April 2024 Work Day Recap

 Praise the Lord ♥️    

That's what comes to mind when looking back on Hope Quilters this month.  The anticipation for the new participants from our exposure during the Lenten Project was reflected in discovering about 8 people who arrived early to get things set up, and all the extra tables from the cart were used!  Plenty of space for the new friends we looked forward to welcoming.

We were blessed with many new faces (I think 8 or 9).  This altar cloth story has really been a blessing to us, inspiring many to join us in our efforts.  It was refreshing to see new interest.

Altar cloth project is going well.  Fifty-six were turned in on Saturday.  With the others already collected, that makes around 120.  Around 40 of these will be going to Ghana already with the Mission trip in May.  Isn't it amazing how God has worked in this story?  Even though our focus has been on the altar cloths, there were also turned in eighteen quilts for delivery to LSI, Ellipse, Families Forward, Care Ministry, and the quilt auctions.  Several walker bags for the Care Ministry and lots of book pillows were turned in also. 

Your creativity, energy, generosity, and love continue to shine in each and everything we do.  Included in this post is a testimony for a Holy Spirit class at Hope.   The focus was on the Holy Spirit pointing you towards using your spiritual gifts.  Our hope is that you'll see the breadth of the Holy Spirit's work within what you do as part of Hope Quilters.  We are so much more than just making quilts for those in need (and that's a very noble cause by itself) but our hope is you'll experience the Holy Spirit through this involvement.  

Click HERE for testimony.  

Next up is the retreat on April 25, 26 and 27!  Be thinking of those retreat projects!!!

Finally, don't forget to take a look at the PHOTO page!  Be blessed!

March 2024 Work Day Recap

Doesn't this picture say it all?  It was a beautiful weekend of quilting.  We committed to staying longer and focused primarily on the Altar cloths and boy, did we have fun.  There were several newcomers as the word got out and many wanted to help with Altar cloths.  The picture shows us praying over both the Altar cloths and the other mission quilts that were finished.  55 Alter cloths and 29 other quilts are going to missions.  26 book pillows went off to Bidwell and Hawthorn Hills agencies this week.  Photos are HERE.

If you're interested in helping and need a project, there are still a few "kits" made up if you want to stop by a meeting sometime and grab one.  There are also some quilt tops ready to go to be finished up. 

One surprise on Saturday was that a photographer from the production crew showed up to take several pictures and videos of us working.  The Hope 360  had some snip-its of us and they mentioned our efforts!  

Until next time, keep sewing away!

February 2024 Work Day Recap

What a beautiful weekend for sewing and fellowship!  The sun was out but the temperatures were cold so what better way to spend several hours than playing with fabric and laughing with friends.  The focus was on our new service project.  We've been asked to make altar cloths for churches in Ghana.  Our donation of quilt tops is going to come in handy as they will be a bright and colorful start to this project.

The details of the project are that we're going to try and finish 125 to 150 small quilt tops that will be sent to Ghana to be used as altar cloths in their new churches.  These people are hungry to learn about Jesus, traveling for many miles on foot to church services.  Lutheran Church of Hope is working to build even more churches in Ghana and our quilts will be a spot of brightness on the altar of these churches.

So our job, quilt and bind 125 to 150 quilt tops!  And you gals are jumping in enthusiastically!  A couple gals quickly put 20 of these quilts on their long arms and they were at Hope Quilters this weekend ready for binding and labels.  Mary Helen and I put binding and backs together with quilt tops for others to work on.  Another couple of gals helped some people pin their first quilts.  We turned in 4 completed altar cloths this month but people took home several more to complete so I can't wait to see the results in March!

It wasn't all altar cloths this weekend.  Show and Tell once again demonstrated your talent and love of quilting.  Be sure to take a look at the PHOTOS.  Your quilts will be delivered to Families Forward, LSI, Door of Faith, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, and Agape.  I kept two for the auction.  You are also being prolific with the reading pillows.  I have inquired at MIssions if there are other agencies who would benefit from these.  We know how well they are appreciated at Sleep in Heavenly Peace.  What a great use of our fabric scraps!

Missing out on our January monthly meeting due to a snowstorm only made our finished projects pile that much higher!  See you next month!