Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Sweatshop!

The blocks keep pouring in!  Thank goodness for time away from work for Thanksgiving so I can get down in my sewing room and SEW!  I'm about to turn that room into a SWEATSHOP, with some time set aside to EAT!  My brother is hosting this year, so that takes a huge weight off my shoulders.  Plus, I just finished a major project at work, so that is a relief, too.  I've been working my tail off lately, getting only 4 and 5 hours of sleep most nights - I can't survive like that for long!

So here's what came on Monday:
95 quilt blocks (including 42 from 1 person!) - thanks, Sue S, Teri J, Barbara R, Karen W, Susan R, Gloria B, and Judy C! 
And here's today's mail:
3 blocks from Michele in Ontario - thanks, Michele!
a cheater cloth backing from Lynda in Nevada - so cool!
And a batting and some yardage from Lynda, too - thanks, Lynda! 
Monday was also the third meeting of my quilting class at the elementary school.  Since they had deconstructed lots of jeans at our first meeting, I cut the denim down to 7.5" squares, and they started sewing them together, rag quilt style with some up-cycled linens on the back.

only 2 rows of 5 are sewn together so far with one more set of five ready to be added 
We also started to work on our county fair entry quilt.  It is to be a combination of colored (with crayons) and embroidered blocks, so they started with some embroidered blocks, using a simple backstitch, to spell out "CENTRAL ELEMENTARY, READY TO QUILT".  Some of them took right to it and completed or nearly completed their letters.
Some of the completed or nearly completed letters - we used red, blue and green variegated #8 perle cotton 
Close up of one of the letters - bigger stitches than I suggested, but for these kids' first time, I think they did great! 
Others really struggled, and I have some knotted messes to untangle before next time, but all in all, it was probably our best class yet.  Right at dismissal, one of the girls came up and hugged me and said, "I love you!"  My heart swelled so much it hurt!

OK, here I go, less typing, more sewing!  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, everyone!

7 comments:

Debbie said...

A word of encouragement for the great job you are doing. I knew you would unleash a flood with this project. Such a wonderful outpouring from lots of bloggers and quilters. Hang on for the ride and bless you.

Char said...

I hope you get a bit of rest and you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
I love the work the children are doing. Thank you for sharing what must have been a heartwarming moment.
My offer still stands for help if you need it.

Anonymous said...

Am so in awe of the huge response you are coordinating! Have read about so many others, also. So many blessings! Have a great Thanksgiving and take care of yourself...you have lots to do! Hugs, Doreen

libbyquilter said...

i'm pleased that the package arrived safely and that you are excited about using what i sent.

have a happy thanksgiving and take good care.

:-)
libbyQ

joe tulips said...

I love seeing the kid projects. The letters made me think of something.
Coloring in the letters with crayons. Kinda like this...http://www.urbanthreads.com/tutorials.aspx?t=PRH1071
makes me want to break out the crayons and color on fabric today.
Or go sew on my denim quilt top.
Dang so much to have fun with.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Wacky Woman said...

Hi Erin, Got the top almost done. Email me please. :-)

Anonymous said...

Hi Erin,
Some fabulous blocks there!! I posted mine too you yesterday, not sure how long it takes, but they are winging their way to you!! Look forward to seeing lots more colourful quilts and blocks!!
Annette x