The simple act of giving.....

This month the craft club decided to start the New Year off with a gift to others, handmade of course.  Katy had the awesome idea of making blankets for Project Linus.  This wonderful organization has a two-fold mission as stated by them: First, it is our mission to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.”  Second, it is our mission to provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.

This southwestern beauty was made by one of our crafters who is away on business and then mailed home.

Katy made this snuggly tied blanket for the group, don't just love the bugs?!?!

We added to this important craft-a-thon with our first guest crafter: Anita's Mom.  This fine crafter has miles of quilting under her fashionable belt and let me tell you those of us who have never done this type of work really needed that knowledge base.  Being Anita, with generations of piecing built into her DNA, she already had the quilt vibe going so she dove right in to her own quilty fun.  Hers was a simple top strewn with these wonderful strings of pink flags draping across it circus style.  The look of the festive flags really popped and made me think of cotton candy and ice cream socials.  One of the fabrics she was using even had cupcakes on it! If you look close you can see it in the center at the bottom. EEEE.....so cute!

The rest of us, well we had to pull together all the craft history in our families and tackle another quilt as a team.  When I started this I thought that with three of us working on a quilt we would whizz through the process.....um no.  The cutting, arranging, sewing, sewing again, ironing, sewing more, cutting fiberfill and backing, the quilting, followed by the edging....this in total took ten hours for a quilt that was 39x58.  Ok we admit it was supposed to be 40x60, but hey it was our first try so not too bad.  At every step of the way we keep praising each other for the fact that " Holy stuff, that actually looks like a quilt. Can you believe it, we made a QUILT"! I am still excited to type that out loud.  We worked hard, but it felt good, we made something for someone in need. Someone we will never meet, someone who will never know this group of crafters, but someone who will know that they are loved and cared for in this world.

As crafters we have a chance to better this world while doing what we love. Whatever your passion: teaching others to read, saving the environment, helping a sick child, supporting human rights, cleaning the oceans, organic foods, or helping a homeless animal, let the New Year begin with an act of charity.

These are the seven wonderful blankets the craft club donated to Project Linus. Thanks to all of you who make a difference in this world.

May this year be a gift to you all,
Kelly, the origami ninja


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