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Tag: 70273 family quilts

Holiday Rescues and Remedies

It’s the most wonderful time of the year when people around the world gather and spend time with beloved friends and families . . . SO . . . when you get tired of hearing the same ole’ stories, when that one certain family member is stomping on your last nerve, when the kids are running around like chickens with their heads cut off, it’s time to pull out fabric and thread and make some blocks for The 70273 Project.

pieces of white fabric covered with pairs of red X's

Blocks made by Susan Burch and her Grandchildren

two young boys smile broadly while surveying the table filled with

2 of Laurie Dunn’s adorable Grandchildren spent time at the beach making blocks (and decorating shells, some of which they sent to me with their blocks).

GRANDS

If it’s just too cold to send the little darlings outside to run off some of that energy, sit ’em down and make some blocks. You make one red X and your  grandchild makes the other red X.

 

pieces of white fabric covered with pairs of red X's

Blocks made by Siblings Peggy Thomas, Linda Moore, and Pat McGregor

SIBLINGS

Instead of sticking your tongue out at your sister or making horns behind your brother’s head when someone points a camera in your direction, thread your needle and make Sibling Blocks. One siblings makes a red X’s on a block, then another siblings adds the second red X. Depending on how many siblings you have, it may take several blocks before everybody has made a block with each sibling (and that’s just fie with me).

men and women sit at a table and stitch

Kitty Sorgen’s family work on the blocks for their family quilt

a white quilt covered with pairs of red X's

Quilt #31: The Sorgen / Urbach Famliy Quilt

FAMILIES

When Grandpa takes an afternoon nap and snores so loudly you can’t hear yourself think, take a cue from Kitty Sorgen and get everybody involved in making your own family quilt. Everybody makes their own blocks OR pairs of family members can make collaborative blocks, each making on red X. With no minimum or maximum number of blocks, you can put up needle and thread when ready. After the holiday, you or another willing soul can turn these family blocks into a quilt for The 70273 Project.

two red X's on a white background

A collaborative block made by Nancy and me. She drew in red, then I printed her drawing on fabric and used it to make the two red X’s.

COLLABORATE WITH ME (JEANNE)

And when you reach the point where it’s grab some time to yourself or climb the walls and swing from the chandelier, quietly pick up your cloth, scissors, and thread and go make blocks with only one red X then send them to me and I’ll add the second red X.

IMPORTANT THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

~ Blocks are made per usual – in one of three sizes with two (or one if we’re collaborating) red X’s.

~ Just like always, everybody needs a Provenance Form.

~ Please make a note in the upper righthand corner of each Provenance Form and let me know if the blocks are to go into The Grands Quilt; The Siblings Quilt; or the I Collaborated with Jeanne Quilt.

~ If you opt to make a family quilt and can’t find anybody to piece and quilt it, make a note in the upper righthand corner of each Provenance Form that this is the _________ Family Quilt then send me the blocks and Provenance Forms and I’ll find a volunteer. (Who will become like a valued member of your family. Trust me on that.)

~ Right this way for more information about Collaborating with Me.

~ For more information about Grandparents/Grandchildren Blocks and Family Quilts, go here and here.

~ Go here to find out more about making Siblings Blocks.

Now, go enjoy your time together.

Oh, if you’re looking for a gift for someone who has everything (related to you or not), we love being elves, so consider making a donation to The 70273 Project in their honor. Let us know if you want us to send them a handwritten note letting them know, and we’ll sure do it. And hey, thank you.

Making a Quilt and Registering It with The 70273 Project

Blocks from Australia made by Faye and Elizabeth (Libby) Cook

You’ve made blocks
or maybe your family
or your quilt guild
or your school
or your church
or your shop
or your club
made blocks.
You’re sure that the base of the block is white or slightly off white fabric and that there are two red X’s on each block (no more, no less) and only two red X’s (no letters, initials, words, names, or numbers). Once that’s been tended to . . .
Would you like to take those blocks and turn them into a quilt for The 70273 Project? You can do that, you know, and the good news is that it’s easier than ever. For a quilt to become an official part of The 70273 Project, it must be registered with me, Jeanne Hewell-Chambers, and here’s how you do that:

Once the quilt or even the quilt top is finished, send me the following information:

  • 2 high resolution photos of the full front of the quilt
  • 2-3 high resolution detail photos of the quilt
  • finished dimensions of the quilt
  • month and year the quilt was completed
  • the total number of lives commemorated (# of blocks) in the quilt
  • the names and country of residence of each person who made blocks used in the quilt
  • information about dedications if blocks were made in honor or in memory of someone
  • name and country of residence of the person who Pieced the quilt, Quilted the quilt, Finished (binding and hanging sleeve) the quilt
  • a current, working email address of the person who has the quilt in their possession
  • scanned or photograph images of all Provenance Forms from people who made blocks for the quilt. Note: This saves money on postage because once you’ve received a confirmation of readability and receipt from me, you can destroy the originals. I reiterate: Do not destroy the original forms until you receive a confirmation of receipt and readability from me.
  • photos and story bits about the making of the quilt (For example, Where was the quilt made? Was it made at or for a special event? Was any special cloth used in the quilt, such as a tablecloth that belonged to someone special, or baby clothes, or clothing belonging to ancestors)? How did participating in The 70273 Project make people feel? Why did people participate?)

PROVENANCE FORMS

Every one who makes a block that is used in the quilt must complete and sign a Provenance Form. I need scanned or photographed copies of every Provenance Form. As mentioned above, you can use email or dropbox to send them to me, but hang onto the originals until I’ve emailed you a confirmation of readability and receipt.

QUILT LABELS

Once I receive this information, I will assign the quilt a number, place it in the official 70273 Project database, create and email the quilt label to the person who has the quilt in their possession. That person, or the person of their choosing, will print the quilt label on fabric and hand stitch it to the back of the quilt in the lower right-hand corner as you look at the back for the quilt. Do not attach the binding over the quilt label. Once the quilt label is attached, please send me a photo of the back of the quilt showing the quilt label.

PROGRESS PHOTOS

Please post photos of quilts in progress in social media, and please be sure to tag me because I keep copies of these photos in each quilt’s registration folder. (See the icons in the upper righthand sidebar for places to find me in social media.) I will not register quilts (which means they will not be an official part of The 70273 Project) I see posted on Facebook unless and until I have received all of the above information.

POSSESSION OF QUILTS

Finished quilts can be mailed to me at the address on the Provenance Form. In the foreseeable future  I will be making arrangements to get all the quilts back to HEARTquarters for taking professional photos and preparing for The Great Gathering and Launch, so any changes in possession of quilts must come through me so that I always know where each quilt is located.

QUILTS THAT ARE ALREADY MADE

If you’ve made a quilt and have not sent me the above required information – if you have not received an official The 70273 Project Quilt Label from me – please send me the information  now, even if you’ve already completed the quilt and attached your own label.

BLOCK NUMBERS

Blocks in your quilt will be assigned numbers and added to the official block count once I have received the quilt.

VERY IMPORTANT CLOSING NOTES

  • Now that you’ve read this, do you notice anything? Right! You no longer have to scan and tag each individual block or make the quilt map to show block placement! (You’re welcome.) As long as I have the information requested in this post, we’ll all be just fine. However, if you are a Piecer who finds it helpful to create a quilt map showing the placement of each block, please send me a digital copy for your quilt’s file because often the information on those maps helps me, too.
  • The information on this page applies to any kind of quilts you’re making: Block quilts, Middlings, Long Skinnies, or any of the other ways to make quilts that I’ll be telling you about in the next couple of months.
  • If you are not comfortable enough with technology to take and email photos or to print the label on fabric, promise me you won’t be embarrassed or let that keep you from making a quilt. Simply make your quilt – stitch it full of kindness and compassion – then mail it to me with your Provenance Form, and I’ll take it from there. (The mailing address is on the Provenance Form.)
  • Once your quilt is registered as an official quilt of The 70273 Project, it becomes the property of The 70273 Project, Inc. and will travel the world with the other quilts, fulfilling the three-point purpose of The 70273 Project: commemorating those who died, celebrating those with special needs who live, and educating all who will listen. Thank you for helping me stay organized and have all the information I need on each quilt. For your convenience, I will be adding a copy of this information as a file in the Facebook group. If you have any questions, just holler.  And most especially, thank you for helping commemorate the lives of these 70,273 people.

~~~~~~~

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A Family That Stitches Together, Makes Memories Together

You’ve binge watched every season of Downton Abbey.
You’ve served the turkey and cleaned up while everybody else napped.
You’ve lost the dog, the cat, one child, and your mother-in-law in the apocalypse that inevitably follows the opening of gifts.
Now what?

Hey, I have an idea: Why don’t you make a Family Quilt for The 70273 Project? It’s our December Adventure, you know, and get this: you define who’s family and any age can participate.

Laurie Dunn’s family is making a quilt, for example, as is Suzanne McCarthy’s family, Chloe Grice and her sister, and Kitty Sorgen’s family.

L to R: Sandy Urbach, Dan Sorgen, and Lucy Urbach

Kitty’s family gathered on the deck to stitch last summer. Let’s look in on the Sorgens and Urbachs as Kitty introduces them to us . . .

Block #3716 made by Andy Ubach. 6.5″ x 9.5″

Andy is our son-in-law, and an absolute prince. We’re so blessed. He works as a corrections officer, and is also an entrepreneur, chef, and inventor.

Block #3713 made by Sandy Ubach, 6.5″ x 9.5″

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sandy is Andy’s mom, and she’s visiting us at just the right time.

Block #3697 made by Jillian Ubach, 3.5″ x 6.5″

Jillian wanted to reflect the “defective” DNA that made someone be “of no value”. 

Block #3706 made by Lucy Ubach, 6.5″ x 9.5″

Lucy is our artist and loved being able to draw her blocks.

Block #3709 made by Jill Ubach, 6.5″ x 9.5″

Jill is my actress/singer/teacher, etc. daughter. She’s amazing . . . and always multi-tasking.

Block #3714 made by Dan Sorgen, 6.5″ x 9.5″

Dan is my true love and an engineer (physicist). He wanted his block to show that the evil stemmed from an ideology.

Block #3720 made by Kitty Sorgen, 6.5″ x 9.5″

And last, but certainly not least, there’s Kitty, the woman we’ve quickly grown to adore for her talent, her commitment, her kindness, and  her smile that shines through in her words shared digitally.

A little annoyed that she wasn’t invited to the table and given some cloth, Missy takes matters into her own hands – um, paws – and finds a way to be part of the Sorgen/Urbach Family Quilt for The 70273 Project.

Thank you Sorgens and Urbachs, one and all. Y’all are such a vibrant part of The 70273 Project Tribe, and I just can’t wait to see your quilt!

So how ’bout it – are you inspired to cut up some blocks and put needle and thread in everyone’s hand? I sure hope so, and I hope you’ll snap some photos and share bits of your story with us. If you have any questions, just holler.

December’s Adventure: Family Quilts

chloeandkatquilttop

Quilt top made of blocks created by Chloe Grice and her sister, Kat Andrews

It’s the most wonderful time of the year when we make a special effort to gather with people who are special to us (well, most of them are special to us, anyway), so I thought what better time to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our loved ones and work together to create something meaningful and lasting. Something we can visit together years from now and remember when. Something future generations can see and feel a sense of roots and connectedness. Our Adventure for December? Make an entire quilt with blocks made by you and your relatives –  Family Quilts for The 70273 Project!

kittysorgenfamilyondeck

Kitty Sorgen’s Family Makes Blocks on the Deck

Here’s all you need to know:
~ Same block sizes and design guidelines apply.
~ Everybody who makes a block must complete and sign a Provenance Form. Folks can remain anonymous, if desired, but I still need their name for the ultra-private-nobody-sees-but-me database.
~ There’s no maximum or minimum number of blocks that must be created (though remember: we’re aiming to get all 70,273 blocks completed by October 2017).
~ And there’s no maximum or minimum size the finished quilt must be.
~ When piecing and quilting, please use only white thread in your needle and/or bobbin, and please do not quilt over the red X’s. You can quilt all around them and right up to them, just not on them. The binding (or facing) and backing fabric must be white (we use bleached muslin), and there must be a 4″ hanging sleeve made from the same fabric used on the back of the quilt and attached to the top edge of the quilt, leaving a 1″ gap between the side edge of the sleeve and the side edge of the quilt.

lauriedunnfamilyatbeach

Laurie Dunn’s Adorable Grandchildren Make Blocks at the Beach

Now here’s where I’m streamlining things a bit for you.

For several reasons, I still want to know who made which block, but instead of scanning or snapping a photo of each block and emailing it to me, here’s what we’re gonna’ do:

~ Once the blocks are made, write the Maker’s name on a piece of blue painter’s tape (make sure it’s dark enough and legible enough to be readable) and stick it somewhere on one of the red X’s. There are other ways to attach names to each block – you can write names on a strip of cloth and safety pin it to the block. Or you can use one of the little tagging “guns” to attach the name. If you use tape, though, please use the blue painter’s tape and make sure it’s stuck down tight. (Note: you can make collaborative blocks with family members: You lay down one red X and ask a Special Someone to lay down the other red X. Just be sure to include both names on the id tag.)
~ This id tag remains on the quilt until it lands in my arms (along with the completed Provenance Forms) where I will take what I need, create the quilt label, and remove the tape.
~ If you’d take photos to send along to me, I’d love to profile your family. And for those wishing to remain anonymous, feel free to grab and wear the nearest lampshade.
~ If you want to make blocks but don’t feel comfortable with the Piecing and Quilting part, you might ask around to see if there’s a willing quilter in your community (if so, be sure to give them the specific instructions as outlined above) and if not, just send me the blocks along with the completed Provenance Forms to me, and some generous, big-hearted person will finish it for you. If you do send me a completely finished quilt, please be sure to let me know who did the Piecing and who did the Quilting.

And that, my friends, is all there is to it.

So when That Uncle gets on your last nerve, go make some blocks.

And no, you don’t get to wish he lived about 76 years ago.

~~~~~~~

When you’re making your list and checking it twice and come to that hard-to-buy-for-person, consider making a donation to The 70273 Project in their name by mashing the “Donate” button in the righthand sidebar or mailing a check made payable to The 70273 Project, Inc. and mailed to POB 994 / Cashiers, NC 28717. A gift to The 70273 Project truly is the gift that will keep on giving.

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