September 13 Work Day

If you want to experience high energy and high creativity I challenge you to show up for a monthly Hope Quilters meeting.  Wow, this group puts 110% into everything you do!  The room was busy with rotary cutters and sewing machines, talking, laughing and the creative juices were flowing.  "What can I do next?" seems to be the most frequent question I hear.  It is such a blessing to do something you love for such an uplifting purpose!

We heard from a couple recipients of our quilts.  We were able to send 8 quilts on the Mission Navajo trip this month and 10 quilts will go with the Appalachia mission group next month.  You were part of a successful Quilt Auction for the Okoboji and Riverside Bible Camps.  Many thanks for all of your time and energy.

Our next mission will be Lutheran Services of Iowa.  Our local chapter provides beds for children at Christmas time.  The beds are donated by Slumberland and they will be distributed to children in need along with pillows and bed clothes.  Hope quilters has the opportunity to provide quilts for these beds.  The beds are twin size and the children are ages toddler to 12 years.   Saturday's task was searching our fabric donations for child-friendly fabric.  Many quilts were planned and are in progress.  We need to have these quilts done by Thanksgiving as the beds are distributed after that.

The group also talked about getting more people involved in leadership roles.  If you would like to get more involved be sure to let me know.  One role I think I can use help with is taking pictures!  I get so involved talking that I forget the pictures.   But this is a good one!

Wow, that makes me dizzy, Deanna!  Some kid will love this!



Thanks Norma

I am writing to you as the new leader of Hope Quilters.  My name is Jody Eubank.  I have been a part of Hope Quilters for 3 ½ years and have loved every minutes of it.    I was thrilled to be approached to take over such an important part of ministry at Hope. 

This blog it to let you all know of Norma Hamilton’s “retirement”. She has served faithfully and tirelessly and we all appreciate her countless contributions.  She will continue on as a member and we are all thankful for that.  I am especially thankful for the ground work she has laid for the group and I am also grateful to call her my friend.

Saturday Work Day August 9

                                             

Saturday was a good day to stay out of the heat and sew.  We were small but mighty in our accomplishments.  The room never looks too big for us as we find ways to expand our projects to multiple tables.  8 people, 24 tables.  No problem.  3 tables a piece. 

 

There were two different groups basting quilts.   We discussed the design for the quilt we are making along with the One Body ministry.  (look for the reveal in January!)  We sorted through some finished quilts, earmarking them for the Appalachian mission trip in October.   

 

We received news from Ghana that our initial quilts arrived safely with the team. 

Here is an excerpt from the mission team " Hope Village, while still under development, was a welcome and comfortable place for us to spend our first few nights in Ghana. The quilts assembled by the hands of the Hope Quilters added warmth and a sense of calmness to our stay. "  We are thankful the quilts arrived safely and so glad to know they are comforting the people who sleep under them.  We finished putting labels on the remaining quilts that will go in September.  We prayed over them, sending our wishes for comfort to those who use them. 

 

 

The remainder of the day was spent stripping.   We are cleaning out a collection of fabric strips leftover from past projects.  We are challenging ourselves to use all of the odds and ends, brights and naturals, children's prints, florals and geometrics.  Everything goes in!  This is a bit of a stretch for many of us.  Some things just don't seam like they go together.  But we are coming up with some wonderful ideas.  I think the finished products will be beautiful.  Stay tuned.

 

 

 

 

   

 

August Quilt Retreat

  

We have room 101 (big room across from the gym) reserved all day August 1^st, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on August 2^nd.  This is a time to work on your own projects while in fellowship with other Hope Quilters and friends.  Feel free to work on missions work if you prefer but let Jody E. know if that is your preference so we can have hand work or quilt kits ready for you.

Bring a friend or two.  We will be ordering dinner on Friday night and Saturday lunch.  We charge $10 a day just to cover the food expense. Any extra funds go back into our account for quilting supplied.   Feel free to bring a snack to share and your own drinks.  I will have a coffee as well as a cooler to keep drinks cold.  We will be doing Zmarik’s and Jimmy John’s this year as both offer Gluten free options.

July 12th Meeting

A reminder of the monthly meeting on Saturday July 12.  We will continue to work on completing the Ghana quilts.  We also will elect a new leader.   Please let us know if you are interested in the position.

Five of the  completed Hope Village  quilts that are ready to send to Ghana are on display at Hope.  They are hanging across from the Prayer Chapel on the Jordan Creek side of the atrium.  Hope you have a chance to see them before they are taken down and sent to Ghana at the end of the month.

June Work Day

June found us continuing to work on quilts for the Hope Village in Ghana, Africa.
Of course we had Show and Tell on some of those quilts as well as other quilts made for the various missions of Lutheran Church of Hope.  Jean's Grandaughter from AZ visited us for a few minutes, helping to show several quilts.  We always welcome visitors, especially those who may become future quilters - hint, hint.  Everyone is welcome to join us whether you just want to sit and visit a bit, hand sew on a binding or bring your machine and work on piecing a quilt top.  We always need "quilters" - those who do the actual quilting.  Each one of us has a talent for any part of making a quilt.  We know our quilts are used and appreciated by the people who receive them.

The ASP Mission Team  (Appalachia Service Project) was on the ground there this past week.  In addition to building and repairing housing for those in need, the the team carried along a dozen or so quilts we've made.  The recipients of those quilts were grateful for them, knowing that we provide them for their warmth and comfort.  

Here are pictures of some of the Hope Village quilts, both complete and in progress.  We're making eighteen quilts, both single and double bed sizes.  Several of the quilts will be on display soon before being sent to Ghana.  Be watching for them in the next few weeks.

These are some Hope Quilters who attended Saturday.  Not everyone got captured by the camera.

More "eye candy" from Hope Quilters

May 10th Work Day

May 10^th brought another wonderful day of fellowship and quilting.  We had new members attending, including one who made her first quilt top entirely during the work day!  

We welcome all quilters and want-to-be quilters.  If you have a sewing machine and are open to learning to make a simple quilt, please come to the next work day June 14^th.

We are continuing to use the beautiful Ghana fabrics to make altar cloths.  These are a few of the ones Christy brought in on Saturday.  They'll be sent to Ghana with the Mission Team in June.   

We've also begun to make quilts for Hope Village in Ghana.

This is one of the first nearing completion.  

We always have show and tell - - 

 The front and back of this colorful small quilt

Wow, look at this beauty made by Tiffany.
We'll add the Riverside label and deliver it for the August quilt auction.
Here's the back of the quilt.

More show and tell - - 

Heather brought in this Noah's Ark quilt.  A child is going to sleep well under this wonderful quilt.

Summer just began learning to make a quilt.  A very enthusiastic new Hope Quilter!

At the end of the work day - - - a complete quilt top!  Wow!  

This is what learning quilting is all about - helping a new quilter make her first quilt.  

Hope Quilters hard at work doing what we love to do.  Helping one another pick out just the right fabrics, cutting, ironing and sewing the quilt tops.