New Challenges for you!

Evelyn just completed a lovely bag with the knit fabrics I mentioned on the last update…

Isn't it adorable?!

Remember, if you have an idea of something fun and funky to make with our new knits, make a comment on the post below. There could be free fabric for the person who makes the best suggestion!

And now, on with the business of the day...A couple of really fun challenges have been occupying my mind for a while now and I’d like to share them with you.

I have been put in touch with an organization, Reece’s Rainbow, that could benefit from our particular skills. Reece's Rainbow is an organization that promotes the international adoption of children with Down syndrome and it got us thinking about the need for baby quilts and lap size quilts for these children and their families. The quilts bring more than just warmth; the happiness and comfort they bring to those who receive them aid more than the body. Our challenge, aptly named to benefit Reece's Rainbow, is titled "Pot of Golden Blankets!"  October is national Down syndrome month and BJ's Quilt Basket would like to donate 25 "golden" baby size quilts to Reece's Rainbow by then. The quilts do not need to follow a specific pattern or color scheme, though baby- toddler sized quilts are our goal. You may bring any quilt you would like to donate to the store. We also are going to host open-sew time in the store to provide you a time and place to work on these quilts. (See below for more info.) If you have fabric you would like to donate rather than a quilt, we will have a box for the "Pot of Blankets" challenge in the classroom. No matter what pattern you choose or what fabric you donate, the smile on the face of the child who receives it will be worth the pot of gold at the end of any rainbow.

The second organization to catch my heart in the last couple of months is the Quilts of Valor Foundation, which aims to cover all service men and women and veterans with patriotic quilts donated by volunteers across the country. To date, they have gifted 39,166 quilts to those who have served our country in war. This foundation and its mission have earned the notice of fabric manufacturers across the country and many have agreed to produce patriotic fabric lines that are useful in the production of these quilts. Additionally, a portion of every sale made from these fabrics is then donated to the Foundation. I’ve recently received two of these lines of fabric, American Valor from Andover and American Valor Collection from Timeless Treasures  and am expecting a third line to arrive soon. I believe that the fabulous quilters of Central Oregon could produce incredible quilts to donate to our servicemen and women and veterans and to that end, I am hoping for your participation in this project.

We will be setting aside days to come and work on these charity projects! We will have simple patterns available for use (or use your own) as well as kits (we will discount kits that are dedicated to these donation drives), and we have received fabric donations to get you started!  Every third Thursday, starting in April, our classroom will be available for this Challenge Open Sew Day- no charge!  Bring any project related to these two charity challenges and join us in making the world a little bit happier through quilting.

Vicki