It was a week of medical offices and health concerns as our daughter suffered a concussion after being hit in the head not once but twice as she performed on stage. We are watching her closely, and we thank you for your good, healing thoughts.
It was a week of storytelling, as The Engineer and I attended the annual storytelling festival in Jonesborough, TN where I did what so many of you do: stitched, answered questions from inquiring onlookers, and handed out cards to those who were interested.
It was a week of weather as Hurricane Matthew teased, taunted, and tormented the coasts of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Even though some members of The 70273 Project tribe are still without power as I pen this post, I are relieved and grateful that so far as I know now, nobody was injured.
It was a week of visits as I have now been contacted by people in 95 countries.
It was a week of receiving mail. Thanks to the generous compassionate creativity of:
Margaret Andrews (MO, USA)
Kelly Beman (NH, USA)
Jackie Batman (ON, Canada)
Monique Rans-Gregorie (Nivelles, Belgique)
Laurie Dunn (PA, USA)
Colton Dunn (Laurie Dunn’s 3 year old grandson)
Jerrod Dunn (Laurie Dunn’s 5 year old grandson)
Steven Dunn (Laurie Dunn’s 8 year old grandson)
Sophia Holdren
Jessie Holdren, Jr. (Laurie Dunn’s 21 month old grandson)
Marlesa Dunn
Debbie Burchell (ON, Canada)
Thomas W. B. Hough (ON, Canada)
Monica Denison (ON, Canada)
Ian Jeffrey (Debbie Burchell’s 4 year old grandson)
Ava Jeffrey (Debbie Burchell’s 5 year old granddaughter)
Chelsey Burchell (ON, Canada)
Christina Cromwell (ME, USA)
Margaret Williams (GA, USA)
Pam Patterson (TX, USA)
Kitty Sorgen (WA, USA)
and me,
437 more people were commemorated this week, bringing our block count total to 4816!
It was a week of surprises. Thank you, Laurie, Colton, Jerrod, Steven, Sophia, Jessie, and Martesa for the lovely decorated shell and the angel wing!
As we move forward into Week 35 (can you believe it?!), please remember:
~ There’s still time to collaborate on blocks with me. (postmark by 10/31/16)
~ And there’s still time to make blocks with your siblings (postmark by 11/30/16)
~ We are aiming to have all 70,273 blocks in my hands by the end of October 2017.
~ To help spread the word by sharing links to blog posts, sharing posts on Facebook, and encouraging others to find out more about The 70273 Project around one of these water coolers:
Subscribe to the blog (where all information is shared).
Join the English-speaking Facebook group – our e-campfire – where you can talk to other members of The 70273 Project Tribe.
Join the French-speaking Facebook group – our other e-campfire – where you can chat with other members of The 70273 Project Tribe.
Like the Facebook page where you can check in for frequent updates.
Follow the pinterest board for visual information.
Post using #the70273project on Instagram. (Please tag me, too, @whollyjeanne, so I don’t miss anything.)
If you haven’t yet made some blocks, perhaps you’d like to put some cloth in your hands and join us.
Or maybe you’d like to gather friends and family, colleagues or students, club or guild members, etc. together and make a group quilt.
Thank you all for your continued support of The 70273 Project and your efforts to commemorate the 70,273 who died, celebrate those who live, and educate all who will listen.
Now go have yourself a good week, why don’t you.
an impressive leap in the numbers, Jeanne — with all this wonderful help, the goal will certainly be reached in time. For my part, my white cloth and red ribbon arrived late this week. I spent the afternoon working on my first blocks — choosing to attach the ribbon by hand, rather than machine, so that I could reflect on the importance of what I was doing. I have two complete and a third started — not bad for two hours work…. looking forward to making many more. I’m making the middle size and I think I have enough material for at least 50 blocks, so I’m going to be busy … <3
I meant to ask if there is a restriction on what the x marks can be made of? For instance, can I couch thread, use beads, or other red bits? or should it be fabric?
Also do the x marks need to be solid? or can it be a dotted line or wiggly, etc. and can the red fabric have a small print?
Sorry, I am generally thinking outside the box. (Like these people were individuals with differences that made them special!) But I am willing to do plain x marks if that is best!
Thanks,
Sandy
PS I want to get my head on straight about this so I can then tell my group about it.
Hey Sandy, Good questions, and I appreciate you asking. The 2 red X’s do not have to be made of fabric, though remember that the quilts will be folded and rolled as they travel, so the materials need to be flexible. The red X’s can be beaded, couched, appliqués, pieced, stenciled, or even painted on. Red fabric with small prints is fine, as long as red is the main “ingredient”. The lines of the 2 red X’s do not have to be straight or solid (just as long as they are substantial enough for viewers to recognize them as 2 red X’s). The X’s can be made solely of thread that is laid down using the tried-and-true kantha stitch or any other kind of decorative stitching with red thread. Like you, I want each block to be as beautiful individual as the person it commemorates. You’re definitely on the right track! If you have other questions or ideas, just holler and know you’re always appreciated.
Oh thanks! now to just get started!