Adopt a Soldier

Fran, a HeartStrings member posted this request for help back in January.

A few weeks ago I pulled out the blocks from our summer block swap in anticipation of my son coming home from Iraq I started a quilt for him. The Family Readiness Coordinator from his unit explained that single soldiers come back from deployment to sterile looking rooms in the barracks, therefore upon arrival they like to make the rooms nice for the soldiers and they are allowed to have personal bedding. Most parents will adopt their own soldier and send bedding that will be put on the bed including comforters etc. I am making my son a quilt.

Because not every soldier has family or one that is in a position to provide one I am looking for r/w/b twin quilts for those who don’t get adopted. I am expecting to be in Savannah end of March to meet them. These guys have passed the one year mark and it will be 15 months by the time they get back! (This is infantry so all guys)

With help, Fran was able to provide 27 quilts to returning soldiers and wrote:

I wish I had a picture of every soldier that was given a gift but so many so fast! You will see on their faces that it made their day. We gave every soldier that received a quilt a thank you, a quilt and welcome home. The young men who received the quilts did not have anyone there for them personally. It made my day, week, year! I hope all of you feel the same we all did something for someone who risked their lives! Again thanks everyone. Fran




Ladies of the Thread – Port Orchard, WA

I received the following email and photos from Vicki who is working with her group making and donating quilts. I just love how bright and happy this string quilt is.

Finally, here is a photo of the strip quilt made by our group, Ladies of the Thread, in Port Orchard, WA. We meet at a local church on two Wednesdays per month to make quilts for Project Linus. I’ve also included pics of other Linus quilts made by group members using the Quick Strippie pattern on your website.

We also make quilts for area coroners. The quilts are carried in their vans and used to pick up babies and children (instead of body bags), such a sad thing. The coroners say it eases the parents just a bit to see their child in a quilt and oftentimes the quilt goes on with the child, so we re-supply them as needed.

Best regards,
Vicki Chang

Instructions for making a HeartStrings quilt.

Instructions for making the Quick Strippie quilts shown below.


We’ve been busy

Although the blog has been quiet lately, we’ve been busy making and donating quilts. Quilts for kids, for soldiers, for women with breast cancer, and quilts for those effected by tornadoes in TN to name a few. These are recent finishes and donations and more can be seen in our online albums.
By Lori for Project Linus
By Ruthie for a returning soldier
By Jennifer from donated blocks for a woman with breast cancer
by Mary from donated coins for Tennessee tornado victims

We’ve also received thank you notes from Bledsoe Baptist Associate for quilts received. If you’d like to send quilts to Tennessee – they’ll make sure they get to those effected by the tornadoes.

Quilts for those affect by recent tornadoes in Tennessee

As a group, we’ve wanted to send quilts to these hit by tornadoes earlier this month. Thanks to Sarah and Pam we were able to find a group and contact person willing to accept quilts and see that they get to those affected.

If you like to join us in sending quilts, please mail them to this address and include a note that identifies them as HeartStrings quilts intended for those affected by the recent tornadoes.

Attention: Anne McKnight
Bledsoe Baptist Association
P.O Box 1207145
East Smith St.
Gallatin, TN 37066

If you’d like to use the HeartStrings Print Label/Enclosure (PDF File). Print file, cut in half, and add your return address under HeartStrings. Place one in your package and tape the other to your box as a shipping label.

Please email us and let us know if you are sending quilts. Thank you!

Quilts for children’s charities

During the months of January and February, HeartStrings quilters finished and donated 88 quilts to Project Linus and other children’s charities and more are still in progress.

Thanks to all of you who made and donated quilts. Whether you pieced and donated blocks, donated tops to be quilted by volunteers like this one pieced by Barbara in FL, quilted tops, or made quilts from start to finish every contribution was appreciated.

Children’s quilts and Project Linus

It’s the last day of January, have you joined us this month in making a HeartStrings quilt for Project Linus or another children’s charity? If so, please let us know – we’d love to see photos of your quilt.

If not, there’s still time to finish one up before Project Linus’ National Make a Blanket Day on February 16th. To find information about your local Project Linus chapter, click here.

Here are just a few of the ones made by HeartStrings quilters this month (notice that they’re not all string quilts!)

By Lori

By May

By Mary

Let’s make some quilts for kids!

I mentioned last month that with Project Linus’ Make a Blanket Day coming up in February, we want to encourage people to make a quilt in January to donate to their local Project Linus chapter. Of course, if you have a local children’s charity you support, feel free to join in and donate the quilt where ever you choose.

These quilts can be string quilts or you may use any pattern you choose. Barb, one of our members and a coordinator here in the Minneapolis area for Project Linus has said that she’ll also accept completed tops. If you prefer to only make the top, you can check with the chapter in your area to see if they accept them, send them to Barb, or contact me and we’ll see if we can find a HeartStrings volunteer to quilt them.

I’ve got one quilted and ready for binding….my Lizard quilt and I’m going to cut out and piece another one using my Quick Strippie instructions. These are fun, fast, and cute!

Mary’s Quick Strippie

Another fun quilt can be found at Annie’s blog. I’ve been using kids prints for years making donation quilts and have lots of leftover bits and pieces, wouldn’t this quilt be great for using them?

Annie’s Happy Quilt

A string quilt like we made for our Purple Project last year would be great too….here’s an instruction sheet for one I made using just 24 string blocks.

Purple Project Quilt

Whatever pattern you decide to use, please join us in making a quilt for a child in January.

Mary
mmcjohnson@gmail.com

Happy Anniversary

A year ago, a group of quilters banded together to form the HeartStrings Quilt Project in order to make and donate quilts. Initially, we thought it would be a short term project but the interest was strong and we decided to expand it though the year. Now it’s 2008 and the interest and enthusiasm for making quilts for those in need remains steadfast.

As a group, we made and donated 281 quilts and have many more in progress. We worked on these quilts as individuals, as groups, and spread the word through our guilds and the other quilting groups in our lives.

Please take a few minutes and look through the photo albums of quilts made and donated this year by HeartStrings quilters.

HeartStrings Quilt Project Photo Albums.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of those involved in the project. I look forward to seeing the quilts we’ll make and donate in 2008.

Mary Johnson