January 2019 Work Day Recap

What a great weekend to stay inside and quilt!    We had quite a crowd on Friday and despite the snow on Saturday, we had just as many people as usual.  Can't wait to see what God has in store for us this year.

We turned in 15 finished quilts.  Many of the flannel quilts are coming in.  They all felt so warm and comfortable!   We have several more quick and easy flannel kits if you want to make the next one!  The kit bin has quite a variety of other kits too.  Some fun tops!!

Several people brought in their cat blocks.  These quilts are going to be so cute.  I think we probably got 12 turned in.  Don't worry if you haven't done yours yet.  We have until May.  We are looking for a brown or tan paw print fabric for sashing if anyone happens to have some in their stash!  

Cute cat blocks made by individuals!  Will make an adorable quilt!

Here are some of the finished quilts turned in this month, a great start to a new year!

December 2018 Work Day Recap

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:

                                       “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
                                                   their righteousness endures forever.”

2 Corinthians 9:7-9

A recent Hope sermon was about giving generously but only if you can do it joyfully.  The focus was on financial giving but it also applies to what happens at Hope Quilters monthly!  Every one of the members who attend give of their time, talent and resources so joyfully! 

Just to reiterate how you've given joyfully and generously, the total count of donated quilts this year is 209.  These went to Hope Ministries, LSI, YESS, Ruth Harbor, JOPPA, Okoboji and Riverside quilt auctions.

That is a lot of love that has been given in the year of 2018!  Thank you to all who have felt the tug of the Holy Spirit to give of your talents in this ministry! May He continue to bless this ministry in the New Year!

(Continue scrolling after the December quilt photos to read about another project Hope Quilters 

has been involved with, working with LSI who partners with Slumberland for a bed giveaway!)

Since 2016 Hope Quilters has been making twin sized bed quilts for Lutheran Service of Iowa (LSI) to be distributed to young children in our area.  Slumberland's community giving program is called 40 Winks.  They partner with LSI and other organizations to identify children who don't have a bed to sleep in.  Take a look!   40 Winks Foundation by Slumberland

For some time they had just been distributing only the mattress and frames.  In 2016 we were asked if we'd be interested in making quilts to go with the beds.  So we gladly set off to help fulfill this mission.  We have so much fun making quilts for young boys and girls.

Jody Eubank with all the goods!  Quilts in there somewhere!

This year we were invited to attend the distribution kick off.  All the donors and agencies that helped were treated to breakfast before the distribution.  It was great to see how this all comes together.  

Slumberland works with The Knights of Columbus who deliver all the beds.  This year they gave away 90 beds.  Not only did each person get a bed and a quilt, but their gift also included a new pillow and pillowcase and a bag of food.  Many generous donors came together to help make this successful.

November 2018 Work Day Recap

A Quilter's Prayer

Take the pieces of my life

And stitch them together

According to Your will.

May I yield to the pricks of Your needle

So that Your stitches

May surround me with the pattern of your love.

May I allow You to order the squares

Any way You want,

To pattern me by Your design

So that all will know

You quilted me.

From "Discovering the Patterns of Life's Grace and Beauty" by Debbie Salter Goodwin

November's Hope Quilter weekend was well attended, even though the temperature was heading downhill because after all, it was November!

But warmly inviting quilts of all sizes were created or finalized or dropped off.  It's always an encouragement after the meeting to see the pile of lovingly made quilts that will head off to various organizations and in turn...into the hands of those who really need them.

A few members worked on making kits, and I hear there are some flannel kits that will be ready to go in December.  Kits are a great way of starting out making a quilt for Hope Quilt Ministry, if you want to give it a try!

Here are some of the finished quilts from November:

Some quilts for the kiddos:

Many bright, beautiful colors!

October 2018 Work Day Recap

JOPPA month has come and gone.  How appropriate that our devotion was based on this verse from John 6:12 - Gather the pieces that are left over.  Let nothing be wasted.

What is JOPPA you ask?  Take a look at their website. http://www.joppa.org/  Our blankets are going to help keep homeless people warm this winter. I know they are not the most fun projects to sew.  But we have been given the cast off pieces and creativity to do something with them and there certainly is a need so it is such a blessing to focus on this project once a year.  And even though attendance was down this year we still turned in 25 blankets that will go to JOPPA.  Praise God!

Reminder:

February and May 2019: We are moving our Work Day to the 3rd Saturday due to conflicts with our room.  Mark calendars accordingly.

An excerpt from our devotion:

"It is quilting theology, God takes the pieces of our lives and stitches them together, working His will for the good of those who love Him.  With His handiwork, life isn't limited to one square.  It is a pattern of squares where beauty depends on variety and no single square tells the whole story.  They must be seen together - like a quilt.

Debbie Satler Goodwin

Take a look at the quilt blocks in your life.  I now see a wonderfully beautiful section of my life's quilt and I call it Hope Quilters.  I hope you do too!  ~Jody

JOPPA quilts end up being very sturdy and warm for the recipients:

Other quilts turned in this month:

September 2018 Work Day Recap

Oh my, what an energetic weekend we had!  The room was filled to the brim.  Over the course of the two days, we probably had twenty-five of you in attendance, either sewing or prepping for next month!  Great fun.

While it wasn't an official JOPPA sewing day, we did work to get organized for next month's focus.  We were able to "kit" 20-25 blankets so they are ready to sew next month (most will only be a few seams).  Praying for great attendance next month too so we can whip these out.  They are so much appreciated.

Results from the Okoboji quilt auction are in.  Our quilts brought a total of $1000.  Riverside Auction quilts brought $900.  Well done sisters! 

We turned in 14 finished quilts to Missions along with four JOPPA blankets.  Some Hope Quilters helped put some collections together for several 3-6-9 quilts so the kit box is overflowing again  These particular kits are great for beginner quilters so be sure to check them out!

Here are some of this month's finished quilts!

Always AMAZING how many quilts are ready to go to various missions every month!  Fourteen total for September!

Examples of JOPPA quilts!

                                                       Some of the children's quilts


                                       Vibrant colors, creative patterns, stitched with love!

August 2018 Work Day Recap

Sorry it's been a while since I've posted.  Have been having a problem with the login.  Will try to get things up to date.

On a more interesting note.......had a wonderful weekend of quilting at LCOH this month.  Smaller than usual crowd due to vacations and the State Fair.  We did have a few new ladies as well and it was delightful to see the power of the Holy Spirit is stitching our lives together through friendship and a common love of quilting.

Show and Tell was beautiful as always.  You ladies do such good work with the fabric we are blessed with.  I know your love for others is in everything you do, whether it's remembered love based on how your acquired the love of quilting or the fabric you are using, or it's love for the people who will receive your quilt.

See the Photos Tab for more pictures but here are a few I wanted to point to as great examples of fun, easy and interesting way to use our fabric scraps.:

This is a group of floral prints that have been around for a while.  Not anyone's favorite so they go unused.  Yet ask someone to pick out some colors and print that go together and use them in a quilt and look at what beauty can happen.  And the comments at Show and Tell......"wow, look how the angled seams set this off", " I ran out of binding but adding some from a new fabric just enhanced the look"......   Remember gals, there is beauty in everything you do when glorifying god!

Another example: 

"these are all fabrics from my Aunt who has gifted me with such a love of quilting.  The fabrics were old fashioned and not real bright but putting them all together with some big polka dots makes for a refreshing quilt for some little young boy."  

And this pattern is a favorite for our youngsters.  We take any kind of kids print (super heroes, teddy bears, butterflies, cowboys, animals, polka dots, bright color. and put them all together in simple rows.  A great quilt for a beginner to start with.  I can only imagine the children getting these quits at Christmas time with their new beds.

November 2017 Work Day Recap

November's work day had us focused on a couple of things.  The first was to finished up as many Joppa blankets as we could.  It's getting so cold out that we want to share these as soon as possible.  We turned in 11 more blankets to Missions on Saturday.

The second priority this weekend was to make a dent in our collections of fabric strips.  See the photo tab for some of our day's accomplishments.  This can be really fun to do as a group and we'll get some stunning quilts from our efforts.  Stay posted!

not sure when you gals have the time but we also turned in 13 finished quilts to Missions.  These will be distributed to Hope Ministries, Youth Emergency Shelter and Services, Lutheran Services of Iowa and some women's shelters.  Here are a few of those finished quilts.  What beauties!