sticks!!!

Some of my awesome patrons/friends at the library where I work made me a whole bunch of sticks! I took delivery of 70 some sticks this afternoon, and have received blocks in the mail and from family and friends, and even people I don't know from the internet this week. THANKS!!!!

Things are still up in the air about displaying the project on the fence at my library. If that doesn't work out, something else will.... I have a plan......

7 years

As crappy as the economy might be, as difficult as our day to day lives are, compare your life with life of the family who has lost a loved one in the war, or the life of an Iraqi citizen.

Today marks the 7th anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq. 3 years since I started the project. Make a block, make some knots - do something to remember.

I have to admit....

....that I am not the most technically proficient person. I am stubborn, and keep trying to figure things out on my own. My computer has become fit for the legally blind... the font is so large I cannot find all the shortcuts to my dashboard to be able to add another post. It's a breakthrough day - I am still unable to make the font reduce, but I did find my dashboard. I apologize for being so inept.

We keep plugging along. I've been getting blocks and sleeves(!!!! Thanks DEB!!!!) every week. THANKS - and keep 'em coming! This project gains so much more meaning the more hands that are involved. All it really takes is a little time, and maybe some $ for postage. I am always so honored by those of you who have taken the time to help, and to remember those who have given ALL on our behalf.

I have been busy sewing sleeves on and spent an afternoon last week at Aunt Annie's attaching newly sleeved blocks to existing blocks. I got through 400!! Total - not 400 with sleeves - yet...

I've sent out a few more proposals to hang the project, so cross your fingers.

Roger has started a facebook page for us - my everlasting gratitude to him!!!

Upsala and Some Catch-up

When "Quilting for Peace" came out this last fall, the library where I work put out a little blurb and a link on our staff daily news page. The awesome Wanda who manages the Upsala branch contacted me and asked me to hang a portion of the project in their library. Thanks Wanda!!

It was last week already that I went and installed 435 blocks, suspending them from the ceiling. They have a beautiful mural on the wall and the project looks really nice with it. It will be there through the end of the month - stop by!

I keep getting completed blocks!! You have no idea how happy I get at the thought of having this completed and ready to be viewed en masse. Keep 'em coming! I am aiming to be done by Memorial Day, and there is still lots to do.

I may have arm twisted someone into helping with PR. I know you recognize that as my not strongest skill as I am woefully behind on posting and organizing photos etc, etc, etc....

Any place you'd like to see the project hang? Let me know!!

Oh, we didn't have an artist for February at my library, so I also hung 496 blocks at my library! You can stop by Waite Park on your way home from Upsala!

WOW!!!!

I got the best new year greeting Friday morning.

I walked into Aunt Annie's quilt shop, right into a box FULL of base blocks! 550 blocks ready to be knotted! OMG! Anne H - this is a dream come true! More than half of what is needed to finish this project by Memorial day. I can' stop saying, "Wow!"

THANKS ANNE!!!

We're really gonna get this done! Let me know how many blocks you need!

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!

Indian Summer

I can't believe I forgot my camera, and alas, have no photos to share from the weekend in Fargo. The quilt show was beautiful, as always. The talent of quilters in North Dakota is amazing and diverse. I am proud to have been a part of it.

I shared the story of the project with lots of people, and sent out lots of blocks to be knotted. Thanks to all for your caring and support. The many different "voices" represented in the project add so much to it's meaning.