Well ... eleven workshops later, I can see the end in sight! It has been quite the experience ... one I will never forget. I am so happy to have been able to share the idea of "Making and Keeping Friends" with so many young girls, and working with older girls to help them acknowledge "Free To Be Me" is the way to go!
Two of my youngest and most adorable workshop attendees. Proving ... you're never too young to start learning about being a good friend!
Today's Making Friends Workshop went off without a hitch. I have learned that not all girls (groups) respond the say way. Some are vocal and responsive - others, not so much. Thankfully, todays group was great!
Another great workshop. The girls had a great time and learned a lot. Their favorite part? The puppets!
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 ;) |