Remembering

Today is for remembering. For those lost far away from home, and this year, sadly, some lost on our own soil. Thanks to Jeanne, a portion of the project is hanging today (through the 20th) at the Douglas County Museum in Alexandria.

Today is the perfect time to spend a minute or two adding some knots to a block to remember those who have died in the Iraq war.

We've passed the 2000 completed blocks point now!! Thanks for all your continued help! Now that we are 2/3rd of the way to the goal of 3100 blocks, it seems reasonable to set a goal for completing the other 1000 blocks by Memorial Day 2010. I have a site where we can hang the entire project lined up. We can do it! I'll be posting some meeting times for folks to gather and work on the project here in central Minnesota. Feel free to organize something where you live. We'll have a big push starting in January. We can do it!

I just finished a batch of base blocks to stitch on. Drop me an email for my address, send me some $ for postage and I'll get some out to you. Or you can follow the tutorial here, or check out the project in Katherine Bell's "Quilting for Peace". It's pretty cool to go to work at the library and see a book I'm a part of circulating!

Oh the Planning and Scheming!

So much is happening or soon to happen!

I'm getting packed to take the project on the road. We're
heading to Fargo for the annual Indian Summer Quilt Show and Conference, September 25th, 26th, and 27th. I'll be doing a couple of presentations, and will have lots of blocks available if you want to sit down and make a few knots!

Remember the book? An advance copy of Quilting for Peace will soon be arriving on my doorstep! It outlines 20 amazing community service oriented projects. I am soo excited to have been included in this book by Katherine Bell! I can't wait to see in person! In conjunction with it's October release, there are plans a-plotting for more events.

I'll let you know as things are finalized!

I just got more awesome blocks in the mail this week!! THANKS to everyone who keeps plugging along with me in this big adventure! May the end be soon in sight.

Hodge Podge of Information

* Here is how the garage sale tent worked for the Green Fair and Peace Concert in Litttle Falls. It was a really nice evening of music and earth friendly activities. I spoke with lots of supportive people and sent off lots of blank blocks to be stitched.

* I just received word that there will space for some of the project at the Indian Summer Quilt Show and Conference in Fargo at the end of September. Back in my old stomping grounds - Fargo is where I honed my creative and quilting skills.

* I am gathering things to fill a box to send off to Iraqi Bundles of Love. Major Art La Flamme will soon be returning home from his tour of duty. Before he himself leaves, he wants to leave something helpful to the people of Iraq. Check out his site to learn more.

* And, I had almost forgotten about the conversations I had with Katherine Bell. She has written a book, "Quilting for Peace" and it will be coming out in October. Katherine included the And Still Counting project in her book and I am so excited to get my hands on a copy. I have already requested it become a part of the collection in the library where I work! Stay tuned for more events surrounding it's release!

It was, "quite a week" in Lake Wobegone

There was nothing quiet about it. The little Town of Avon, Mn was all bustle and hustle last week in preparation for the 35th anniversary live broadcast of A Prairie Home Companion.

On Saturday morning I hung a portion of the memorial project on the front of my friend Lucy's quilt shop, Aunt Annie's silks and quilts. I got a picture just before the street filled in with cars, and the sidewalk filled with musicians entertaining the masses (11,000+) before the show started. I talked to a few folks about the project, and someone even took my picture. What a day!

Fourth of July

I'll be hanging a portion of the project on the front of Aunt Annie's Quilt Shop in Avon, MN on the Fourth. There will be all sorts of art things going on around town, including a live broadcast of A Prairie Home Companion. Come join us!

Oh, My

Awards are given at quilt shows. It is definitely an honor to receive one, but, as anyone who has ever entered a piece in a show knows, the subjectivity of the judges is difficult to predict. The awards that mean the most come from the viewing public. Or, in this case the security guards, who walked miles and miles making sure all was safe and secure.


It was the guard's choice ribbon that I found hanging on the project when I returned to Duluth on Saturday to dismantle the display. I was honored to receive this recognition. And this was before, I took the ribbon down, and read the inscription, "From 2 disabled Iraq war vets, our sincere thanks."

Oh, my.... I got the best award given this weekend. Thanks to everyone who has helped to make this project a reality. Oh my... the security guards, who walked miles and miles making sure ALL was safe and secure. Oh, my.

Photos!

At last.... photos from Atonement.





Huge Thanks to folks who have been helping with more blocks - the pile keeps growing!

Gearing Up

Getting some final details taken care of for a display of the project at my parents' church - Atonement Lutheran,here in ST Cloud. We'll be setting things up Friday, and it will hang there through the next week. Atonement is located at 29th Ave and 12th St N. Services are at 8:00am, 9:00am and 10:30am. I will be hanging out in the fellowship hall between the services if you want to come talk.

momentum

More blocks from Jane -Thanks!!

It's been a difficult winter to maintain my momentum. But, when I glance over to the side and see the photo of last January, where every block that was completed was hanging at White Bear Lake Unitarian Universalist Church. There were 330 blocks at that time. Now we are just under 2000 completed blocks.

I need help finding suitable venues. You've all been so wonderful to help create this memorial, let's get it out where it can be seen! Can you help me with a little different momentum this time around?

Summer Vacation

Have you started making summer plans yet? Keep Duluth Minnesota in mind for June 13 - June 16. I spoke with the woman in charge of the non-judged quilt display at Minnesota Quilters, and she said she believes I can have an entire alcove at the show in Duluth this summer. That would be 3 - 8' x 8' sections so that should be able to accommodate at least 750 blocks!

There are a couple other venues I'm awaiting word from, so keep making blocks! It would be awesome to have simultaneous (and large) exhibits this spring and summer and fall.

There are so many other things to pay attention to these days, it's easy to forget there's still a war going on.

Peace Island Picnic

Made a speedy trip to St Paul Wednesday evening to shore up some plans for the Peace Island Picnic. The picnic will be a finale event to the Republican National Convention being held in St Paul September 1 - 4. These are a couple of quick shots of the picnic area.

From 1pm to 8 pm there will be free food, music, the creation of the world's largest peace sign, and the display of the And Still Counting project. More updates and details here - the unconvention.

Keep sending me blocks! I would love to have 2000 blocks on display. I have about 1700 right now, and the more we have there, the larger the impact.

If anyone has access to those pop-up tents, I will be needing 4 of them to display the project. I would need to borrow them on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th to accommodate set up and tear down.