Work and Quilting

I truly envy those of you that can do this for a living or be able to stay home and just quilt. Many times I must gather up my pieces and put them away for several days while work interrupts the rest of my life. Oh, such is the dream I have of living by the ocean and sitting on my porch making quilts for the tourists and locals. DREAM ON, I know, but we must all have a dream & it is possible!

Today, I was thinking how very important it is that we get acknowledgement for helping others and how out of all the quilts I have made, I have received only a few thank you's back from the recipients and how special those thank you' were to me and how I may have been remiss in thanking those that help me.

So, let me start here with the many thanks to those who have helped me help others:

1- Sue Bailey for donating to me all the left over fabric and thread she had from her quilt shop in Texas. So far, I have made 11 quilts and still have lots of stuff to use up.
2- Tracy Turner for donating to me an entire bolt of fabric that I was able to use for batting for many of those quilts.
3- GDV (you know who you are) for $50 donation and for believing in the dream with me to help others.
4-Martha Simak for $10 dontation, you always were ready to share with others.
5- My husband for putting up with the days on end he has to carefully walk around the living room floor to not step on or kick a quilt piece out of place. I love you for you!
6-My granddaughter for all her help a 5 year old can give me while tying and pinning quilts.
7-911 Cares (Kevin, Lisa and Staff) for the cash and WalMart gift cards to keep the dream alive.
8- Paula Paine at Ottawa University for wanting to publish my story in the Alumni magazine.
9- My customers who have purchased quilts as gifts for friends and family members, all your money helps and your trust in my abilities is appreciated.
10- Kyle and Patty Petty for showing me that helping others is the greatest gift we can give, may God continue to bless you and hold you in His arms.

Never forget: 'To the world you many be one person. To one person, you may be the world!.'

We can all make a difference in someones life, starting today. All we need is a little faith. Do you have enough faith to reach out and help support my cause? Do you not trust me because everyone has a gimmick today? If you want to help support those men and women who answer the call for help everday, every hour, every minute somewhere when they say, '911 what is your emergency?' Please contact me so together, we can help someone in need.

Real People, Real Needs..Police (911) Dispatchers

I am not one to beg or borrow money, but I am putting out this appeal to any of you reading this. There is a real need to help police dispatchers in times of trouble and I am one of those reaching out. I have made 14 quilts so far for dispatchers who lost everything to the Hurricanes last year. I still have 6 to go for one department.

However, the flooding on the east coast took its toll this year and while it may not be as catastrophic as Katrina/Rita was, many people lost their homes. Several of those are police dispatchers in New York state. Recently I was contacted to make 5 quilts for the children of these dispatchers.

HELP ME TO HELP THEM!! Right now, I am in desperate need of cash to mail these quilts off. Even $5 or $10 helps. I could really use some more batting (crib-king) if you don't want to send cash. For the cost of a couple of Starbucks you can help to help those that help you.

Police dispatchers are a wonderful group of people that work hard, long hours, give up so much to their community and yet rarely does anyone say 'thanks.' All the thanks go out to police officers and fire fighters, not the people that took the call to get the proper personnel on scene.

There are fire fighters associations and police groups that take in donations to support those in need when they fall and yet, there is nothing in place for dispatchers. Does this mean their jobs are less important? I don't believe that, I believe dispatchers do a very important job and it is their ears and ears alone that alert officers to call dangers.

Won't you reach into your pocket, count your change and send it to me so I can continue to help those in need? Quilts cost aprx $15 and up to send depending on the size of the box and number of quilts sent out.

Come on America! Help support 911 Dispatchers!!

Send donations to:

Jean Kester
P.O. Box 1652
Avondale, AZ 85323

Quilt Pictures

I received a request from someone to add some more photos of my Retirement Quilt: Red Hat quilts, so here are 2 more. One I made for a friend who retired to
Society was the theme. Missouri where she promptly went right back to work. Hey girlie!
The baby girl quilt ( I have 2) were made for a friend of my son
Crib Quilt, back is pink roses however, when the child came into this world, it was a boy!
for a girl in seersucker. So, I have 2 baby girl quilts up for sale $50.
Closer view of the 'Red Hat,'
retirement quilt.

Stretched across my couch.

Close up on the detail.
Enjoy and let me know what you think!

Lets Barter

I know everyone out there in cyber world has something they bought at one time in their life that they don't want or need for quilting or anything else. Maybe you are an obsessive fabric hoarder and you have fabric from years ago you still don't know what to do with.

Perhaps you have an over amount of thread, needles, quilting squares, mats, pins, patterns, magazines etc. Whatever it is, I know there is something I need that I don't have yet, see my wish list on another post. I need needle holders, thread, etc. I am willing to barter for these things. Maybe you just have something totally unrelated to quilting you think I might need, let me know.

In exchange, I have aprons, doll quilts, crib quilts and other sized quilts I am willing to barter for those things I need. So, let me know what you have and I will let you know if I can use it. What a great way for those of us that stay at home or have limited finances to maybe get what we want at a bargain price.

So many blogs and not enough time

Wow! Today, I found lots of quilting blogs and all were so great to read and see all the pictures, it is amazing how everyone that quilts shows a piece of their own hearts. Some in charity work, some in sharing with others, some teaching those of us that need to learn. I am just amazed that we can all reach out to each other this way.

One of the neat ones I discovered was called 'Prayers and Squares,' people that get together and pray while making quilts for a person in need. That was pretty cool. It is also great to know in spite of what we hear about charity misdoings, so many of us still try to reach out and touch others hearts.

Keep up all the great work everyone, I know what you do inspires me in so many ways. Even if it is just the inspiration to keep quilting or take some time out of my busy day to relax and read what others are doing.

Here are a few pictures of the latest quilt I mailed out to a dispatcher in Mississippi. The woman requested a king size quilt in yellow. I found a quick pattern in Quick Quilts and completed this with a yellow sheet on the back (anyone know where I can buy wide backing material, would appreciate an Email on it). it was then hand tied by myself and my 5 year old granddaughter.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Are you wondering what this subject has to do with quiting? Well, in my own life, it has plenty to do with it. You see, my husband and are raising 3 grandchildren ages 3, 4 & 5 years of age. They are wonderful and beautiful but for those who are raising children now or are done with raising children, you will never know what it is like to suddenly find yourself parents at 50 years of age.

The quilts I make and sell go to help support these children. Oh sure, I have a full time job (remember I work 12 hours a day dealing with the public), but there is never any extra money left to do the things that needs to be done like jump in the RV and go fishing over night, or take a trip to Disneyland or watch the Circus. So any extra money that comes in for the sale of the quilts goes to a savings account for them.

They are the ones that work much harder than I do to get these quilts out. The smaller 2 help me pin the quilts together, the oldest threads needles and ties the quilts together with me. Trust me when I say, she has done this long enough that I can now leave her to tie one together on her own without my guidance.

While many people think I need my time with my husband, they are right, but on the other hand, when the house is quiet, we don't know what to do with ourselves.

I have been working on research to write a book on this subject, so if anyone reading this knows grandparents that are raising grandchildren have them contact me if they are willing to fill out an anonymous questionaire (?) about this subject.

Hoping to add more pictures soon!

Budgeting for Quilts

We as Christians are commanded to do well with the things we have and to share with those that have not. Unfortunately upon looking at my budget I have been so bent on helping others that I have put my own finances in jeopardy. Well, that isn't any of your concerns, just an eye opener for me with a caution to others that want to reach out and help. Do so with a willing heart, but watch your budget. Don't put yourself in the red trying to help others.

Be kind to one another, love one another, help each other, but don't put your own finances into jeopardy for each other. Just be cautious of where you are spending your money. I am working on a budget for myself, can you tell? But I firmly believe it is all apart of Gods bigger plan for my life and my purpose here on earth.

I will not stop making my quilts, but think I should make a few more to sell so I can put money back into my budget to support my giving heart.

I welcome any suggestions here!

Not a cooling rain

While working last night, we had (here in the Phoenix area), 2 back to back storms complete with their own sound and lighting shows. A bit of rain (enough to flood the washes and roads in some spots) and I should know better after all these years, but I had to step outside and feel the refreshing cool of the rain. WRONG!! It was like getting into a stifling sauna. So, not only will today be hotter than we all know where, it is going to be stifling with humidity. Don't buy the sales pitch 'it's a dry heat,' because for part of the summer, its as sticky as the southern states.

What to do today with 3 little ones and no sleep? Well, going anywhere is definitely out of the question because I am not in shape to drive, so will find a quilting project the kids can help me with and we will work on that.

Asking the Lord to bless me in bunches today!

I can't sleep, so I'll quilt...

I have been on the 12 hour graves exactly 2 days now and I can't sleep again. So, I decided it is time to get up and work on my latest quilt and I can take it to work this evening and during down time, I can tie it together.

It is a small lap or infants quilt that is blue flannel on one side and blue and golden brown weaving/lattice on the other. It would make a great light weight quilt for an infant in the summer or a nice lap quilt for a road trip, sitting in an RV or even someone in a nursing home.

I feel right now that God is calling my family on a wonderful journey and I don't know what it is right now but I do believe it has to do with my quilting. I have always dreamed of living in a 2 story home with a wrap around porch (you know like the porch on Cracker Barrell Restaurants) that has a white picket fence and all along the railings I would hang my quilts and aprons out to sell.

Please trust me when I say I am not as talented as the Amish and would never claim to be. Their tiny stitches, beautiful piecing quilts are so intricate. Perhaps someday I will be able to sit down and watch or be invited to particitpate in one of their quilting parties, but right now, I do believe God has given me a gift and that gift is making cherished heirlooms for others.

Well, now I am getting sleepy again, so off to bed I go!

Tears in Memorium

Wow! I never knew how many memories a quilt could express for someone that just looked at one, but today I found out and it warmed my heart.

I took another quilt to the UPS store and as usual, I didn't have it taped up (why buy tape when the kids will have it all over the house??). The clerk I always see asked if she could open the box and peek inside. I didn't have a problem so I said 'go right ahead.'

She opened it up and began tearing up and just gently stroking the quilt in the box. 'My grandmother once made me a yellow and pink quilt and this one brings back such good memories.' She then looked up at me and said, 'thank you for being such a blessing to those who receive these quilts.'

So, if I ever had any doubts that I am on the right path to what God wants me to do even part-time, I don't any longer. I am to reach out and touch hearts and souls.

All my doubts and fears went out the window today when sitting in the dentist office looking over my newest quilting catalog (that I can't afford to buy out of) and seeing a saying that said: "
'Remember Only God Is Perfect Our Quilts Don't Need To Be.' Something god has been speaking to me about alot lately.

I have 2 baby girl quilts available for $50 each if anyone is interested. They were made for someone and well, the ultrasound was wrong and they had a boy. Oh well, back to the design board.

Still looking for donations. If anyone is interested in helping me with my quilts so I can keep up my work, here is a website and a wishlist. Just place your order and send them in care of me at Jean Kester P.O. Box 1652 Avondale, AZ 85323.

www.connectingthreads.com

1-Country Thread Set #20911 $23.85
2-Pastel Thread Set #20909 $7.95
3-Bright Thread Set # 20910 $15.90
4- Variegated Thread Set #20912 $23.90
5- Beary Merry Christmas Kit #108997 $30.50 **Can make, sell and use $$ to go back into quilts for charity. ***OUT OF STOCK***
6-Lancaster Lesson Sampler #108778 $17.60
7-Applique Gold Needles Size 10 #20932 $2.75 per set
8-Milliners Gold Needles Size 10 #20936 $2.75
9- Big Eye Quilting Needles Size 10 & 11 $3.35 per set ***Received from donor***
10- Aunt Becky's Finger Saver #80688 $3.29
11- Wooden Needle Case small (2) #80659 $0.80 each ***Received from donor***
Wooden Needle Case Large (2) #80970 $1.10 each ***Received from donor***
13-Scissors Leashes (both/1 for small and 1 for large) #60651 & #60463 $6.99 each ***Received from donor***
14- Quilters Need to Know Card #80932 $5.95 each
15-Fons and Porter's Perfect Binding Cards #81035 $5.95
16- Triangle Measurement Card #80595 $4.00
17- Machine Needle Threader #81659 $5.59
18- Sew Easy Guide #81785 $5.00
19- Machine Seam Gauge & Adhesive Guide #81716 $4.89
20- Pop Top Carry All #81661 $1.99 ***Received from donor***

Now, that sounds and looks like lots, but many of the needs are under $5.00 and all gifts will be recognized on the blog and by mail if you let me know what you sent with a return address.
***At this time, I would like to thank the donor that provided the above supplies as well as the book on Bargello quilts. May God Bless you, dispatchers everywhere will be blessed by your generosity.***

Millions of people in the world, hundreds reading blogs and yet, I can't believe no one has read mine, no one has responded to any of my posts. Am I that boring? To traditional? Think this is a scam? It's not, watch the site for more pics soon.

Breast Cancer Quilt

For over a year now, I have had a completed quilt for Breast Cancer. I originally made it to sell on Ebay for charity with all the profits going for charity. It was a basic pieced quilt with breast cancer ribbons in various designs and colors with a soft as a cloud fleece back that I hand quilted the ribbons around the back.

I was only asking $75, but it never sold. Trust me it was well worth the $75. But the Lord showed me last week why it never sold. Logging onto 911 cares, I discovered a police dispatcher out of San Jose, CA that was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. The quilt was boxed up and mailed to her. God knew what was going on.

I met a man at UPS who told me my quilts were priceless because in today's world no one takes time to reach out to others and I am and he blessed me. I felt good about my quilting. They are like my children and I really do care about the people I send them to.

It is still hot here in Arizona & I am still looking for that wealthy person out there that is looking to treat grandparents and grandchildren to a trip to Sea World or Disneyland to get us out of the heat.

It is so sad to see my hubbies hard work on our lawns and shrubs and they are all dying. :(

I will keep writing, I figure sooner or later someone will trip across this and let me know they read by dribble!

Fabric, Fabric Everywhere

Well, I went into the fabric room today and realized I have enough fabric to make probably 20 or 30 quilts right now. The problem is, I have no batting or backing material to complete those quilts and no money to mail the quilts to much needed recipients. I am confident that God will provide for those needs!

If anyone needs a baby quilt, I seem to have a run on those, 2 in holding, 1 cut and ready to go. Dora fabric for a little girl, Winnie the Pooh fabric for a boy. Just let me know and we can talk prices!

My best friend is back from Montana. She feels certain God is leading me to quilt for charity and to take my quilts to the swap meet. On her way home, her and her family journeyed through parts of Utah, Colorado, Wyoming and stopped at antique shops, swap meets, etc. . She tells me the quality of quilts she saw was nothing compared to mine and truly feels mine are superior to what she saw being offered for between $200-Up.

Well, off to work this morning, it has been a nice 4 days off!

Be kind to one another and remember...'To the world you may be one person. To one person you may be the world!'

Get us out of here!

Help us please! There has to be someone out there (a philantropist, rich grandparent, rancher, etc.) someone who is willing to take pity on two struggling grandparents raising 3 grandchildren in this heat!

How bad is it? Oh Please, you did not just ask me that!! Yesterday while going to the UPS store to mail quilts off, the babies (3,4 & 5) were crying (real tears) that their legs and heads were burning while walking through the parking lot. Hello, 114 is air hot, not the heat that comes up off the pavement where the asphalt is probably closer to 130. Today, it is 118.

Anyone have a timeshare they want to donate on the beach? I'll take the mountains, just someone please get us out of here!! These poor little ones only get out after dark each evening, please someone give us a 2 day pass to Disneyland.

With that out of the way, I have worked all day on Gloria's quilt and should have it tied and done by tomorrow which means early next week I will be able to get it off to the UPS store to her. By the way the UPS lady gave me a coupon for 10% off shipping through the month of July, so I should be able to save a few dollars and that is always a blessing.

I wonder, if I stood out on the side of the road holding up some of my quilts if anyone would buy one or two of them, or would they think I was crazy? My luck, I would go to jail for loitering.

'Nuf said for today. Hello, anyone out there really reading this stuff?

A Blessing

How wonderful that God provides what we need, when we need it. I went to the post office today and there in the mail was $80 worth of WalMart gift certificates to be used towards quilting materials. How blessed I felt.

Of course, I went to WalMart with this new pattern in my head for a requested blue quilt and of course I over spent on material, batting and thread, but that is what warms my heart. The fact that I now have enough to make another quilt for someone else in need. I will still need backing material but that will be the easy part.

Yesterday

Wow! I can honestly say that yesterday was very productive and I am so proud of myself. I completed a quilt and matching pillow and a queen sized quilt. Today, I am mailing 2 quilts off. One to Miss P. who I began a retirement quilt for almost 2 years ago. (Won't she be surprised when she recieves a quilt all done in 'Red Hat's')?

Today it is my goal to add the finishing touches to the queen sized quilt and begin working on another queen for another dispatcher in Bay St. Louis. I am so thankful that these people are so patient and understanding and know little by little I am getting these done as quickly as I can.

I should be receiving a list soon so I can start working on quilts from New York. I am determined to make this world a better place, one quilt at a time!

Is anyone reading this? Please, let me know. I hate to think I am wasting my time, but then again, it isn't like it is a really exciting novella or something. Just my way of letting people know how my quilting is going!

Hope to be adding new pictures to my website soon. That in itself is a challenge because I really don't find geocities a user friendly site.

Aprons

In todays world of rush, rush, rush isn't it amazing that aprons are coming back in style? I remember growing up my mom and grandmother always wore an apron before cooking or even doing dishes and we always had to wear an apron if we were going to help them.

I think the aprons coming back are a sign of our times that we are wanting to get back to relaxing, cooking on our own instead of rushing for fast food and entertaining more than we did before gas prices shot up.

I also make aprons and have a few ready to go. If you like the idea of wearing an apron and helping charities this is the way to go. I am donating 50% of all the apron profits to the following charities, so choose an apron and choose your charity.

1. Victory Junction Gang Camp (supports child with life threatening disabilities) at: www.victoryjunction.org.
2. Susan G. Komen Foundation (breast cancer research) at: www.komen.org.
3. SARRC/Southwest Autism Resource and Research Center at: www.autismcenter.org.
4. Shrine Hospitals for Children at: www.shrinershq.org.
5. St. Jude's Childrens Hospital at: www.stjude.org.
6. Deborah Heart and Lung Center at: www.deborah.org.
7. Arizona Humane Society at: www.azhumane.org.
8. American Rehabilitation Ministries (for prisoner bible studies) at: www.arm.org.
9. Easter Seals at: www.easterseals.com
10. Disabled American Veterans at: www.dav.org

These are just 10 charities I will be donating to when aprons or quilts are made. If you have a sweet spot in your heart for another charity, I can specifically send your purchase profit to the charity of your choice and after researching, it may wind up on the above list.

Let me know if you are interested in an apron and I will send you a picture of what I have.

How you can help!

Hurricane Katrina Quilt
So, you already know about me and my quilting passion/obsession and you may be thinking this is all fine and dandy, but how can I be of any help? How can I help when she isn't even a non-profit organization and I want a tax deduction or something to show for my donation after all, I work hard for my money.

You are right, you do work hard for your money and so do I. So, I came up with a plan. It is called: 'Adopt-a-Quilt.'

Adopt-a-Quilt is so easy that I can't think of a better way for everyone to be in a win/win situation.
There are 3 plans in the Adopt-a-quilt to help others.

#1- You order it, you pay for it and the quilt goes to your choice of charities. I am currently making a queen sized quilt for 2 dispatchers. I have all the material already and they are 50% completed. I will still need batting and the money to mail them off. You can contact me and request an amount that would cover the batting, postage and labor and I will then send the quilt off with a note stating you were the sponsor of the quilt ......OR......

#2- I have several quilts waiting to be sold, or you may want a certain size in a certain color. You let me know, I will send you the amount I will charge (see price list estimate below), you will receive the quilt for your own personal use and you can choose how you want the profit to be used. Lets say I have 4 baby quilts in stock and already completed. You need one for a baby gift. The cost for baby quilts range between $50-$150 depending on size and work involved. You buy one at the $75 price range and state you want the profit to go to the homeless. It is already done, so I take the $75 and buy more fabric and make a quilt for a homeless person and it is delivered to someone on the streets in my area, along with a bible and a few necessities.

PRICE LIST:
Crib (Simple) $50 Crib (*Complex) $100 & Up
Twin(Simple) $80 Twin (Complex) $125 & Up
Full (Simple) $150 Full (Complex) $200 & Up
Queen (Simple) $175 Queen (Complex) $250 & Up
King (Simple) $225 King (Complex) $300 & Up
**Complex would be weaved, log cabin, wedding ring, applique, etc.

#3- You don't care about the write off, you don't need a quilt, but you don't trust sending me money (by the way, I take pictures of all my quilts so you would get a picture plus know how to contact the recipient). Yet, you still feel compelled to help. You can send me gift certificates for postage through FedEx or UPS. You can request what my needs are and I will let you know fabric colors and amounts, batting needs, etc.

#4- You are feeling exceptionally generous and want to help me out. I am in need of several things for my quilting:

• Hinterberg Fold Away Quilting Frame (comes complete with light) $459 +postage.
• Extension poles for above. **http://www.hinterberg.com/foldaway.htm
• Closet redo (estimated cost $2000)
• Singer Futura Sewing Machine (from WalMart) $497
• Sewing Cabinet (WalMart) $87.68
• Business Cards
• Professionally designed web-site
• Sewing Labels

Just contact me and I will let you know what I need. If you can't afford any of the above and just want to donate to the cause, I will gladly accept cash or money orders.

I am also in the process of looking into starting up a non-profit organization for this so people can receive tax write offs, but that takes time and many of those in need have no time.

Homeless:

Have you ever driven by and seen homeless people sleeping in parks, in building doorways or sat at a signal with the homeless person holding a sign? What did you do? Did you curse for getting stuck at the light? Did you fidget aimlessly in your car pretending to be busy so you could ignore the need? Did you avert your eyes? Or, did you roll down your window and give them a few dollars, your Big Mac you just bought, a bottle of ice water, a pack of cigarettes? Do you wonder where these people come from (did they have families, jobs, homes), where do they sleep at night, how do they shower, etc.? Or do you call the police and complain that your town is becoming contaminated with rifraff?

I see both sides because I can. I worked in a bar in California years ago and had a man come in everynight that was a drunkard. I knew he worked on the docks, I knew he lived under a bridge and I know he would ask me once a week or so to leave the outside bathroom door unlocked when I left so he could wash up. He was always polite and when he got out of hand, I would ask him to leave and he did.

One night it was just the 2 of us in the bar and I asked him his story. He was once an executive for a large company in Connecticut, had a beautiful wife and daughter (showed me the many pictures) even gave me his old home address. He came home from work one evening and his house was empty, cleaned out and his family was gone. He said he spent weeks,months and a few years (not to mention thousands of dollars) looking for them, but it was obvious they didn't want to be found. He began drinking, lost his job, lost his home and wandered around until he landed on the docks. Dock workers never questioned where he came from or who he was and the work kept him busy, the money kept him drinking.**Never judge a person by his circumstances.

I also have a son who has Bi-Polar with schizoprenia and is an alcoholic at 27 years of age. I have done all I can to help him, provided him with shelters (he gets kicked out or leaves), called for medical help (he is usually to drunk to receive it), yet, I send him clothing, shoes and personal needs during the year to a family members home he lives near. He is happy where he is at. He refuses to go to his aunts for dinner or showers preferring instead to go to a friends when he can.

Still, the homeless need quilts to keep them warm in the winter and protect them from the sun in the summer. A place to sit or a place to huddle under. Giving them a quilt is like having Christmas all year, they are so grateful for what you did for them & that kindness may be what turns them around.

PRISONERS:

I can see the Emails now, how can you support prisoners? My answer is once again, until you have walked in their shoes or seen the pain in their families, don't judge them. If you want prisoners to get out and become a benefit to our society once again, you must support something good they do.

They have prison ministries already and though a Christian, I am not a preacher, so preaching to the prisoners isn't for me. You can't take things into a prison, so I thought, how could I help? I can make quilts for family members from the prisoners.

Right now, I have a son in prison but when he leaves, I hope by then that I will have this figured out in more detail. In prison there are people that have babies on the way, small children, teens and parents. I receive a request from my son for lets say a crib quilt. I make several in the requested boy/girl patterns. Send pictures of both to my son. He shows the inmate, the inmate chooses which one and sends me the address where it needs to be sent. At this time, he also places the money we agreed upon into my sons prison account. When my son lets me know this money is on his books, the quilt is boxed, wrapped and sent with a note that this gift was specially chosen by the name of the prisoner for the recipient.

What a wonderful way for prisoners to be a part of their family. If this is to work all the time, I must have people willing to adopt quilts for prisoners. You send me the money when there is a need and I send out the quilt. Or, if you work in a prison or know a prisoner personally, you can put me in touch with them, or get all the information and I will send you the photos, etc.. This idea came to me last Christmas after our church 'adopted' prisoners childrens to buy gifts from the prisoner.

So, as you can see, there are many ways to reach out to others. Are you willing to do so without a tax break? It feels so good to help and bless others, maybe this is what you have been looking for all along.

**Pink quilt above was sent to a police dispatcher that has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Adopt a quilt

I am a quilter and I am a bit embarrassed to say that it is an obsession. Every piece of fabric, every little scrap, old clothing ultimately in my mind has a place in a quilt. However, I am blessed to have a husband that doesn't see it that way so I am not hoarding fabric.
How did I get started. It was so benign at first. My granddaughter Stina asked me to make her doll a quilt and I did. Then my husband asked me if I could turn some old biker bandana's into a quilt and I did (I made a king sized bed quilt). A retirement quilt came next for my old boss from table covers used at his retirement party along with a matching wall quilt for a room in his name at a local shelter. I have made quilts as Christmas gifts and made some money here and there to keep me in business so to speak, but I like making quilts for those in need, so I started this blog to see if I could get any donations to help me continue my dedication.

Hurrican Katrina and Rita:
I can't begin to say how heavy my heart was when these disasters affected so many. I wanted to rush down and help but, my husband and I are raising 3 small grandchildren, so my husband suggested I make quilts. I decided I couldn't make them for everyone,so as a police dispatcher I would make them for dispatchers and police officers who remained vigilant and kept guard in their towns and parrishes. One city at a time, one person at a time.

But how to get quilts to victims? 911 Cares... I contacted this organization who helps police dispatchers in need and soon I had my first box of 8 quilts of various sizes going out to the people of Bay St. Louis police department. Shout out to my friend Clementine that helped hold down the fort and has kept me in names for my quilting. Hey girlfriend, I'm still praying for you and everyone!

I received a request for 10 quilts from Clementine for dispatchers at Bay St. Louis and I am sure Hancock County since they are now working out of one center. I began working when Rita hit and took away everything from my husbands brothers family living in Texas. DETOUR: Stopped working on dispatch quilts and made 2 twin size quilts and a king size for niece,nephew and brother and sister-in-law.

Christmas is fast approaching and I must make some money to pay for shipping and fabric, so I made several quilts for a co-worker and I am back in black for a few more weeks. I don't think anyone realizes it isn't just the fabric, it is the batting, the thread, the time and the cost of mailing packages. A quilt can cost me up to $250 out of pocket depending on material, pattern and size requested. Sent an Email to FedEx to see if they would give me a discount on shipping, but no word back. Hey! They get these requests all the time and I am not even a legit non-profit, so why would they want to help me??

Back on track for dispatch quilts and I was able to mail 3 off in June: 1 king size and 2 twins. Total, I have sent out 11 since I began. A huge thanks to the following for their support in my endeavor:
Sue Bailey - Fabric & Thread
T. Turner - Entire Bolt of batting material
G.D.V. - $50
M. Simak - $10
Kevin and Lisa - $150
I failed to mention that 911 cares contacted me to make 2 very special quilts for a dispatcher in New Orleans living on a cruise ship while working and her small child who is is Texas with her grandparents. I made them each one by using the same material for both but 2 separate patterns.
The picture at the top of the page are the 2 quilts I made for them.

I am now making a quilt for a dispatcher who remained on the job for 12 days and when they went to take her home to get some things and check on her home, as they neared the corner where she lived, she watched as her home floated by her and it stopped ironically right up against the gas station the department is using as a temporary dispatch center. I also have a queen sized almost complete for Bay St. Louis and when that is done, I will only have 6 more to make.

But wait! Binghamton, NY dispatchers were flooded out so I will make quilts for them as well. It is slow and I do these on my own by hand, not with a quilting machine, but the help I get on these comes in the form of my grandchildren ages 3,4 & 5. They pin, cut and tie and are a help in so many ways.