Gratitude

Wow! By April 8th we had received 101 blocks from around the country for Log Cabins for Japan. Thank you so very much for your contributions. I wish to extend a special thanks to the NOVA Modern Quilt Guild. You guys made an incredible number of blocks and I am deeply grateful!

Check out just a fraction of the many blocks we received.

By the end of our sewing day on Sunday we were at around 140 blocks. We had enough to make SIX quilts of various sizes. Three are completely pieced and three are in progress, so don't worry if you don't see your block(s).

Pretty pastels

Nikol strikes a pose

Vanessa of Punkin Patterns pieced this beauty

Words cannot describe my gratitude to all of you who made blocks, donated fabric, and donated your time and skill. Props to the Sunday Sewing Crew: Vanessa, Rebecca, Tina, and Nikol. I'm especially grateful to Nikol of Sewtropolis for giving us a headquarters and sewing space for this effort.

We have about 2 weeks to complete the six (maybe more?) quilts. I'll keep you posted on our progress! Please send speedy vibes our way.

My sincerest thanks,
-Annik

A Whole Lotta Blocks

Nikol from Sewtropolis just sent me a photo of the stack of envelopes at her store filled with log cabin blocks. Wow! I'm delighted and eternally grateful for your generosity.

I hope to see you on Sunday afternoon for some serious sewing. Stay tuned for photos of our progress.
A huge thank you and best wishes!

-Annik

Bee There

My 4th block

A huge thank you to everyone who has sent in log cabin blocks for Japan! And thanks to those of you who have posted photos on the Flickr group. It's so fun to see people's quilting points of view. What a wonderful variety we will have for this project.

I'm excited to announce that piecing and quilting will begin this weekend and you're invited!

When: Sunday April 10th, noon and 4 p.m.

Where: Sewtropolis
5 West Diamond Lake Rd Minneapolis, MN 55419
Located on the southwest side of Diamond Lake Rd and Nicollet Ave S.

Bring: a sewing machine, a rotary cutter, a ruler, pins, or just bring yourself. Bring fabric scraps if you plan to make log cabin blocks. If you have any extra pieces of batting or backing fabric, that would be great, too!

I promise we'll put you to work!  Not only will you get the chance to meet other local sewing folks, but you'll also have the opportunity to check out Sewtropolis' beautiful selection of quilting and apparel fabrics and their cool sewing studio. I'll bring snacks.

See you there!

-Annik

Sunday Stash #1

Thought I'd finally join in the Sunday Stash fun. I am currently crushing madly on Robert Kaufman's Metro Living line. I ordered these beauties from my online friend, Kelly, the owner of Stitch-n-Lounge in Duncanville, TX. Check out her Artfire shop. She's got great fabric!

The stack

 I love this combination:

 

The tiles are amazing, too!

 

 A couple more photos because I just can't resist:

I won't be playing with these beauties today, though. Binding my black and white quilt comes first.

Happy sewing!

-Annik

The blocks are coming!

Hooray! I got word yesterday from Nikol of Sewtropolis that log cabin blocks are starting to arrive. Thank you so very much! I can't wait to see what you've made.

It's sort of like the calm before the storm around here. I'm trying to wrap up various projects so I can devote every minute of my spare time to piecing and finishing the Log Cabins for Japan quilts before the end of April.

Sadly, I can't show you most of what I've been doing lately. I've got several PDF patterns in the works that are top secret. Yesterday I finished piecing the back of my Minneapolis Modern Quilt Guild black and white challenge quilt and in a fit of inspiration, finished the machine quilting, too. All I have left to do is sew on the binding. I can't wait to reveal the finished product in May. I'm terrible at keeping secrets.

In the meantime, here's a little something I will show and tell. Remember my test blocks from ages ago?

Ta da! I finally made myself a pin cushion.

I love how it turned out, but I think I need another one that reads "Spring." Some people change their wardrobe according to the season, I change my pin cushion....

Please keep those blocks coming in and don't forget to post photos in the Flickr group.

Best wishes,
Annik

How's your block coming along?

Are you making a log cabin quilt block for Japanese Tsunami/quake survivors? I hope so! I've rounded up lots of local quilters who are ready to help out with making your block and others into quilts for people in need in Japan. Please send your block(s) in by April 8th. That's right around the corner so get started today!

Out of curiosity, I decided to weigh my 10.5" quilt block along with an envelope with my handy dandy postal scale to see what shipping would cost. My block + envelope = .6 oz. According to the US Postal Service, a letter under 1 ounce costs only 44 cents to mail. That means you can send your block for a mere stamp. What a deal! So please don't let shipping costs deter you from making a block. Fold it up nice and flat and stick it in a standard envelope, stamp it, and send it out the door. A "large" envelope costs 88 cents to mail (up to 1 ounce). Two ounces cost $1.05. Still a steal.

Here's where to send your block(s): 

Sewtropolis

Attn: Log Cabins for Japan

5 West Diamond Lake Road

Minneapolis, MN  55419

 

 

 

I think it's fair to say that those of us who sew have a special bond with Japan. This past Saturday I went shopping at one of my local fabric stores, Crafty Planet, and picked up a couple of Japanese fabrics to add to my vast stash (I can't help it!) - some sweet indigo turtles and Melody Miller's Ruby Star Rising vintage radio print by Kokka. Then I headed over to Joann to take advantage of a 25% off coupon. I picked up Clover marking pencils (made in Japan) and a new Olfa cutting mat (made in Japan). See what I mean?

 

Japanese sewing goodies

 As I was driving home, I heard a story on All Things Considered on NPR about a Japanese elementary school located on the coast that was hit by the Tsunami. Tears poured down my cheeks as I drove down the highway and I couldn't help but count my blessings. Listen to the story here, then make a block.

 

Thanks,

Annik

 

P.S. If you're local, please let me know if you have any extra batting or backing fabric you'd like to donate to the cause. 

Make a Block, Make a Difference

Calling all quilters and sewers.  Let's make quilt blocks for Japanese quake/Tsunami survivors. You don't need to make an entire quilt or even be an experienced quilter, just sew together a simple log cabin block or two. A group of local quilters and I will piece the donated blocks into tops and finish the quilting and binding.

Don't know how to make a log cabin block? No worries. I've posted a tutorial here or search for tutorials on Youtube.com. Feel free to use your own technique, too. Symmetrical, wonky, whatever - the more variety the better. I just ask that all blocks be 10.5" square (preferably a tiny bit larger so we can square them up to 10.5").

Finished blocks are due no later than April 8, 2011, so get started today! If you've never made a log cabin block before, you'll be amazed at how quickly they come together. And be sure to add a photo of your block(s) to the Log Cabins for Japan Flickr group.

Please send your block(s) to:

Sewtropolis

Attn: Log Cabins for Japan

5 West Diamond Lake Road

Minneapolis, MN  55419

I will send the finished quilts to Quilters Newsletter, who will then send them on to their friends at Patchwork Tsushin in Japan for distribution to people in need.

Thanks for your participation. And a big thanks to Sewtropolis in Minneapolis for their partnership on this project. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Best wishes,
Annik
miller.annik@gmail.com