I try to introduce service projects into the goings on at my shop. This summer, I invited anyone who came in on a Saturday to piece scrappy 4-patches to go into a quilt we are making for a Silent Auction at a charity event in November to benefit Project Horizon, a local organization dedicated to ending domestic violence in our community. I had volunteers as young as three years old,
families,
couples,
and unsuspecting solo shoppers that I talked into taking part.
Some got a little carried away - couldn't make just one block!
Overall, I had more than 50 people make blocks. They slapped their blocks up on the design wall, and it was fun to see the project grow and grow!
As happens with any group project, I've had to trim all the blocks to the same size, and even re-sew a couple, but the quilt is starting to come together. (rows are not yet sewn together)
We are making the Arkansas Crossroads pattern, using instructions I found online. What a wonderful scrap project! And I love being able to put all my precut scraps to use.
Quilting is becoming an increasingly important and integral part of my life. My creative outlet changes how I view the world around me, influences the activities I pursue with my family, and introduces me to new people whose life paths wouldn't ordinarily intersect mine. My life is much like my favorite types of quilts - scrappy and unconventional, full of interest and surprises, and with an underlying current of making do (and making something beautiful!) with what I have.