Community Services has a project of making quilts for soldiers injured in the war. The quilts are shipped to combat hospitals in Afghanistan and given to soldiers in Intensive Care Units. These troops are often sent home in minimally heated cargo planes, so the quilts are functional for warmth in addition to showing that we care and thank them for their sacrifices.
The quilts needed are ”quick quilts” with just 3 requirements:
Size is 4 ft x 6 ft 6 in, or 48 inches by 78 inches (the size of stretchers and gurneys)
All cotton; no synthetics, including the batting
Red/white/blue or appropriate patriotic theme (no cartoon characters)
The design can be simple and anything you choose. Since many quilts are needed, quantity is more important than time-consuming patterns, but all quilts are welcomed. You can be as creative or simple as you want and they will all be deeply appreciated. One Doctor in Iraq thinks the quilts do soldiers more good than receiving a medal, which they often pin onto their quilts.
More information about the program can be found here.
Contact: Arlene Zobrist
Quilts sent out in April 2012 include these by SBQG members NK,
JA
and the Lawndale Library Quilting Ladies.
We are privileged to have Mme. Fumi Akutagawa as our guest speaker for the 2012 annual Fashion Show. She is a sensei (master or teacher) in the art of the Japanese kimono and will present “Hari Kuyou” (Needle Day).
Our Fashion Show will be held in June at the Miyako Hybrid Hotel in Torrance. All details on the location, catered menu, and tickets are available on our website.
Please join us for this special event and insight into Japanese culture.
I must admit, the cover of this book gets my attention — lots of pink and flowers. The book is just released and I haven’t seen it in a store yet, but I’ll buy it through our Amazon link.
Reviewing the book on Amazon, the Table of Contents includes sections for:
5-Hour Favorites
10-Hour Treats
17-Hour Sensations
24-Hour Treasures
Take Your Time
The projects are appropriate for baby showers, bridal showers, birthdays, house warmings, and more. I see coasters, an armchair chatelaine, a tote bag, a baby quilt, ruffled flowers … many items to choose from.
Each project includes Project Specifications, Materials, Cutting instructions, Completion steps, and pictures to illustrate the steps.
I see a few things I would like to make. How about you?
How can I ever complain again about lack of skills or time or … anything?!
The video below is a 6-minute story on Diane Rose, who learned to quilt after losing her vision. Reading her story, she achieved her goal of 500 quilts and is now working toward completing 1000 quilts by 2013, her 15th anniversary of quilting. She runs a quilting business and is a motivational speaker. The subtitle on her website is The Amazing Quilter. I think you’ll agree.
One beautiful example is Shining Town by Masako Katou. (It doesn’t look like Be*mused has licensed the photos for sharing, so all I can do is include the link.) This quilt is a spiral design of scrappy houses and trees, with small yellow flowers on the interior scalloped border, and an outer scrappy/modern piano key border. The primary color scheme is blues and greens. I wish I could display it! It’s amazing to think of the hours that Masako put into the quilt. (Here’s the full-sized version, so you can see the detail up close.)
I encourage you to view some of the photos, and hope that you enjoy the stunning work as much as I did. Thank you to Dottie for this link!
