because of your big heart, many little ones will feel secure & loved as they cuddle in your quilts. bless you!

That is a wonderful thing to do - it gives me some ideas for something to do next year. God bless you.

Thanks for your kind words, but I benefit more from making quilts for others less fortunate, believe me so much more.

Barbara, what a wonderful thing you've done. I'll have to locate such a shelter here in L.A. so I can do something as generous.

(On a different topic: I talked with Bernie and Jeanie about our online "meeting" and they think we should meet in person next time I get up to your area. What do you think?)

It is a blessed season, both for you and for them. Linda Rae

That is a wonderful thing you did. I can just imagine the balance on your "Karma points" going through the roof! Happy Holidays!

I donate year round with blankets, hats, scarf and mittens,
pillow cases and I have also gave pillow case dresses, along with anything else I can think of. It makes me feel so good and my life is so much more enjoyable than just sitting around and
doing nothing worth while. My grand kids are all older and don't
get the same enjoyment they use to. When I see the smile on their face it brings tears to my eyes. The need is so great in these times I just feel I have to do everything I can. I sometimes make a tote bag for them with goodies. Merry Christmas to all. Lorie

That definitely is in the spirit of the season. Bless you. I know the children will be thrilled. What a christmas present.

Thanks so much for your kind words.
Lulu's Mama

Same with me. Grandkids all grown too. Here I sit and feel really good about contributing and never a lonely, un-used moment. If I'm not sewing, I'm buying material, that's for sure. My sister just learned she has brain cancer and she used to sew too. I took over her quilts too, now am making for charity in her name as well. Hopefully she will some day be able to do it again, she is improving after chemo and radiation. I will continue as long as I need to. That's the least we can do for each other.
Lulu's Mama

I'm sure any type of construction would be good. Rag quilts are easy to construct, but sure take time for the clipping. I usually make simple medallion centers with a double inner border and an outer border, or a simple nine patch center with an inner and outer border. It all depends on how much fabric I have of a particular design or color. I sometimes even take a panel for the center and add borders. I buy JoAnns "red dot" fabric when it is 50% off, so runs between $1-3/yard. I then quilt in the ditch and sometimes in a grid or meander. With Warm and Natural batting, you only have to quilt every 10 inches. I make make them either 36 x 44 or 44 x 60 so as to get the most out of my fabric without having to piece the backing. They are not made bed size, but rather as "cuddle blankets". If you want any more info, please PM me and I'm happy to share whatever else I can with you.

I called them to see how many children they had because I know they can only sleep 30 moms and kids. She said probably 15 was enoughfor each child to receive a blanket, but since I didn't know the gender, I sent a few extra. I think with the small local charities it is a little more personal.

The day was really made for me...and Merry Christmas to you too.

No, I never really thought about it, but that is certainly something I will do next year. Thanks for the suggestion!

You can't put a price on the way you must have made them feel, and in return how you felt. You are blessed, and are a blessing to your community!

Thanks Evie...Sounds like a great idea, and just a note, one of the quilts was the one Bernie made during our "Quilting 101".

Tis the season for giving and you did good.

I am so happy your sister is doing well. My thought and prayers for her.

your a blessing. :thumbup:

Hi Barbara, That is wonderful. I know how you feel.
I have been just crocheting as many hours as I can for the last couple of months and letting my things go on the way side just to see how many crocheted hats I can get finished for or donation pot luck.... I am at very close oe over 60 hats for child, and Adult.... We give to 3 different charity's.
We do quilts, clothing , toys, house wares, anything the womens and childresn shelters can use. I feel blessed to be giving too. God Bless you to do more.
ConnieF

You ARE blessed to be able to do it. What a wonderful thing to do. Your reward will be waiting

that was so nice of you to do this for them, doesnt it make you feel great inside !!

Bless you Barb that was wonderful and I know they loved every stitch that you did to make them. Merry Christmas

I'm so proud of you. We know how much love and work went into the quilts. Every stitch sewn with love.

Definitely the perfect thing to do this holiday season ... anytime really.

they are all blessed to receive your quilts.

warm quilt hugs, sue in CA

What a blessing you are to others.

My hopes and prays go out to her.Thats wonderful to lend a helping hand to your sister. I hope that some day they will find a cure. My father and step father died from cancer of course they were much older. Give her lots of hugs and that will mean the world to her. Lorie

You are Awesome!!! Lord Bless You!!!

Oh Barbara, this is so good, and really is the true spirit of the season. We have a sewing/quilting group at our church that works throughout the year to make baby quilts for a crisis pregnancy center. This week we took the quilts we had made and received a similar response. It makes it worth every stitch! But we're a group, and you made all 20 yourself. Amazing! Thanks for sharing, and may you be blessed in return!

How did you know how many to make....our shelter here will not give out that information of how many children they house.

I have done that myself, and it is such a good feeling. Thanks for sharing about your experience

There are angels amoung us!

I use the pre-quilted backing for mine, which has a light loft sewn in already. I do quilt the back and the top together because I am sewing for kids and animals, and they wear longer. I always put a good strong binding on mine too for wear purposes.

Since my sister got sick I have gone to mostly "strip quilts." I just made 6 the last couple days with red, white and blue stripes. Kids love loud colors so try to keep them interesting.

Also make lap quilt size for an adult which is a good snuggle buddy for the kids. They lay on the floor and watch TV, play with clay, and most have names for their quilts, so they are "friends" too.

Very happy to do so. I read so much for quilters and wondered if they knew there were tons of kids, dogs and cats who could use what they sew.

Thanks Ruth. I love every minute I quilt as most quilters do and having them popular to receive makes me feel good about how I use up my time. Six of one, half-dozen of the other.
Lulu's Mama

Hi Barbara:
I get overwhelmed at times or get behind or something and then turn to strip quilts to make a lot in a little bit of time. I just cut 2.5" strips out of different colors and find some colors that blend well together and sew them together. Then I put a back of pre-quilted backing/batting material bought at JoAnn's and ta da - a quilt is born. I too have to watch my pennies and I use JoAnn coupons when I can. I also find new material in secondhand stores for $1 a yard. Well worth it.
I am always careful to wash and iron the secondhand material even though it is unsewn, but you don't know who handled it previously.

I tied for a long time when I started, but then tried "stitch in a ditch" which worked out great. It's fun and the quilts look so much more professional. I learned how to do it online and some day will try my hand at regular quilting.

I have made quilts using the pinwheel pattern, the rail fence, combinations of both, but because of speed my favorite is the strip quilts. I saw an ad for blankets and they had used 3-4 different blues with white and a brown and that started me looking into color. I really like them and so do the kids.

I would like to try a bargello quilt but have to wait until I am un-snowed.

Keep quilting.....
Lulu's Mama

I know what you mean about the strip quilts. They do go together quickly. I make them alot with flannel and do the stitch and flip with no batting. Two layers of flannel is heavy enough for a "snuggle blankie" and they finish up nicely. I finally figured a coonsistent way to bind by machine and that helps with the time too.

[/quote]How did you know how many to make....our shelter here will not give out that information of how many children they house.[/quote]

I know the battered women's shelters are very protective of their residents. But I know how many beds they have at the shelter because that was posted on their website. Beyond that, they cannot give any additional information. But I called and said I had around 20 quilts and wanted to know if that was enough for each child to get one for Christmas. The director told me they probably only needed about 15 and any extras they would see that they would be saved for when they were needed. I wanted to give a few extra, because I did not know how many for each gender they needed.

Beautiful thing to do!! You will be blessed for this.

How did you know how many to make....our shelter here will not give out that information of how many children they house.[/quote]

I know the battered women's shelters are very protective of their residents. But I know how many beds they have at the shelter because that was posted on their website. Beyond that, they cannot give any additional information. But I called and said I had around 20 quilts and wanted to know if that was enough for each child to get one for Christmas. The director told me they probably only needed about 15 and any extras they would see that they would be saved for when they were needed. I wanted to give a few extra, because I did not know how many for each gender they needed.[/quote]

Thank you for the information.....that is a wonderful thing to do and it must make you feel all warm inside to know you put a smile on a childs face for the holidays.

Thanks again