June 14 - BOM program by Becky

    BOM - "Hands All Around" by Nancy - given to a veteran

                                 

In January 2011 I began a friendship with quilt historian and writer, Barbara Brackman when she offered her first Block of the Month on her blog and I who had never done a BOM decided to sew along. Two weeks later I was sewing blocks and photographing them for her to use on her blog and I’ve been sewing for her continually since then. At our June 14 meeting I would like to do a trunk show (no trunk involved) to share them with you. It’s a nice group of quilts/tops, both pieced and applique and I hope you’ll enjoy seeing them and maybe you’ll want to sew along with us on one of the BOMs. Each BOM offers a history lesson related to the block as well as the pattern.

There will also be a door prize: a signed copy of “Divided Hearts – a Civil War Friendship Quilt” by Barbara Brackman.

Barbara has two blogs:

civilwarquilts.blogspot.com

              American Stars – BOM, 2^nd Wednesday each month           

              Freedom’s Friends – BOM, last Wednesday each month

barbarabrackman.blogspot.com

               Southern Spin – BOM, last day each month

From The Heart Stitchers Presentation

A few years ago someone I (Vicki) know received an item with this tag on it. I was curious about From The Heart Stitchers and looked up their website. What I found was an amazing clearinghouse for pretty much any possible handmade item for donation. I had just started crocheting and was very happy to find a place where I could donate things I crocheted. But I could also donate sewn items that I could make from my stash.

For our June meeting, Beth Watkins, kindly agreed to come talk to us about the organization. After the meeting a few of us discussed setting up a local group to meet and make things for FTH. This group will be distinct and separate from Country School. But I will let you know when we have a meeting time and location set if you would like to join.

As I mentioned, FTH takes pretty much ANYTHING that you can make for others. The organization began in 2001 and has since donated over 475,000 items all over Virginia.

Beth says that the support everything from birth to death. They supply many of the sweet and beautiful outfits given to still-born babies, like these sets that she brought as examples.

They make all sorts of support item for surgery and chemo patients from small pillows, to mastectomy drain bags to chemo port pillows for car safety belts.

They take all sorts of soft items like knitted knockers for mastectomy patients, dressed bears for children's hospitals and little octopi for neo-natal units.

For seniors there are walker caddies,

warm horseshoe shawls for wheelchair patients, and 

lots of different sensory items for memory care patients.

For me, I like to make things with my stash. Wheelchair blankets are fun and fast to make.

Mastectomy drain bags were a great use for some fat quarters that had been in my stash too long.

Walker caddies were a great way to divest myself of a stash of upholstery fabrics.

I also like to make horseshoe shawls and various hats.

This is only the tip of the iceberg of the vast types of things that they collect and distribute! If you want to learn more about the organization or sign up for their monthly newsletter, you can check out their website.

Once we set up the local group I'll post a notice on the blog for anyone who is interested.
 

Tuesday meeting

 Our program Tuesday evening will be a guest speaker! Beth Watkins with From The Heart Stitchers will join us to tell us about all the great work this organization does with donated hand made items.

I (Vicki) learned about this group when someone I know received a post-surgery item that was donated by the group. Since then I have made and donated wheelchair caddies, wheelchair blankets, dialysis blankets, dialysis sleeves, baby blankets and mastectomy drain bags. It's been a great way for me to find a home for my crochet items and sewn items that aren't veterans quilts. 

Beth will tell us all about the group and the kinds of things that they need. If you already make things for FTH you are welcome to bring them to the meeting for Beth to take to the office for distribution.