Kathy Kinsella on Facebook

Kathy's Fibre Art Blog

"Quiltsy Cares" Charity Quilts: 3-22-15

Good Sunday Morning!  Today's Quiltsy Team Blog features the charity donations of Cheryl and Cindy of Twin Sis Creations Etsy shop.  Cheryl and Cindy live far apart - Cindy is in Sibley, MO and Cheryl is in Austin, TX - but still manage to work together to make beautiful quilts and other creations for their shop. 

Their supported charities are the Pajama Program, which provides new pajamas and new books to children in need on a nationwide basis, and has a local Austin chapter, and Safe Place in Austin, Texas, whose mission is to provide a place for ending sexual and domestic violence through safety, healing, prevention and social change.  Here are some of the donated pajamas:

The Pajama Program charity is important to them because Cheryl was a Kindergarten teacher and has always had some type of job or volunteer position that benefitted or helped children. 
She believes that every child should be able to snuggle in their own pajamas and curl up with a good book to read at the end of the day, and to feel loved.  Most people readily donate baby or young children pajamas, but Cheryl thought it would be important to donate/sew pajama pants for the older tweens and teens who also are in shelters with little or no belongings.  To take it one step further, Cheryl also thought it would be good to encourage other tweens and teens to learn how to sew pajama pants and to donate them to the shelters, so she started free classes to help kids learn how to sew and donate to these two charities.

Although Cindy and Cheryl live in separate states, they are able to showcase their creative talents in one Etsy shop.  Cindy is an artist and Cheryl is the seamstress and quilter.  Cheryl has been sewing since she was five years old and hasn't stopped since.  She started quilting after taking some quilting classes while in college, and has now been quilting for over 35 years.  Cheryl has also been teaching sewing/quilting for over 10 years.  Cheryl enjoys sewing anything from quilts and table runners, to pillow cases, bags and toys.  After participating in the February Quiltsy Mug-Rug swap, and having alot of fun with it, she may start adding them to her shop!  Although Cheryl and Cindy have different creative outlets, they each create with love and joy - and they learned that from their mom!

Here are a couple here are a couple beauties from Cheryl and Cindy's shop:

 

Cheers! - - Jennifer

My mother and I make up the Olive Street Studio design and sewing team.  I cannot remember my mom NOT sewing or quilting.  Since 2003, we've made chenille and cotton baby quilts, baby gift sets, little girls dresses and skirts.  In 2013, we expanded into Home Decor quilts and after getting requests for even bigger quilts, we're working on larger quilts too.  Then, with extra time, because we all have extra time, ha ha, we also make reversible tote bags, smaller handbags, and zipper pouches.  I joined the Quiltsy Team on Etsy in 2010.  

Etsy Shop: Olive Street Studio
Website: Olive Street Studio
Blog: Olive Street Studio on Blogger

"Quiltsy Cares" featuring Christine Vinh of StitchesnQuilts

Items donated at a previous prayer shawl session.

Today we are featuring Quiltsy Member, Christine Vinh of StitchesnQuilts with her charity,  Prayer Shawls 
at Washington Cancer Institute,
MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

I asked why this charity is special to her. Christine replied, "When I retired from this hospital after 35 years, I was looking for volunteer work. When I couldn't find something that "called to me", I decided to start the shawl ministry at the Cancer Institute. I had previously partnered with them on a quilt project, "Common Threads: Healing Hands and Hearts:, where we helped cancer survivors make quilt squares representing the hands and hearts of the people who helped them through their cancer experience. The squares were then made into banners that hang from the atrium in the lobby. We also worked with the staff to provide quilts in waiting rooms and exam rooms to create a healing environment. The shawls, lap afghans and quilts are made by volunteers, patients, and staff and are made available to new patients as they begin treatment.

My donation will be a lap quilt, using African Fabrics from French Connections NC (Etsy shop) as many of the patients at the center are African American." The photo below shows the quilt as a "work in progress" (WIP in quilter's language).

Christine lives in Arlington, VA  and has been quilting for 35 years. Having had a left brain job in hospital administration for many years, she is now able to utilize her right brain to express her love of fiber, color and texture.







As a quilter and who enjoys other forms of needlework as well, Christine says, "I work mostly in small quilts and mixed media, along with hand knitted scarves and hand bags. I love working with     a skein of handspun art yarn, but am also having lots of fun now making 12 inch square art quilts."

Social Media Links:

Charity- Washington Cancer Institute

    Find Christine on:

    Etsy

    Facebook

    Pinterest

This post was written  by Barbara Wood of DownHome Designs, a Quiltsy member since 2008.

Lindsay McKinley of Lulu Belle Quilts Has a Heart for Animals

Quiltsy Team member Lindsay McKinley of Lulu Belle Quilts has a heart for animals in need. Her favorite charity is the Charleston Animal Society. Here's my interview with Lindsay:

Why is the Charleston Animal Society special to you? 

As far back as I can remember I have always felt a special bond with animals of all kinds. I have been bringing home unwanted and abandoned animals since I was a child. Helping a sick pet heal or finding an unwanted animal a loving home is such a wonderful thing to be a part of. The Charleston Animal Shelter recently launched No Kill 2015 which is an amazing program and such a great way to educate the community while saving the lives and offering a second chance at happiness for so many unwanted pets. 

What do you donate to the Shelter? 

Making Crown Royal Quilts is a pretty scrap intensive process. The majority of the bag ends up in my scrap pile, and like most quilters, I never want to throw anything away. My Aunt Nean suggested that we could use the crown royal scraps to stuff dog beds for local shelters. For about 2 years my Aunt and her quilter friends have been using my crown royal scraps (a car full at the time) to make dog beds for local shelters. She said that the Charleston shelters were particularly appreciative of the beds and I started making them for shelters as well. I also want to give a shout out to Donna from DWJ Quilts, a fellow Etsy team member who donated leftover fleece from a recent project to me for the dogbeds. Quiltsies helping Quiltsies is just another reason I love being a part of this team.

Tell us about yourself and Lulu Belle Quilts. 

My shop, Lulu Belle Quilts is named after my sweet bulldog Tallulah Belle. I make all sorts of quilted items but my Crown Royal quilts and coasters are by far my most popular items. When I am not sewing I am tending to my farm. We grow the majority of the food we eat and we have chickens, ducks, rabbits, a mini cow, pot belly pigs, a dog and 5 kitties. We are one big happy crazy family. I recently got married in Oct 2014 and I love our life!

Where do you live? 

I live on Wadmalaw Island right outside of Charleston, SC. 

How long have you been quilting? 

I made my first quilt almost a decade ago!

How long have you been a member of Quiltsy Team?

 I joined Quiltsy about a year and a half ago and just this last week I was promoted to leader. I am so honored to be a part of such a great team!

What is your favorite thing to make in your Etsy Shop? 

As much as they are a labor of love I actually love making my Crown Royal Quilts. They always come with an interesting story as to why the customer wants one and they seem to really mean alot to the recipients and the customers I make them for. 

"Where do you get all your crown royal bags from?" 

EVERYWHERE! Friends save them for me. Customers send them in. Bars and liquor stores save them for me, I buy them online, neighbors put them in my mailbox. My mom's next door neighbors save them for me and people stop by my dad's work and drop them off. Recently someone contacted me on Etsy asking if I wanted her collection since she wasn't going to use them. It's kind of a constant crown royal bag scavenger hunt!

Find Lindsay online here:
LuluBelleQuilts Facebook 
Farm Facebook 
Etsy Shop 
Pinterest 
Blog

This post was prepared by Quiltsy Team member Karen Griska (KarenGriskaQuilts on Etsy).