soy amado blocks set sail!

Starting earlier this year, Alison at Little Island Quilting started a quilt charity to benefit street children in Mexico, inspired by a recent visit she had taken to their group home.  She started making and collecting quilted blocks to assemble into quilts to gift to these children, to add a little colour and something special in their lives, something just their own.  To date, she has made 23 (!!) quilts to send!

I decided I wanted to contribute, and Alison and I both blogged that I would collect blocks from other Canadian quilters who wished to as well, and I would relay the blocks to her.

The response was wonderful!  Today, I am mailing out a huge box, containing ONE HUNDRED blocks!!!  Enough for 5 more quilts.

(and a wee little moustached gift on top for the puppet master for all her hard work!) 

Thank you to those who contributed: Michele, Suzy, Becky, Felicity, Janet, Christine, Joy and the members of her Thunder Bay quilt group!  You guys are super stars!!

If you would like to contribute to Soy Amado, you can check out the project here and can still send blocks to Alison directly in the UK.

A+ Art Portfolio by Hopeful Threads

Have you met the OTHER Kristy, over at Hopeful Threads? The whole philosophy of her blog is about sewing to give back. She is awesome. She recently has become involved in a great organization called Create H.O.P.E. Designs, where a bunch of talented designers have come together and donated their time to make patterns, which are then sold for a mere 5 bucks a piece, with 100% (!!) of the proceeds benefiting orphaned children all over the world.

Kristy's contribution is the A+ Art Portfolio! It is a super cute bag designed with the little artist in mind, with a laminate lining for containing messes. She even details a bunch of modifications and variations to the pattern on her blog, here.

The pattern can be found at Create H.O.P.E. so go check it out, along with the many other great patterns available! I got my copy and hope to whip a couple up in time for the holidays :) Kind of perfect to make a great kid gift, while helping other kids at the same time, wouldn't you say?

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Winner!

Wow. I just want to give a big THANK YOU to all of you who participated in this giveaway. I wanted to respond to each of your comments, but due to the sheer volume, had to abandon that hope. But I wanted to let you know I read each and every one, and took some time to follow links to many of the awesome charities you had suggested! I must admit, when the first person suggested Heifer International I thought they were pulling my leg....what was it, a charity for cows??? Thanks for enlightening me! Just awesome! And so many other very worthy and honorable charities. I wish I could help them all.

I also want to sincerely recognize the touching stories that were shared by many of you, of sick or deceased parents, grandparents, spouses and children; of soldiers and firefighters lost in duty; of babies lost too soon; of children fighting for their lives in hospital; of abuse suffered by people and animals. I shed many tears reading your stories, and I thank you for sharing a piece of your heart with me.


With that said, I think the winner chose a really great charity. Karen, congratulations! I will be sending you an email to send off your fabric and arrange for the donation to The PKU Foundation. Karen wrote:

"I'd choose https://www.pkufoundation.com/ (the PKU Foundation). It's a genetic disorder that children are born with (the heel prick test they do an all babies tests for it) and its not a common thing. However, my nephew has it and its financially crippling. Any help to families with this disorder is a god send. These children cannot eat protein and they have to consume a very $$$ formula as their source of "milk" for the rest of their lives. I could go on and on but it's just really important and close to home for me."

Thanks, everyone!

Lucky me = lucky you (a giveaway with Sew Mama Sew)

I think I need to buy a ticket to Vegas. My luck has been fantastic lately! I often enter giveaways and had never won anything. Then, these past few weeks...I have won FOUR (4!!!!) times! I am going to take a minute here to brag a bit......envy alert! (edit- just found out today I won AGAIN! Whoo hooo! Number 5! I need to get a lotto ticket!)

Prize #1- this gorgeous vintage fabric rainbow dress that made The Middle Child squeal with delight, from The Modern Marigold on Etsy, which was a giveaway from Jess at Craftiness is Not Optional:

Prize #2- the fun and festive Oh Christmas Tree pattern by Fresh Poppy Design, which I won when I linked up at Amylouwho for the 100 Quilts for Christmas charity drive.
Prize #3- this may come in handy for the above quilt...a charm pack of Figgy Pudding from Kelli at Kelli's Pieces in celebration of her big wedding day!

Prize #4- some beautiful brown and pink ribbon from Amy at Diary of a Quilter! And today I just found out I won some gorgeous scraps from Elizabeth at Giddy For Paisley. How fun are these little birdies? You can check out the cool bag she made with them here.

So, when I heard that Sew Mama Sew was hosting a Giveaway Day, I thought that would be the perfect way to give back to the Giveaway Karma Gods!!

Here is the giveaway:

1. I have a stack of soft, fuzzy, gorgeous Anna Maria Horner Folksy flannels for ya. Includes 1/3 yard cuts of the 8 prints shown, for a total of almost 3 yards of fabric. Perfect for cuddling over the cold winter! 2. The second part of this giveaway is a charitable donation. I think during this holiday season we all are feeling pretty fortunate about how we live, and all that we have. So, for the winner, I will make a $50(CAN) donation to the charity of your choice. Must be a charity where I am able to donate online, please, to avoid the potential hassle of international cheques.

To enter:

Leave a comment saying what charity you would choose if you won and why- I would love to learn more about the causes that are meaningful to you! Or, tell me something that you are thankful for this holiday season. No need to be a follower, but since I am thankful for my faithful friends, if you are a follower, leave a second comment saying so and you get a second entry.

Giveaway closes at 9 p.m. central standard time on Friday, December 17 and is open to local and international friends. Good luck everyone!

Christmas Charities

Bloggers are such great people. And Christmastime brings out the best in the best, I think!

Two great blogging Christmas Charities this year! First, Kate at Swim, Bike, Quilt and Aunt Spicy, with the help of Amylouwho, are hosting 100 Quilts for Christmas.

Here is the low-down on how to participate:
1. Make a blanket
2. Take a picture
3. Donate the blanket to someone or an organization of your choice
4. Post a picture of the quilt on any of three link-up days, and of course there will be prizes, including a grand prize drawing on Wednesday, December 15!
5. Here are the link-up days and locations:
Monday November 29 -- Amy Lou Who's blog
Monday, December 6 -- Swim, Bike, Quilt's blog
Monday, December 13 -- Aunt Spicy's blog
6. Also posting pictures on Flickr

I have my Twin Quilt #3 still sitting in my sewing room....had intended to take it to the local Children's Hospital in conjunction with the Quilts for Babes charity by my friend Kathy at Magnolia Designs. This is just the motivation I needed to get it on over! So, here is a picture of my contribution to the 100 quilts:

If you haven't the time to whip together a quilt to donate this season, don't worry, there is another opportunity to do some quilting good this Christmas. Heather at {House} of a la Mode is hosting {Modern} Relief.

Some of our favorite quilting bloggers have donated some fabulous quilts which are being raffled off for US$10 per ticket, with all proceeds to benefit World Vision. If you would like to read more and buy a ticket, click here. I did! Raffle draw is December 1, so hurry over!