Sunday, March 24, 2013

Hands2Help - It's Time to Sign Up!!





"What does love look like?
It has the hands to help others.
It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy.
It has eyes to see misery and want.
It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men.
That is what love looks like."

Hi, all!

Things are all falling into place for this year's Hands2Help Charity Quilt Challenge!  I'm so excited to get this started!

This year we have two great charities to choose from.  You will be signing up to make a quilt or quilts for one or both of two charitable causes.



Our first charity this year is an ongoing project of Emily of Em's Scrapbag.  You can choose to make quilts for Happy Chemo, an organization that provides quilts and comfort for chemo patients.  They also collect up and provide information about freebies and discounts that may be of use to chemo patients.  Emily has been championing this cause for a while, and has set a goal of providing 1500 quilts to Happy Chemo.  She’s already donated nearly 600 quilts, and I’d like to see her numbers grow!  She has generously agreed to be part of this challenge, and is excited to see what comes of it.  Here's what Emily has to say about Happy Chemo...

"The first time I met Ginger Johnston, founder of Happy Chemo, it was my first visit to a chemo lab.  I was scared and unsure of what the future held for me.  In walked Ginger, bald and boobless but determined to bring a little sunshine into the chemo lab.  So before she started her treatment she took everyone’s name and drew prizes.  It so changed my experience that I knew I needed to help her in her quest.  I started making quilts for her to give.  Because I can’t sew as fast as cancer strikes I started asking for help.  I just want to bring a little comfort and joy to those who are facing the fear and uncertainty that trips to the chemo lab bring."  



Emily accepts quilts that are 45" square to 60" x 72". Any style of quilt is accepted as cancer affects men and women, children and adults.  Quilts made for this project will be sent to Emily to help her meet her goal of 1500 quilts donated to Happy Chemo!


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A charity providing quilts to children in underserved areas of the world





Our second charity is a new one this year, at least to me!  I read about Quilts Beyond Borders recently and was captivated by their mission.  Here’s some information from their website...

Quilts Beyond Borders reaches out to under-served children, mainly orphans, across the world to provide a handmade quilt and spread love and hope... We have focused on Ethiopia where in 5 years we have delivered over 1,000 quilts to orphans...  Since 2009 we have also provided quilts to people in need in Japan, Haiti, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Cameroon, Burundi, Uganda, Russia, Thailand and Mexico, and we plan additional distributions of quilts to those in need living in other places where the warmth of a quilt is needed at night.

They are currently in need of 500-600 quilts to distribute this fall to orphanages in Ethiopia and Romania.  I'm hoping we can make a significant dent in their need, and spread the word to others who many not know of this worthy cause as well!

For this charity, the finished quilts should be 40-45" wide by 48-60" long.  This size best fits the children's beds.  Quilts need to be quilted sufficiently to handle rugged conditions - used by children, and washed under rugged laundry conditions (unfortunately, tied quilts won't hold up to these conditions).  Fabric can be cotton or cotton/polyester. Batting can be cotton or polyester.  Please bind the quilts entirely by machine, so the binding will hold up longer.

Please include a label for each quilt you send for Quilts Beyond Borders.  The label should read:

Quilts Beyond Borders
Made for You with Love
By:  (quilter's name)
Belongs to (space for recipient's name)


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With two charities to pick from this year, you can choose a wide variety of sizes and styles of quilts - something for everyone!! And if you're torn between the two charities, feel free to make more than one quilt!  Just think how many wonderful designs you can try.... ;-)


Another change this year, to allow more international participants - if you live outside the United States and want to participate, you can send your quilt top and back to me and I will quilt it for you, to save you from having to pay huge international postage to ship a finished quilt.  Or in the alternative, you can choose a local charitable cause to give your quilt to.  So come on and join in, all you Aussies, Brits, Kiwis, and Canadians!  And anyone else who wants to join in!  



Here's the calendar for this year's Hands2Help Challenge:


Initial signups will be Sunday, March 24th through Saturday, March 30th.  You will receive one entry for signing up, and can get additional entries for putting the button on your blog sidebar, and/or posting about the challenge to encourage others to join in!  (You can sign up after this time, but this is the period to sign up to be part of the signup giveaway.)

Next Sunday, March 31st, we'll announce the winners of the signup giveaway.   I've got something very special planned for this giveaway - completely in keeping with the spirit of the Hands2Help Charity Quilt Challenge! 

Sunday, April 7th, there will be a linky party where you can post links to your favorite on-line tutorials.  It could be a tutorial for a quilt pattern, or a technique like machine binding, or even a recipe for your favorite "while-I'm-quilting" snack!  You don't have to write the tutorial, you can link up to another blogger's tutorial.  If you love it, someone else might too!

In the following weeks, we'll have some special posts and possibly some guest bloggers!  (If you'd like to be a guest blogger, please email me at salliesue@clearwire.net!)  More information on this as details become available....

There will also be check-in dates like last year, when you can link up and show your progress....  April 21st and May 19th.

Quilts should be completed by Sunday, June 2nd.  There will be a linky party (June 2nd through June 8th) to link your finished quilt and show it off, and giveaways for people who link up their quilts.  I'll have more information about the giveaways next week, but let me tell you, we've got some great sponsors this year!  Winners will be announced on June 9th.

Quilts should be mailed to the appropriate place by Friday, June 14th.

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Whew!  That's a lot of information to digest - but the calendar will always be available to you on the Page at the top of my blog!  

So here's the short-and-sweet on how to sign up for the Challenge and be eligible for the giveaway next week:  

1)  Leave a comment telling me that you plan to participate in the Challenge.  If you have decided, tell who you want to make a quilt(s) for! 

2)  For an additional entry, grab the H2H button from the right sidebar and post it on your own blog, then come back and leave a comment telling me you did it!

3)  For more additional entries, post about the Challenge on your own blog, on Facebook, on Twitter, or pin the button image (from this blogpost) to Pinterest.  Leave a comment for each way you helped spread the word!

Woohoo!!  Let's get started!!

Hugs!

Sarah


Just a reminder - you don't have to have a blog to participate!  If you want info on how to join in without a blog, just let me know in your comment - and be sure I have a way to answer you!

If you sign up to participate in H2H and you don't hear back from me within a couple of days, you are probably a "no-reply" blogger!  Check here for instructions on how to correct this problem, or leave your e-mail address in your comment so that I can reach you!  If you don't feel comfortable leaving your e-mail address out in public, you can e-mail me directly at salliesue(at)clearwire(dot)net.



121 comments:

  1. I plan to make at least one quilt for each of the charities. I would "grab" the button for my blog but have no idea how to do it.

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  2. Yippee, it's that time again. I saw a pantograph on Urban Elementz that was hands, would be perfect for the quilts for this. I'll make at least one for each, and try to do two for each like last year. I have the button on my blog. I pinned it on Pinterest and will blog about on Monday. I love this time of year!

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  3. Sign me up! I will be donating a quilt to Happy Chemo.

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  4. My sewing room is already a mess from pulling the fabric needed for 2013 H2H, so you know I'm in.

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  5. I blogged about it today at:
    http://new2quilting.blogspot.com/2013/03/mmmrr13-march-sneak-peek.html

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  6. The H2H2013 button is on my sidebar:
    http://new2quilting.blogspot.com/2013/03/mmmrr13-march-sneak-peek.html

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  7. I spread the word on Twitter today:
    https://twitter.com/KShahann/status/315811712643239937

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  8. I am in! Two for Happy chemo!
    Kate the Quilting Professor

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  9. I will make one or more quilts for Happy Chemo. Thanks for organizing this great undertaking.

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  10. Sign me up for the second charity, please! If I have time, I'll also make one for the chemo quilts as well, but I'm not going to commit to that until I see how time goes. :)

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  11. I've added the button to my blog. (Google to the rescue. Was easy as could be.)

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  12. I just posted on my blog that I am participating in this project.

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  13. I'm in! I'd like to send another quilt (or maybe two!) to Happy Chemo.

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  14. And I posted about the sign ups! Yeah! I hope you get lots of participants this year!

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  15. YAY !!! I was just thinking about this and that it should be coming up soon !!! I plan on doing 2 quilts ; 1 for each ! hopefully more :D

    Mickey White

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  16. I blogged about the project !

    http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1155722868325028154#editor/target=post;postID=2126561297026657296

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  17. I pinned it also ! http://pinterest.com/pin/132011832799752529/



    (the link to my blog above is WRONG ! )

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  18. posted on facebook :

    https://www.facebook.com/harleywife

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  19. You know I've got the button in place.
    Hugs

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  20. I just shared on Facebook as best I could figure out. It comes to my blog, but the icon should help them to get to yours...
    Oh, and I blogged about it too, it was yesterday or Friday though.
    Hugs

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  21. Yes! I've been looking forward to this! I do plan to participate. Thanks for doing this again!

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  22. I've put your button on my sidebar! :)

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  23. And I posted about the challenge on my blog. So happy to do it!

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  24. I would love to participate. I will make a quilt for Happy Chemo. Great feeling to give and help others.

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  25. Putting the button on my sidebar.

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  26. Sarah, I would be most happy to make a quilt for both charities! Thanks for the opportunity. I don't have a blog, so if you could help me when it comes time to share a picture, I would appreciate it.

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  27. And thanks to a previous comment, I pinned it to my pinterest account too!

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  28. Count me in! My goal is 2 for each. Here's hoping that I blow that goal!

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  29. This is always a fun project to participate in! I plan to make one for each charity.

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  30. I will be making one for Happy Chemo and I'll try to get one ready for Quilts beyond borders. :) Fun!

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  31. I'm in again this year. Count on at least 2 quilts-one for each! No blog but I'll spread the word the old fashioned way

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  32. This is alway fun and worthwhile. I will be making a quilt for Happy Chemo. Thanks for hosting this great project again this year.

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  33. I'll make a quilt for Quilts without Borders. Thanks for hosting!

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  34. I would love to make one for both charities Sarah and as last year ,since I live in Canada I wii send them to you to quilt as postal is even more expensive this year. Blessings Sandra

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  35. I would love to be included. I have a bunch of blocks just waiting for a reason to become a quilt. I do not have a blog.

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  36. I'll plan on making a quilt for Happy Chemo but don't have a blog. Thanks

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  37. Button is posted on my blog!
    sowingstitches.blogspot.com

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  38. I plan to participate and want to assist the Quilts Beyond Borders!
    I have a ton of irons in the fire at the moment..reminders will be nice to help me stay on track... :) I'm talking with folks today about fabric donations hoping to get more to join in the fun!
    sowingstitches.blogspot.com

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  39. I have posted on my blog how I plan to participate in Hands2Help.
    sowingstitches.blogspot.com

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  40. I have posted a link on my facebook how I plan to help.
    FB Sowing Stitches

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  41. I have posted a link on Twitter how I plan to help.
    Twitter@SowingStitches

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  42. I have blogged about it and added the button to the blog.

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  43. HI! I am going to sign up for the challenge! I think I am going to do one for the Quilts Beyond Borders! This will be my first charity quilt! I am pretty excited!

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  44. I blogged about this event! I don't have a big following but hopefully others will sign up too!
    AlwaysSewLove

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  45. I added the Hands2Help button to my sidebar too! :)

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  46. Count me in. I plan to make a quilt for a child.

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  47. I blogged about Hands2Help today and I have a Hand2Help button on the side of my blog.
    Good luck with this year's charity quilt drive, Sarah :D

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  48. I'm in for the chemo charity. Are there any specifics on how the quilts need to be finished?

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  49. I will be making a quilt for Quilty Hugs for Happy Chemo. I love that there is a way to contribute. Thank you so much for putting this together!

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  50. Hi Sarah, I'm planning to make a quilt for Quilty Hugs.

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  51. I will be finishing a quilt for both projects. A good incentive for me to finish some quilts that are lingering in the piles.
    Sally Mortenson

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  52. I promoted the challenge on my blog.
    http://cjs-sewingroom.blogspot.com/2013/03/its-time-to-sign-up-for-hands2help.html


    p.s. I tried adding the button to my sidebar, but it says the link is broken.....I'll try later.....it may be that I don't know what I'm doing. I'll keep trying :)

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  53. Yes, I finally figured out the button....my error all along, figures! :)


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  54. I'm in, though I may be donating again to the local Aussie Hero Quilts group. If I can work it, I might see if I can put together a second to send over to you for finishing Sarah ;) Will let you know whether I'm able to do the second by the middle of May xx

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  55. Button has replaced last years' :)

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  56. Button has replaced last years' :)

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  57. ... and pinned on Pinterest :)

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  58. Count me in! Can't wait to participate.

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  59. Count me in on the fun! I have at least one I'll be making, maybe more. Do I have to know exactly what right now?

    Thanks for organizing this and making us all aware Sarah. You deserve all the blessings you get!

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  60. I would like to donate two quilts for the Happy Chemo group.

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  61. I would like to donate a quilt to the Happy Chemo group. My daughter is in the midst of her chemo and I made her a chemo quilt in her favorite soothing neutrals. I know she appreciated it.

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  62. I think I'll make it my goal to do a quilt for each...time for some unselfish quilting to happen!!!!

    brookeali(at)hotmail.com

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  63. I will make two quilts for the Chemo. Thanks for sponsoring this each year.

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  64. I've added the button to my sidebar. Thanks for leading us in this charity quilting.

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  65. I've added the button to my sidebar. Thanks for leading us in this charity quilting.

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  66. I will be making one quilt for each group.

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  67. I did a blog post up - the day you had the button ready.

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  68. And the button has been up on the sidebar

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  69. I would like to sign up to make a quilt for Happy Chemo. I'm finishing my first block tonight :-) for a Hugs and Kisses quilt that I'm doing as a quilt along with Christa. Thank you for all the organization! I'm also going to put the button on my blog. www.luckypupquilter.blogspot.com
    and I will pin it too :-)

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  70. My mom and I are both in. She doesn't have a blog so I'm responding for us both. You'll get at least one quilt from each of us, probably one going to each charity. :) We're excited to do this together!

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  71. I'm in! I'm hoping to get two quilts made, one for each charity.

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  72. I've just blogged about it too ... Maybe we can get a few more Aussies involved ;)

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  73. Good morning Sarah, I'm in for at least 2 for Happy Chemo and there is a good chance for more...Happy stitching, Pauline

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  74. I have the button on my side bar...more happy stitching, Pauline

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  75. I will make a quilt for each charity and if I have time, I will see if I can get a few more done.

    Thanks for organizing this very worthwhile project!

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  76. I'm also in for atleast 1 quilt for each charity.

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  77. I have put the button on my blog!

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  78. I have posted about this challenge on my blog!

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  79. OK, I have now blogged about the challenge on my blog as well: www.therecipebunny.blogspot.com :)

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  80. And, now I've added the button to my sidebar. :) So excited to get started!

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  81. I am committing to making 1 quilt for charity!

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  82. And also shared the challenge on my blog http://stitchestosprinkles.blogspot.com/2013/03/hands2help.html

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  83. I added a button and I'll post about this challenge tomorrow. ;)

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  84. I will be happy to make a quilt to help with the H@H Challenge this year!

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  85. I would like to make a quilt for Happy Chemo. Please sign me up.

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  86. And I have added the link to my blog!

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  87. I will make one quilt for each charity.

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  88. I added your button to my sidebar.

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  89. I blogged about the challenge :)

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  90. I added the challenge button to my blog :)

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  91. I will be making one quilt for each charity this year. I am excited about being part of this again this year. Thank you for hosting this project and all the work you do on it.

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  92. Count me in. Don't know which charity yet, maybe both.

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  93. I also added the button to my blog.

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  94. I posted about the challenge and put the button on my sidebar. Thanks for hosting this again!

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  95. I have put the button on my brand new blog! Have yet to blog about it, but that is next :o)

    http://patternsnpatches.blogspot.com/

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  96. I'll make at least one quilt for Happy Chemo.

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  97. I just blogged about H2H (and started a quilt) and will blog several other times.

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  98. I'm in and will make a quilt for Quilts without Borders!

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  99. Posted/linked on my Facebook page!

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  100. Count me in. Haven't decided which charity to go with (or maybe both.)

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  101. I just posted the Hands 2 Help button on my blog:
    quiltsandcostumes.blogspot.com

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  102. I already make quilts which go to foster children in my town. I call them Because You Matter quilts. Would I still be able to enter the challenge?

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  103. Please add me to the group. I will make at least one quilt for Happy Chemo.

    My BIL has undergone chemo and one of my best girlfriends has gone through chemo and has had the cancer come back so this cause hits home for me.

    Thank you,

    Sherry

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Comments make me smile!! If you want a PDF of a pattern, PLEASE leave your email address in your comment, or email me directly at salliesue57 (at) gmail (dot) com!