It's My Very Own Bags of Love Charity

Christine Penney shared with us at the April 26th Area 3 meeting about her local group looking for donations for displaced children.

Many children removed from their home by Child Protective Services may leave with little but the clothes on their backs.

Parent(s) drug abuse, neglect or even the abuse of the child can be extremely stressful to a younger child--the gift of a bag of love is an important beginning to give the child comfort and make them feel safe again.

River Valley Bags of Love program bags are delivered to DHHS in Lewiston to support the children of Oxford, Franklin and Androscoggin counties.

The bags consist of a kid-sized handmade quilt, a stuffed toy, personal care items and several small toys. Those are put into a bag for distribution. Can you image the poor children without any personal items given this gift of love?


Here is a list of items they currently need:

Handmade Quilts-48" x 60"
Cotton quilting material
Cash donations for supplies
Shampoo/Conditioner
Infant Hair & Body Wash
Face cloths/scrubbies
Hair brush/combs
*Infant training toothpaste and finger toothbrushes
Wet Wipes
Size 2 and 3 diapers
Infant toys
Notebooks/journals
Pens and Pencils
Crayons/Markers
Color/Activity/Board Books
Cars/Trucks
Games/Puzzles
Small balls/Frisbees

*Please, at this time, NO stuffed animals or regular toothbrushes and toothpaste.

If you would like more details on how you can help with homemade quilts, making bags, items to fill bags, donating fabric or even to send a check towards filling a bag or two, please contact Christine at 207-369-9590 or Theresa Sweet at 207-562-9997.

Your donation is tax deductible. The mailing address is It's My Very Own-Bags of Love

58 Pine St. (P.O. Box 605), Dixfield, ME 04224

Area 3 Meeting April 26th

We enjoyed a very successful Area 3 meeting co-hosted by Cross Country and Ladies of the Lake Quilters in Bethel.

The ladies decorated in a tea party theme for the event and the abundance of food, including yummy desserts, were served. Their fabric sale was perfect for us who needed to add to our own stash.

Speaker Donna Gillis shared her methods of making memory quilts. You can certainly tell by the way she describes her quilting projects and poems that she gives personally of herself in everything she does. Many times during her lecture I saw fellow members with tears in their eyes as she spoke of the passion she instills in her quilted creations.

Instead of a block challenge, donations for the Rumford Group Homes, Inc. were collected.

Here are a few pictures of some of the many items brought in for the group. Michelle Worthley and her assistant from the program were extremely willing to discuss their many programs to help those in need and expressed their thanks for our chapter's donations.

If you would like to donate or need more information, you can contact Michelle at 207-369-9439.

Yo-Yo's for Christmas

I know, I know, Christmas is the last thing you want to think about after a long, cold winter. Spring is nipping at our heels and I can't wait for some warmer weather. But, while we still have some cooler and rainy days, ponder about what you can make for your holiday decorations and gifts using yo-yos.

These little gems, called "Suffolk puffs" in England, can be quick to make and are fun to add embellishments to garments and other craft projects. Here are just a few ideas of gifts you might think about making in the future.

Links to tutorials on making yo-yos will be located at the end of this post.

http://mousechirpy-polkadotpineapple.blogspot.com/2009/09/merry-yo-yo-christmas.html

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Making-Yo-Yo-Christmas-Trees.html

https://www.sturbridgeyankee.com/website-exclusives/website-exclusive-christmas/yo-yo-garland.html

https://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1112437

https://mycrafts.com/diy/fabric-yo-yo-lollipop-christmas-ornaments/

https://www.e-patternscentral.com/detail.html?code=EQ00948&source=pntrste

http://www.happyhollowdesigns.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc

https://blog.connectingthreads.com/yo-yo-ornaments/

http://www.sandystamper.com/2010/12/a-christmas-designer-series-fabric-stocking-and-ornament.html

http://www.theribbonretreat.com/blog/5-minute-christmas-tree-boutique-shirt.html

https://ems-brainstorm.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/suffolk-puff-ideas.html?m=1

http://www.happyhollowdesigns.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc

Tutorials for making yo-yos:

https://www.positivelysplendid.com/fabric-yo-yo-tutorial/

https://www.lazygirldesigns.com/how-to-make-a-perfect-yo-yo-every-time/

Quilting Tip of the Week 4/12/18

If you have never used Glad Press'n Seal for transferring quilting projects, you are in for a wonderful surprise. Click on the link below for all the details.

Tutorial

Quilting Tip of the Week 4/6/18

Hemming jeans....what a pain! The thickness of the denim makes it a real hassle and quite a chore getting it to work under your pressure foot.

Craftsy has a fantastic tutorial to take this...

To this...

Check the full tutorial out at Craftsy

Quilting Tip Week of 3/21/18

Interfacing--who can find it when they NEED it????  Here are a couple of great ways to store your collection for easy use. Be sure to write the type of interfacing and amount on a tag and attach to your rolls for easy access and to know if you have enough for you next project.

Take those empty rolls from wrapping paper, cut in half and recycle. Thanks to SuperMom No Cape! for the tip.

This tip is thanks to Nancy Zieman's blog. You can probably find a shoe holder at the local dollar store.

Allpeoplequilt share this idea using a wire rack basket. You could also use a wine rack you can pick up at a garage sale!

2018 PTQG Board Opportunities

Susan Lamie, PTQG Director and member of the nominating committee would like me to remind you that there are several openings we will be voting on at the September 2018 member's meeting.

For your consideration are openings for President, 2nd VP, Secretary and Directors 1 & 3.

All the details were printed in the February 2018 issue of the Patchwork Press (page 7). If you have any additional questions on these roles, please contact Sue at nslamie@hotmail.com or call her at 207-783-9541.