Quilts For Kids Donations

SAMQG Donates to Quilts for Kids

Since January 2016 the San Antonio Modern Quilt Guild has been collecting and creating these quilted donations. Through independent member donations and through our Revolving Charity Table, I'm thrilled to report that 13 quilts were donated to Quilts for Kids!

The drop-off location is Sew Special Quilt Shop on 1604. I took the quilts to the shop today. The shop owner, Laurie, was happy to receive them! We laid them out in their classroom to grab a photo of the collection together before they head to their new homes with Santa Rosa Children's Hospital.

As it turns out, the outreach/charity collection bin is empty now. I know our generous membership will be filling this tote up over time. You did amazing work!

Bring your donations to the quilt guild meetings or simply take them to the quilt shop. Your work is appreciated!

Revolving Charity Table

 The Revolving Charity Table

What is the Revolving Charity Table? Well, I'm so glad you asked! In short, it is the ultimate outreach group project. Our guild takes unfinished donations (in all stages) from guild members and allows other guild members to work on them.

Sounds easy, right? Let me share how it works:

Patterns & Fabric: If you have a pattern or fabric kit that you've purchased or cut and are no longer interested in making, bring it to the guild. We have a members that love piecing and just want to give that a try.

Quilt Tops: Did you make a top that you are no longer jazzed about? Bring it to guild. We have members that love the quilting step but don't have desire or time to piece a top.

We have supply donations as well. Rolls of batting and easy pattern cards have been donated for our guild to use as we finish up projects on the Revolving Charity Table.

Binding: If you have *mostly* finished a quilt and it needs binding, bring it. Folks enjoy that final step, too. 

One thing we ask is that if you are donating a quilt in any stage of construction, please know it will be finished in the vision of whomever is finishing it. It will also be donated to the SAMQG Charity Charge. The charge for 2016 is Quilts For Kids which will then give the quilts to Santa Rosa Children's Hospital. (Drop off point for this organization is Sew Special on 1604.)

Fun fact: There is no timeline for completing the item you take. We do ask that you work on it and finish it to the stage you are comfortable. There isn't a "it has to be turned in next month" type rule. Take two or three months, that is ok. Just be sure you return what you take. 

At the next meeting, dive in and give the Revolving Charity Table a try. We are happy to hold the items from month to month and are even happier to receive finished projects which have been stitched by a few members.

Days for Girls SAMQG Sew-In

As you may know, the SAMQG issued a charity sewing challenge to create items for the Days for Girls Organization. (Read about the challenge here.)

I'm thrilled to report the results from our sew-ins have been great!

Thank you to Mesquite Bean Fabrics for hosting our two events. A small, but mighty army of stitchers went to work.

We had the serger set up and rockin' along. And we had the ironing station moving at a brisk pace.

The easy easy assembly line was in full swing.

With a couple finishing touches, we were able to finish every pre-cut kit in the box!

If my math is right (cough, cough) I think we will be able to share at least 80 bags with the organization at our May meeting. I encourage you to keep stitching! A representative from the San Antonio chapter will be joining us in May to receive the sewn items. We will also be awarding our randomly drawn volunteer prize, donated by Mesquite Bean, at the May meeting, too.

Keep up the amazing work and we'll see you in May! 

ps- If you are a member with specific questions, ask them in our closed facebook group. 

Days for Girls Sewing Challenge

Today we're kicking off the SAMQG Days for Girls Sewing Challenge!

One of our members, Linda, brought the Days for Girls organization to our attention after seeing a presentation from one of their volunteers. The work Days for Girls does is amazing. Please take a moment to click that link.

Days for Girls Mission: Creating a more dignified, free and educated world through access to lasting feminine hygiene solutions.

You can also see the organization's founder, Celeste Mergens, TEDtalk as she shares the story of how Days for Girls started and why listening to the wisdom of those you serve is vital for creating culturally, socially and physically relevant solutions that change lives. -from DfG website. Video Link Here.

So what is our sewing challenge? 

The SAMQG is hosting a challenge to create drawstring hygiene bags (pictured above) which we will donate to the organization. Our sponsor, Mesquite Bean Fabrics, has donated a prize to be given to the randomly drawn volunteer. Each person who turns in a sewn item at the MAY meeting will have their name entered once.  {{See the bottom of this blog post for additional information and sewing opportunities.}}

How do you make a drawstring bag? 

I'm so glad you asked! 

Complete pattern directions provided with exact specifications are included on the Days for Girls official pattern. Please be mindful of the fabric prints required and restricted.

You will be able to pick up the Days for Girls label/patch at the April meeting. Each bag is needs a patch.

Will there be kits? 

For our last sewing challenge we offered kits cut from donated flannel. This round will be the same! Hooray for generous donors!! Thank you so much! We have about 65 kits ready so far. {{Kits are for drawstring bags. Scroll to the bottom of this post for additional sewing opportunities.}}

Each drawstring bag kit contains:

• 1 rectangle of fabric measuring 11" x 28"
• 2 pieces of grosgrain ribbon 36" long
• 1 Days for Girls label/patch

The kits are ready and the pattern is shared. What next?

Official Sew-In Days are:

• March 22nd from 10a-2p at Mesquite Bean Fabrics 
• April 8th from 10a-2p at Mesquite Bean Fabrics. 

If you are in the SAMQG, please RSVP on our "EVENTS" tab on Facebook.

Kits will also be available at spring retreat, if you are looking to make a quick bag in your quilt-y down-time.

Of course, you are encouraged to sew as many drawstring bags as you like on your own, too. You do not have to attend an event to make a wonderful donation. Grab the pattern here.

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Additional Sewing Opportunities:

I recently met with a representative for the local San Antonio Days for Girls chapter. It was quite eye-opening. The drawstring bags we create will be used to hold hygiene kits:

The kits include a couple different sewn items, including (2) shields and (8) flannel liners.

Get the shield pattern here and shield template here. The liners are every bit as easy as our previous blanket sewing challenge. 

The design is two layers of prewashed flannel, stitched together, turned right-side out, and stitched again. These are the liners which, when folded, fit into the shield pockets:

They are octagons folded in thirds. In the pattern HERE, you'll also find a square method for making liners using a serger.

Easily make a few liners by downloading THIS TEMPLATE and following THESE DIRECTIONS.

Cut pre-washed flannel easily by laying the template like this and cutting through two layers at once.

Easy, right?

Please be mindful of the fabric print requirements and restrictions listed on the pattern.

Bring any Days for Girls projects to the May meeting. Anything you stitch is a more than welcome donation! Thank you!!

SAMQG September Outreach

This is Sarah J. (pronounced Sarah H.)

 She is the absolute backbone of the SAMQG Outreach coordination efforts.  She has her hand on the pulse of local charities, is connected to national charities and keeps Ovarian Cancer Research at MD Anderson very near her heart, and ours.

Thank you thank you thank you for all the work you do!

Wanna see all the quilt projects that members shared at the September 2014 meeting??

A couple of these projects even took a whirl over at the Kendall County Fair and won ribbons.  Go Girls!!

If you want to help, please leave a comment + email address and we'll get back to you with opportunities.

Pet Postcards

 

Pet Postcards!

The first outreach challenge has been issued.  PET POSTCARDS.  

The whole Pet Postcard Fundraising Project is the charge of Pokey Bolton, the director at the Houston Quilt Show.  One her blog, Pokey's Ponderings, she launched the challenge first, last year.  That's right it is an annual fundraising event.  Last year, she put out a call for postcards, hoping to raise a couple thousand dollars.  The Pet Postcard project raised $20,000, last year.   

Wowsa.

The money raised is donated to Friends for Life, the fastest growing no-kill shelter, in Houston Texas.

Each postcard is put on display and sold at the Houston Quilt Festival in October.  The cards are sold for $20 a piece.

At the September Meeting, members brought in "what they had so far".  The postcards are due at the October meeting (October 3rd), but our Outreach Chair can take cards after the meeting, though you'll need to email her to arrange a drop-off.  

So far, we have 37.  Seriously.  Our "so far" number is 37!  That would be $740, of all those post cards to sell.  SAMQG is so honored to be able to give to such a wonderful cause.  Keep up the good work!  

Postcard Backs