After the test workshop with the Junior troop, my friends helped me cut pillowcases and borders from the bolts that MODA fabrics sent to me. In one night, we were able to cut approximately 40 pillowcases and borders. My friends rock!
Tonight was my first Free to Be Me Worksop. Because I have been working with GS Troop 81617 as an assistant for the past 6 years, it seemed like a natural to have them be my test troop. The workshop went well, but what I realized is that the girls knew more than I thought they would. That means I'll have to tweak my program a bit.
The holiday season is definitely a season that brings me JOY! I love the spirit of generosity that is so prevalent this time of year.
One of the greatest JOYS in my job over the past four years has been leading the American Patchwork & Quilting One Million Pillowcase Challenge. We asked quilters to show how much they care by making and donating pillowcases to local charities of their choice and to record their donation on our website at AllPeopleQuilt.com/millionpillowcases. To date, more than 527,000 pillowcases have been made and donated. That's amazing! Last fall, more than 200 volunteers from Rebuilding Together Greater Des Moines and Meredith Corporation (our parent company) devoted a day to make significant improvements to a local neighborhood and changed the lives of six homeowners. To kickoff the day, the American Patchwork & Quilting team gave each homeowner three matching pairs of pillowcases. Though many donations are single cases, we though matching pairs would help make each house feel more like home. I can honestly say, having the chance to visit with the homeowners as they looked over the pairs and chose their favorite fabrics made me wish I could donate so much more. There were tears of gratitude and hearts filled with appreciation for this simple act of kindness. It was incredibly moving. How many of us can have our choice of clean pillowcases from a closet full of them when we go home tonight? But for how many more people is that simple blessing not a reality? I hope you'll spread some joy this holiday season by making a pillowcase (or a matching pair in your favorite fabrics!) and making a difference for someone in your community. There are plenty of FREE patterns to choose from at such as the pillowcase below using fabric from the Pot Luck collection by American Jane for Moda Fabrics. Back in August, I sent over 250+ emails to various quilting/fabric/supply stores asking for donations of fabric and thread. I was overwhelmed by the response I received, and would like to publicly thank the following companies for their support: A Stitch in Time - http://www.astitchintimepa.com Almost One of a Kind - http://www.almost1ofakind.com Blaine's Sewing Machine Ctr. - http://www.blainesewing.net Budding Star Quilts - http://www.buddingstarquilts.com Calico Gals - http://www.calicogals.com Cary Quilting Company - http://www.caryquilting.com Coats & Clark Thread - http://www.coatsandclark.com Connecting Threads - http://www.connectingthreads.com Elmwood Village Fabrics - http://www.evfabrics.com Designer Fabrics Quilt Shop - http://www.quiltdesignerfabrics.com Fabricworm - http://www.fabricworm.com Fat Quarter Shop - http://www.fatquartershop.com Fiber Notion - http://www.fibernotion.com Hancock's of Paducah - http://www.hancocks-paducah.com Honey Be Good - http://www.honeybegood.com Intrepid Thread - http://www.intrepidthread.com Nuts & Bolts Fabric - http://www.nutsandboltsfabric.com Olfa - http://www.olfa.com One Quilt Place - http://www.onequiltplace.com Pahala Quilting - http://www.pahalaquilting.com Pieceful Quilting - http://www.piecefulquilting.com Pink Castle Fabrics - http://www.pinkcastlefabrics.com Pink Chalk Fabrics - http://www.pinkchalkfabrics.com Purl Soho - http://www.purlsoho.com Quilters Corner - http://www.e-quilterscorner.com Quilting Possibilities - http://www.quiltingposs.com Red Rock Threads - http://www.redrockthreads.com Rock Paper Scissors - http://www.rockpaperscissorsnj.com Serendipity Quilt Shop - http://www.serendipityquiltshop.com Sew Inspired - http://www.sewinspiredquilts.com Sew Right Sewing Machines - http://www.sewright.com This-N-That Fabrics - http://www.thisnthatfabric.com United Notions (Moda) - http://www.unitednotions.com Yankee Quilter - http://www.yankeequilter.com Thanks to the generosity of these companies, it is my goal to make and donate over 200 pillowcases to children in crisis. I would never have been able to attempt a lofty goal like this without their help, and I thank them from the bottom of my heart. Until I blog again. . . Rachel ;) Here are the three parts of my project:
My project, titled “Free To Be Me,” for girls in my community will focus on running workshops to help younger children (grades K-3) learn about making and keeping friends. Children at such a young age don't realize what being a good friend really means. Being a good friend is standing up for your best friend when another child is picking on them on the playground ... not standing there watching it happen. Being a good friend is not daring your best friend to do something they wouldn't normally do. Being shown at such a young age the qualities of being a good friend may help children realize that there are ways to stop peer pressure before it begins. Learning how to make and keep friends is empowering. For older girls (grades 4-5) my workshops will focus on working with the girls on how to deal with the realities and aftermath of being bullied or the pressures of fitting in ... how to stay true to who they are and not change just because someone else doesn't like something about them. Helping the girls realize how special they are, that outside appearance isn't everything, who to turn to when they are feeling pressure, how to be a real friend, and analyzing and discussing different scenarios will all be part of my workshop. Staying true to who you really are is empowering. The last part of my project is my goal of making and donating 200 handmade pillowcases (100 to local shelters and 100 to the One Million Pillowcase Challenge which can be found at www.allpeoplequilt.com) for children in crisis. Children in shelters or who are homeless are not there by choice. It is not their fault. They suffer from low self-esteem and low self-confidence. Many times, they have no material possessions. They need to know that people care about them. By running workshops to make these pillowcases, and by making them myself, I can give these children something special to call their own and at the same time, help children attending the workshop understand how something as small as one pillowcase can make a difference to a child who has nothing to call their own. Helping others is empowering. Until I blog again. . . Rachel ;) Hi . . .
My name is Rachel and my Girl Scout Gold Award Project titled, "Free To Be Me" has just been approved by the review committee from the Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey. Yay me! Here is a description of my project: "Free To Be Me" will focus on teaching girls about empowerment. I believe that in today's world, it is important to start as early as possible teaching girls about the self-assurance and self-confidence needed to grow and thrive in a world full of peer pressure, heightened by competitiveness and prejudice. Girls need to learn how to stand up for themselves, stay true to themselves, be their own advocates and discover, hold on to and be proud of who they are. Today, girls start to feel peer pressure at a very young age ... the pressure to dress a certain way, to be thin, to have certain material possessions, to get good grades in school, to be a super athlete, even to "have the right friends." Peer pressure is everywhere. Excluding the peer pressure dealing with drugs or alcohol (which is definitely out there, but not what I am addressing in this project), but the peer pressure that makes you feel like you have to be someone other than yourself. While there is information on the internet and books and periodicals in libraries about empowerment, there are no local programs designed specifically by someone who has gone through emotional bullying and peer pressure. This project is very near and dear to my heart. For the past two years, I was the target of social and emotional bullies. After entering High School in September, I am hoping these days are behind me. I have come through this time period in my life stronger,tougher and more empowered than I ever thought possible and would like to help others who may confront situations like mine. Unfortunately, no one will ever be able to eradicate bullying or bullies, but through my workshops, empowering girls and sharing my story, I will be able to help minimize the devastating affects that these individuals have on young peoples lives. I am blogging to share my experiences as this project progresses and to help others who may want to a project like this in the future. Until I post again . . . Rachel ;) |