Moving Forward!!

Community Day Sale

Well, the Community Day Sale is over! It was a long ride this time with donations down. It took some extra time to even approach my typical goal for booklets sold before the sale day. With the shifts I got during the sale days however, it all came out great! Turnout both days was wonderful and in those two days I sold about 80% as many as I had before the sale! In the end, I was happily exhausted! I'm sure it will be a week or two before I can even think about the spring sale.

Mary-Thon

You may remember me telling you about the Mary-Thon about this time last year - a commitment to work out for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week for 26 consecutive weeks. I did sign up mostly because I wanted to support Mary in her efforts; I thought it was a fun idea, and I had already decided to work out more in the new year anyway. Surprisingly...it actually did help me keep that resolution. I not only finished the Mary-Thon, but also went on to complete her Mega Mary-Thon after that.

The whole idea was so successful that Mary is going to do it again...with some added twists! She did find with the 2011 program that several people dropped out pretty quickly. When she decided to do another year, she wanted to somehow provide more incentive for participants to stick with it. In her research, she found that having a financial investment helped people follow through. So, as she designed the 2012 program, she made some big changes, including different levels of participation. As a Premium Mary-thoner, you will be entitled to a Moving Forward Mary-thon T-shirt, bracelet, downloadable tracking sheet, pledge, racing bib, motivational support, and a  finisher certificate and beautiful finisher medal when you cross the finish line! There is a $35 fee for participating as a Premium Mary-Thoner or Half-Mary-Thoner BUT!!! $15 of that will go to your favorite Project Linus Chapter if they are participating... and, of course, yours is!!! There are no stipulations on the kind of exercise, or even that you do all 30 minutes at the same time; you can do 3 10-minutes segments in a day, or even 6 5-minute segments. You can run, do weights, yoga, walk...whatever works for YOU! The goal is to just keep moving and to finish by December 31, 2012.

There is still the option of participating for free, it just doesn't include the T-Shirt, medal, etc. Also, for those who feel 26 weeks is just too much of a commitment to make, she has added a Half Mary-Thon option as well.

If you're interested, please see her Mary-Thon webpage for more info and the registration form... http://www.marython.net/ 

If you do sign up, remember to put down the Great Falls, MT Chapter of Project Linus as the recipient of the $15. I hope you'll join me!

Blanket Days

Our next Great Falls blanket day is this Saturday. Right now, the forecast is calling for some snow...hopefully not too much. As I've mentioned, we'll be doing Gina Halladay's I'll Tumble for You Quilt. Cute, easy and QUICK!!!

I'm not sure when I'll do another one in Helena, but I hope to be able to work one in soon.

Enjoy these last days of autumn!!!
gina

Community Day Sale!

Hi everyone!

Well, I haven't had a chance to mention it much (or at all!), but the Herberger's Community Day Sale is this weekend! It is actually a two-day sale this time...Friday and Saturday, November 11 & 12. I have been busy selling the coupon books - it's been much more difficult this time - you can really tell that folks are being a bit more cautious about their money. Even with that hurdle, I have secured some spots on the sale days! If I remember correctly, you can find me Friday noon to 2 at the Better Sportswear door (north side, facing Starbucks) then 2 to 4 at the Customer Service door (on the south side.) On Saturday I will be there noon to 2, I believe at the Customer Service door. The coupon book is similar to the others... $5 donation gets you one $10 off coupon good on almost any item (very few exceptions), an early bird up to 30% off an item, amount depending on what you buy, an up to 20% off shopping pass good both days, specific item coupons, and an up to 30% off online coupon!

I've been taking advantage of some of the sales JoAnn's has had getting some flannel for quilt backs and some fleece. One of my purchases was the biggest ever for a couple of the ladies there...is that a good thing? Whether it is or not...we have some supplies! I'm still waiting for their Day-After-Thanksgiving flyer to see if it will be worth going and standing in line for hours. That is probably the only reason I would go shopping that day. :)

We've been having some fun at our blanket days this fall - if you haven't been to one yet, I hope you'll join us soon! I had several ladies who expressed an interest as I was selling the coupon books...maybe we'll see some new faces! We'll be doing Gina Halladay's I'll Tumble for You pattern in November.

All for now! Hope to see you all soon!!!
gina

What a great day!

Hi everyone!

Today was our October Blanket Bee and what a fun day I had! We had some Spiderweb Blocks dropped off early and others that were created today! I can't wait to start putting them together. I'm sure we'll get at least 2 nice sized quilt tops out of them, maybe three! We had two fringed fleece blankets braided, several more 10" squares cut, more fleece readied for a crocheted edge...just so much accomplished!!! We met Irene - she came because she didn't want to sit at home and do nothing - she wanted to help! It was so wonderful to meet you, Irene, and we hope to see you again next month!

Neither Marsha nor I...nor Cindy could remember what block we have planned for November. Well, I looked - it's the I'll Tumble For You Block! This one is fun and FAST! We'll have several quilt tops done by the end of the day.

Thanks everyone who could make it, Sharon all the way from Helena!, and thanks to those who couldn't make it but had projects dropped off. You are all just the BEST!!!

Enjoy this lovely autumm!!!
gina

Getting Ready!

Hello everyone!

Well, what a summer it's been and it's almost over already! I was shocked when I learned that one of my nieces already started school.

September is just around the corner, and so are our Blanket Bees! I came back from my Project Linus Conference with SO MANY fun, maybe even exciting, ideas! The 'theme' this year will be scrappy quilts of large blocks. I have a goal of increasing the number of blankets we distribute by 100 per month this year. That's going to take some work, but I'm hearing from different organizations who would like to receive our blankets. More on one of those is a little further down.

Blanket Bees!
We will be meeting the 3rd Saturday of the month, starting in September at the Moose Lodge. We will have a planned quilt block for every month, and of course, we will have some fleece and yarn for those who don't sew. If there are four knitters out there who would like to try something new...I learned a method where 4 people knit on the same blanket at the same time! It was so cool!

For the quilters, my proposed blocks by month are below...

• September - Easy 4-Patches and/or Disappearing 4-Patches
• October - Spiderweb Block
• November - I'll Tumble for You Block
• December - 10-minute Block
• January - Surprise!
• February - Happy Hearts Block
• March - Charming Pinwheel or 3 Dimensional Pinwheel Block
• April - Sew Simple Pineapple Block
• May - Flower Patch Block

Marsha, Cindy and I are already getting things geared up, getting some kits cut for folks to take home, things like that...so we're jazzed! We hope you are as well!

A Thank You
I mentioned that there are organizations that are requesting PL blankets. One request came in a Thank You I received today. It is below.

Hello. My name is T~ and I am with the Ezekiel Foundation, based out of Helena. We are a new group that is forming to support families with newborn babies who have been diagnosed with Down Syndrome.

When our son, I~, was born two years ago, he was diagnosed with Down Syndrome. We live in Lincoln and when he was three days old, we were sent to the Great Falls emergency room because he was turning purple and having trouble breathing. There we were met with much compassion and kindness as he was diagnosed with a heart condition known as an AV canal. Later that night I~ and I were life-flighted to the children's hospital in Salt Lake City UT. But before we left, my new baby was wrapped in a beautiful fleece blanket (double sided even!) donated by the Great Falls branch of Project Linus. I carried that blanket with me throughout the whole ordeal of the cardiac intensive care unit where we were away from family and friends. I can't tell you what that blanket meant to me at that time. In months that followed, it was like a badge of security and strength - something good from the hospital showing that we were survivors. We will keep that blanket for always.

Now we are working to help new families that face the many issues wrapped around having the blessing of a baby born with down syndrome. We want to put together a package that will be delivered within 24 hours to these families. The packages will include vital information about Down syndrome, doctor referrals, videos showing children and families thriving along with a hat, cocoon and blankets Our goal is to provide these for every newborn child born with Down Syndrome who is born in the state of Montana.

It has been difficult to track down the exact number of babies born with D.S. in Montana each year. There are approximately 5,000 babies born with this syndrome in the U.S. each year. We know that Montana is at the low end of the scale of those annual births. We wanted to approach your organization to see if you might be able to contribute blankets to these kits. We would like to start out with 20-25 kits put together for the upcoming year.

Please let us know your policies and procedures when asking for a donation of this type.

We look forward to hearing from you and working with you in the future. Thank you for your time and consideration.

I said we would be happy to furnish blankets for these kits. I asked if they had any size or type requirements or preferences. When I hear back, I'll pass that info along to you.

Challenge Blocks
How are those challenge blocks and bags of fabric coming along? I still have some of the challenge fabric if anyone didn't get some and would like to make some blocks. There is a fabric for a boy quilt and another for a girl quilt. I've already received a few blocks and they are CUTE! Remember, the block should be 12 1/2" x 12 1/2" so it will finish 12" x 12".

I think that's all for now. I'm still enjoying summer but looking forward to seeing everyone again!

Hugs!
gina

Well, another fun day! One easy, fun class...one that could use a lot of scraps! One more detailed...but a beautiful quilt in the end. EXPO booths covered the Disappearing 9-patch, a turtle square, a paper-pieced sail boat, and an easy pin-wheel. The knitting-crocheting booth had a method of knitting in the round that includes 4 people knitting on the same project at the same time! That was kind of fun! A busy, busy day filled with ideas!

Hi all- 

Jim asked me to send out a reminder for the size of the challenge squares - the squares to be made using fabric we handed out in May...one piece for boys, one for girls.  The squares should be 12 1/2 x 12 1/2 inches...once they are in a quilt they will finish to 12 x 12 inches.  If you didn't get any pieces of the challenge fabric and would like some... let me know. I'll get some to you somehow. Colette J has already finished something like 4 blocks with the girl fabric and 2 with the boy fabric... and her square are fun!! 

I'm at PL Institute right now....wrapping up the first day. Took a couple of classes of very easy quilts...one from Gina Halladay of Threaded Pear Quilts and one from Pat Speth of 5 Inch is a Cinch. Both kind of scrappy quilts so some great ideas for using some fabric. In fact, the second class was done with 5 inch squares... and they were some of the oddest fabrics I could imagine and I was not liking the looks of the blocks at all. But here's the magic! Once I put them together... a bit of sashing between... it looks really nice! I'll post some pictures tomorrow.  EXPO is tomorrow...lots of ideas, make and take booths, and a couple more classes!

Karen Loucks Rinedollar has written a book that was just published on the Project Linus story...she has that here. I'll send another note tomorrow with an update!

And for those who are wondering - I did finish my challenge quilt!!!!!!! It's a miracle!!! 

gina

Hi all-  Jim asked me to send out a reminder for the size of the challenge squares - the squares to be made using fabric we handed out in May...one piece for boys, one for girls.  The squares should be 12 1/2 x 12 1/2 inches...once they are in a quilt they will finish to 12 x 12 inches.  If you didn't get any pieces of the challenge fabric and would like some... let me know. I'll get some to you somehow. Colette J has already finished something like 4 blocks with the girl fabric and 2 with the boy fabric... and her square are fun!!  I'm at PL Institute right now....wrapping up the first day. Took a couple of classes of very easy quilts...one from Gina Halladay of Threaded Pear Quilts and one from Pat Speth of 5 Inch is a Cinch. Both kind of scrappy quilts so some great ideas for using some fabric. In fact, the second class was done with 5 inch squares... and they were some of the oddest fabrics I could imagine and I was not liking the looks of the blocks at all. But here's the magic! Once I put them together... a bit of sashing between... it looks really nice! I'll post some pictures tomorrow.  EXPO is tomorrow...lots of ideas, make and take booths, and a couple more classes! Karen Loucks Rinedollar has written a book that was just published on the Project Linus story...she has that here. I'll send another note tomorrow with an update and some photos!  I'll put these all on the blog once I can get back in.... password issues.  And for those who are wondering - I did finish my challenge quilt!!!!!!! It's a miracle!!!  gina

More Thank You Notes!

Hello Everyone!

Well, it seems it might finally try to shift to spring! With spring comes lots of work for me. I've been to Glasgow twice and am currently in West Yellowstone.

Blankets to Japan
Through it all, I did manage to get 211(!) blankets shipped off for Japan. A big 'Thanks' to everyone who either contributed blankets, collected blankets or helped me box and ship the blankets (that would be my Sweet Baboo...) We received donations from Helena, Great Falls, the Triangle Squares Quilt Guild, the Dutton H.S. FCCLA (they made the blankets for International Day!)...and some I don't even know where they came from. The response was not as great as it was for Haiti (but then I was a little afraid to advertise it like I did for Haiti - the response then was so overwhelming!!), but it was still heartwarming. We more than doubled my original commitment to send 100 blankets! Last I heard, Project Linus as a whole was up to almost 8,000 blankets shipped.

Also, a huge 'Thanks!' to those who contributed money to help pay for the postage. We couldn't have done this without your generosity!

I know these blankets will be tremendously appreciated! As were two others...

Two more Thank You's!

Just a note to thank you for the beautiful blanket my son received in the hospital. He is 8 weeks old & we were recently air-lifted to Seattle Children's Hospital from Helena - Having something homemade was a bright spot in our lives. Thank you - A & R

I just wanted to write and say thank you so much for the thoughtful service you provide! Our Son, S, recently received one of the blankets donated to St. Pete's Hospital in Helena - he was there having an MRI done. The blanket was a bright spot in a stressful day and we thank you for that. Fortunately, our son's result came back absolutely fine, and the blanket is now used daily in his play area. Thanks again for the wonderful thing you do! D, A and S Helena, MT

Our last Great Falls Blanket Bee for the season!
Saturday, May 14 will be our last Blanket Bee of the season. Unfortunately, it is the same day as the Holiday Village Mall Community Day. I missed the last Blanket Bee last year, and really don't want to do that again. So, I'm wondering if anyone would want to the the event at the mall? It is just an information event...no fund-raising allowed. The times are almost the same as our Blanket Bee. If anyone would like to do this, please let me know. Otherwise, I'm afraid we'll have to skip the mall event this year.

We'll be having a pot luck for this Bee...please RSVP to the evite, and when you do, there will be a box where you can indicate the type dish you want to bring.

We'll restart the Bees in September, and I'm going to try to change them to the 3rd Saturday of the month at that time.

May Blanket Bee in Helena
We will have a spring Blanket Bee at Prickly Pear Quilts in Helena on Saturday, May 21st! Donna tells me that is the same weekend as the Helena Quilt Show and, hopefully, there won't be much going on with my job that weekend. I'll send out the evite with all the info soon.

Blankets for TAPS
Ann A. has again been busy and created 6 blankets to contribute to the TAPS - Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. She gave them to me at the quilt show this past weekend...but they got some photos they plan to bring for show and tell! Thanks Ann!! They're wonderful!

Quilt Show Entries
Did you all make it to the Falls Quilt Guild Quilt Show last weekend? Some beautiful quilts were there to be seen, and two were from Project Linus. Cindy J. took the time to enter the quilts with a nice little write-up for each. Then, the Guild added website and contact information and our logo! It was so exciting to see your work hanging there and have others help to share information about our organization! I had a great time! Thanks, Cindy!

I look forward to seeing you all soon!!
All for now!
gina

More Thank You Notes!

Another Thank You!

Wow! I don't receive any for months and then I get three Thank You's in a few weeks! The note is below... it is very sweet.

My daughter, Daisy, received a tied Daisy blanket while we were in the hospital Feb 15th-Feb19th, 2011. She turned 3 while in the hospital. This was her 6th hospital stay since she was born and has health issues. She had RSV this hospital stay with a stomach virus. She is still recovering at home. She sleeps with her Daisy blanket at the foot of her Dora bed every night. Thank you all very much!!!

You couldn't be there to hold her hand;
Something in my heart says you understand
You couldn't be there to give her a hug'
but she grabbed her new blankie and gave it a snug.
You couldn't be there to dry her tears;
but her blanket made with love will be with her for years.

I was sitting there in her room in the middle of the night;
My heart filled with uncertainty, full of motherly fright.
When I saw the Project Linus poem starring at me;
I thought of all the selfless people who were thinking of my daughter and her needs.
I held that blanket and my baby who was wrapped up in it tight;
I knew I was lucky for I could feel the love
that was tucked inside this blanket in the dead of the cold winter night.

I dried my tears soon and I smiled awhile;
thinking of all the people who go the extra mile.
I thought of all of you who take the time to make
a blanket for a child they had never even met;
It is something a Mother like me will never forget!

To all the people that make Project Linus happen.....thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Evite Issues
It has come to my attention that the last evite, and for all I know others before that, didn't go out to everyone. I don't know why. I have to send another for our day in Helena so I'll check the list after I send it to see if I can figure it out. Meantime, unless something really big comes up, you can plan on the Blanket Bee's being the 2nd Saturday of the month at the Moose Lodge through May.

See you Saturday!!
gina