Category — Craft Community

waiting to be chosen

The final total for Haiti Relief donations is an incredible $4,520! This is far beyond any of my initial expectations and I’m so thankful for the generosity of all of you.

All of the entrants’ names are sitting in this basket waiting for the boys to get off the bus. They’ll be choosing three winners around 4pm today!

As of today, Fiberphile customers have donated over $4,000 to Haiti Relief! I’m accepting entries until Wednesday, so please keep them coming!

If you have no idea what I’m talking about, see this post.

modern signature blocks

The boys had the day off from school for Martin Luther King Jr. day, so I took a day off from my usual work routine to hang out with them, as well as make a trip to the dentist for our check-ups. For part of the day, I got to work on my Modern Siggy Swap blocks. This swap filled up in a matter of a couple of hours, so I was very lucky to get in. The project is a bit more labor intensive than I anticipated but well worth it.

I first saw a signature quilt in person last summer at our town festival. It was made by the women of our town in the 1800’s. I was enthralled with all of those signatures of women who lived their lives here over a century ago. It also made me sad that my family hadn’t been here then. So many of the names were familiar– Their descendants became my classmates, friends, and neighbors. How amazing would it have been to see my own great-great-grandmother’s signature on that quilt?

So now, I have a wonderful opportunity to have my own signature and home town joined with 99 others into 100 sibling quilts that will be assembled all over the world. It’s an amazing thought to think that maybe even a century from now, someone may find an old quilt in an attic and read my name among the others. I just cannot wait to have my own finished quilt in my hands!

Speaking of quilting, I’d like to take this opportunity to tell you about the latest project from Margaret’s Hope Chest. This is an amazing organization that donates quilts to people who have experienced trauma or illness and are in need of comfort.

This latest project is called Wrapped in Hope. The aim of this project is to create custom-made quilts for children who have an incarcerated parent. I don’t generally share personal details about myself on this blog, but I will say that I have stood in these children’s shoes, and it can be a very lonely place. For this reason, there was no way I was going to pass this project up. I will be paired with a specific child and make a quilt based on information about favorite colors and interests. The last time I checked, they were still in need of volunteers. If you are so moved, I know that Carin would love to hear from you!

I’m sure most of you have heard about the earthquake in Haiti. From what I’ve read, it’s one of the worst natural disasters ever. I sent a donation to Doctors Without Borders, but the small amount I can afford will only do so much. That’s where you all come in!

Here’s the deal- I want all of you to donate too. $5, $10, any amount you can afford. If enough people donate even one dollar, it will help. After you make your donation, email me at info AT fiberphile DOT com with “Haiti” in the subject line (very important!) and make sure to tell me how much you donated. I don’t need any proof- I trust you.

On Wednesday, January 20th (that’s one week from today) I will enlist my sons to help me draw three names from those who entered. They will each win a Fiberphile Gift Certificate worth DOUBLE the amount he or she donated, up to $100 value.

Also, if you donate, be sure to go over to Knitters Without Borders and let Stephanie know that you donated. That’s a pretty spectacular tally she’s got there, but it can always use a boost!

One of my earliest craft obsessions was quilting. About ten years ago, I became completely enamored with the craft. With my usual enthusiasm for new crafts I decided, without ever making a single quilt block, that I was going to make quilts for my entire family for Christmas. I did make those quilts, and I think I did pretty well. I even made a lone star quilt for my parents. I learned a lot, and I enjoyed the process, but I was burnt out.

I didn’t do any more quilting until I made Sabine’s quilt this Christmas, but once I did, I knew that the obsession was back. I went in search of inspiring blogs and was excited to find that not only were there many blogs about quilting, but many in the fresh, modern style that I love, and that has become so popular since fabric designers like Amy Butler and Anna Maria Horner have come onto the scene.

Apparently, I picked a great time to return the quilting world. Not only is there now a Los Angeles Modern Quilt Guild, but they’re looking for organizers for new chapters. I’ve already been in touch with several other people who are interested in starting a New England Modern Quilt Guild and I’m hoping that there will be more. If anyone is interested, please let me know and I’ll put you in touch with Monet, our contact person.

Another well-timed discovery was the modern siggy swap. Based on the traditional signature quilts, this is a really exciting project that I was very lucky to get into, as the slots filled very quickly.

100 participants will each make 101 signature quilt blocks using modern quilting fabrics and white centers. We will all sign the white centers of the blocks, and include our city and state. After we all send in our completed blocks, Rachel will then send us each a complete set of blocks from all of the other participants. Once we put our blocks together into a quilt, we will have a signature quilt with blocks from quilters all over the world. How completely awesome is that?

The 101st block from each of us will be put together into a quilt for charity. I told you. Awesome.