Sunday, May 26, 2019

Hands2Help 2019 - It's A Wrap!!!

Hi, all!

Oh my goodness - what a wild ride this year's Hands2Help Challenge has been!  Have you enjoyed it as much as I have?  Once again, I am amazed by how generous the quilting community is - but while I ramble on, I'm sure you are wondering about this year's numbers... so here they are.....




totally AWESOME quilters made and donated...


That's 49 more quilters and 459 more quilts than last year - you guys are absolutely AMAZING!!! As the numbers kept going up, I was more and more amazed.  At 500, I was jumping up and down - so you can imagine what it was like around here when we topped 600!  Happy dances everywhere!!!  And to end up at 875 - so totally beyond expectations - well, I say that quilters are generous people and you all have certainly proven that!! (FYI, these numbers have been updated with a late submission - woohoo!)

Quilt by Elizabeth F. for Jack's Basket - too pretty not to share!
And not only are you amazing, but we have some pretty amazing sponsors, too - because EVERYONE gets a gift to thank them for participating so generously in this year's Challenge!  The list of sponsors and the winners is below…

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 C&T Publishing is providing four $25 gift certificates!  They have loads of fabulous books - I'd have a hard time choosing!
Winners:  Kathleen R., Chris B., Lisa C. and Linda Sch.




Amy Smart, who blogs at Diary of a Quilter, has sent a big bundle of her patterns for several participants!  An accomplished pattern and fabric designer, her blog is always interesting and insightful.
Winners:  Emily C., Veronika B., Selina K., Debbie B., Jody K., Mary S., 
Karen W., Jennifer C., and Joy McD.



The folks over at Fat Quarter Shop are back again this year, offering three $25 gift certificates!  Have you been to Fat Quarter Shop?  They have a great selection of fabrics, and they feature wonderful tutorials for easy quilts using pre-cuts.  Lots of fun things going on there!
Winners:  Mary O., Becky McN., Sylvia A.


Christina Cameli, from A Few Scraps, is donating a copy of her newest book, Step-by-Step Texture Quilting, and a copy of her first book, First Steps to Free Motion Quilting!   While all of her books are excellent, these are two of my favorites.  Definitely a must-have for your own library!
Winners:  Elizabeth K. and Kelly C.


You may be most familiar with Classic Metal Company as the creators of those fabulous metal barn quilts - but Mark has been branching out, and this year he is donating eight sets of these fun A Quilter Lives Here items as prizes for Hands2Help!  Be sure to check out his website to see all the beautiful things he creates just for quilters!!
Winners:  Liz H., Janice S., Suzanne D., Tracie H, Doris M., 
Carolyn B., Mary W., and Mary D.

If you're anything like me, you're already familiar with The Warm Company, creator of Warm & Natural batting.  The Warm Company has sent us seven wonderful quilt batts to be given away as prizes!
Winners:  Barb N., Susan G., Susan S., Karen McC., 
Karrin H., Jan O., and Maria J.


Northcott Fabrics has joined us as a sponsor this year, sending several beautiful fabric bundles to share as giveaways!  Their fabric truly is wonderful, with a beautiful hand and great colors.
Winners:  Suzanne C., Carol W., Carol C., Alycia C., Ann W., Beryl R., 
Pat K., Linda S., Arlyn P., Sherry B., Anita S., Kathy S., Mary R., 
Roseanne N., Paula D., Maxine S., Bonnie C., Melinda C., Duffy M., 
Kathleen McC., Sandra W., Sharon T., Sharon V., Jean W., and Moira M.


Quilters Dream Batting has generously donated six quilt batts for our participants!  These are great batts, particularly for hand quilting!
Winners:  Trudie C., Loris M., Mina K., Jan A., Cynthia D., and Dance G.


Clover USA, the makers of my favorite tool, the hera marker, have sent us some fabulous notions as giveaway goodies!
Winners:  Janine H., Rose P., Cathy K., Robyn O., Kathryn L., Carol S., 
Linda R., Kathy J., Wendy F., Edith C., Amanda R., Frieda Z., Jamie E., 
Liane K., Elizabeth W., Kim R., Kathy P., Shruti V., Sherry V., 
Pam E., and Elizabeth E.


Emily Bailey, who blogs at Em's Scrap Bag and is also the champion for one of our charities, Quilty Hugs for Happy Chemo, is donating three bars of soap and five PDF patterns from her shop! If you love scrappy quilting, you need to be reading Emily's blog - she's the queen of scraps!
Winners:  Soap, Karen A.; Patterns, Nancy C.


Pineapple Fabrics is joining us as a sponsor this year with two giveaway goodies!  Be sure to check out their on-line shop and tell them thank you!
Winners:  Joann O'N. and Roseanne N.'s sewing buddy!


Judi Madsen at Green Fairy Quilts is joining us again this year, with a fat quarter bundle for one lucky participant!  If you don't know about Judi, you should - in addition to being a fabulous quilter, she's a pattern designer, author, teacher, AND she runs a great on-line shop!
Winner:  Sue B.


Figo Fabrics is new this year - new to the Challenge, and new to the scene as a fabric company!  They are an off-shoot of Northcott Fabrics, and they were so much fun to meet in person at QuiltCon!  Be sure to check out their fun, fresh, and very modern fabrics soon...
Winners:  Lisa S., Joanna P., Juli M., Susan N., and Diann B.


OLFA is also joining us this year as a new sponsor!  (I got to meet so many wonderful people at QuiltCon this year and talk to them about the Challenge - it was great to add lots of new sponsors.)  I don't know a single quilter who doesn't use at least one OLFA product, and they have generously donated two mini-cutter bundles as giveaway items.
Winners:  Mary G. and Louise H.


Elizabeth Hartman, pattern designer extraordinaire, has joined us as a sponsor this year by sending a package of her patterns!  Her designs are definitely on my bucket list - if you aren't familiar with them yet, you can check them out on her website.
Winners:  Myra B., Ursula Y., Barbara S., Juanita H., Janette B., Dolores F., 
Renee, and Lorraine B.


Fabricworm is once again joining us as a sponsor, providing a fat quarter bundle for one lucky participant!  Fabricworm has a wonderful array of fabrics in their shop, including organics, Japanese imports, and the fabulous Charlie Harper fabrics!
Winner:  Kathleen G.


Do you love really great lighting at your sewing machine? Then you need to check out InspiredLED!  I absolutely love their lights on both my tabletop sewing machine and on my long arm - they really help my old eyes!  InspiredLED is donating three lighting kits for this year's Challenge!
Winners:  Ila M., Kathy B., and Jackie L.


Rebecca B. for the Carolina Hurricane Quilt Project

Many of you not only give it forward with your quilts, but you also help encourage the people who participate in the Challenge by donating giveaway items!  (Quilters are THE BEST!!!)  So here's what your fellow participants have donated!

Terri Johnson, who blogs at QuiltNCards, is donating a bundle of eight fat quarters in a rainbow of colors!!  Terri does the most amazing paper piecing - you should see some of her creations!
Winner:  Jeanine C.

Kathleen Gansert, a/k/a KatieQ, who blogs at Katie's Salt Marsh Path, is donating a beautiful Craftsy quilt kit.  Katie's trying to get back into the habit of blogging, so stop by her blog and show her some love!!
Winner:  Sue T.


Susan Smith of Stitched by Susan is returning as a giver this year, offering edge to edge long arm quilting services, Hobbs 80/20 batting, thread and return postage for one lap size quilt, (max 4200 square inches).
Winner:  Joy M.


Jamie Elfert of L'Fair Quilts is newly retired (which is great for her pattern designing) and in her newfound spare time she found a great item I think every quilter needs!  She's donating one of those wooden quilt squares (they come unfinished so you can match it to your own decor) for one of this year's participants!
Winner:  Joan D.

Karen McCutchen has put together some wonderful quilting goody bundles that several of our participants are really going to enjoy!
Winner:  Paula A., Patricia E., Vasudha G., Katie M., Cynthia B, 
Connie W., Erica T., Mary, Yvonne J., Tracy C., and Patty D.

Sharon Vrooman, who blogs at Vrooman's Quilts, is sharing two Island Batik fat eighth bundles with us this year.  Sharon has the coolest address for a quilter of anyone I know!  
Winners:  Robert K. and Dar S.


Carole at From My Carolina Home will send to one lucky winner a sample card of  all Hobbs Battings along with four 18-inch square Tuscany battings to try, a set of 8 summer fun color fat quarters by Boundless Fabrics, a spool of Aurifil thread, and the Scrap Dance pattern of the winner's choice.
Winner:  Laurio K.

Leanne Parsons, also known as Devoted Quilter, is donating two PDF quilt patterns to this year's Challenge!
Winner:  Cindy P.

Joyce a/k/a Quilterchick Designs is an author and pattern designer, and is stepping up with one of her books and some low volume fabric for one lucky participant!
Winner:  Kathy D.

Cindy, who blogs over at Stitchin' at Home, is donating one of her PDF patterns!
Winner:  Joanne H.


Myra, who blogs and creates over at Busy Hands Quilts (and by the way, has a great Friday linky party there too!) is donating five PDF patterns from her shop to five participants!
Winners:  Anja C., Leanne P., Natalie B., Rhonda B., and Kathy C.


P., the famous blogger, Pyrex and paint-by-numbers collector, and general all-around fabulous quilter, is donating two books to the goodie collection!
Winners:  Tracey B. and Amber B.


And Selina Kidney, who blogs over at Selina Quilts, has donated this truly useful ruler for one lucky participant!
Winner:  Pam J.




We've also had some wonderful Quilt Fairies who are helping us obtain more goodies to giveaway. More than ever this year, and you all have no idea how much I appreciate all your participation!  

I have a wide variety of anonymous donations that I didn't take the time to photograph and won't list in detail here in the interests of getting this post finished in time to publish on Sunday - but here are the winners of those wonderful prizes:

Winners:  Carol K., Wendy T, Ilana J., Belinda S., Dawn T.,
Ramona N., Sue R., Judy B., Paula B., Sue D., Paulette H., 
Adele D., Wendy I., Mari H., Charlotte M., Janet T., Vicki S., Nancy C.,
Lori M., Paul B., Deborah S., Lisa E., Carol K., Cathy L.,
Brenda A., Terry J., Gretchen W., Carol E., Jennifer D., Kate S., Heide D.,
Barbara H., Bonnie S., Jeanne S., Ruth H., Debbie D.,
Rita G., Charmaine T., Rhonda S., Abby G., Donna J., Ann S., Nikki M.,
Rebecca B., Teri K., Darlene H., Ceara N., Mona R., Carol D., Diana W., 
Kristi B., Meredith A., Thunder K., Mary Ann G., Dorothy E., Pat P.,
Jodi G., and Elizabeth F.

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So that's a wrap for this year's Hands2Help Challenge (at least for you guys - I've got to get all those prizes in the mail or notify the sponsors who will be mailing theirs out directly!)  And remember, it's never too early to start thinking about next year's Challenge!

This will be me by this time next week - but the packages will be mailed!

Bless you all for your kind and generous hearts - you have made the world a lovelier place over the past few months, and I am humbled that so many of you have joined in the Challenge, many of you for many years.  Thank you for joining me, and I look forward to seeing you next year!

Hugs!

Sarah

42 comments:

  1. What wonderful quilters who have given so much. I know every quilt will be so loved, and then along came the sponsors. Congratulations to you all, and to you Sarah, a huge thank you, this is an amzing event, and I do hope next year I will be able to participate as all the dust and alterations will be done ( and dusted). Now you can breath again and have some time to smell the roses. Hugs from NZ.

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  2. It was a pleasure to participate.

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  3. Thanks for all your hard work on this and for two important reminders. (1) Quilters are generous people and (2) When we work together we can make a HUGE impact. You have started something really big and powerful Sarah, may the goodness you have fostered come back to you many times over!

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  4. Thank you for all the hard work you put into organizing and rounding up the donors. This year's H2H has been a true success. The challenge will be next year, can we break this year's total?

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  5. Sarah, you have done us quilters so proud. The work you put into this event each year is fabulous (and I am sure exhausting). Quilters are amazing and the number of quilts is overwhelming. Take a break you deserve it and then let's dream about hitting 4 digits in quilts next year.

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  6. Oh my, what a great year and so many wonderful sponsors and productive quilters! Thank you, Sarah, for hosting this once again this year! I hope you take some time to put your feet up, rest, and feel good about all your hard work!

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  7. This post makes me so happy to be a part of the quilting community. I can't believe how many quilts were made this year but it's wonderful. Thank you again Sarah for hosting such an amazing event! You put in so much hard work to make this event a success and I look forward to it every year.

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  8. Well done everyone!!!! And thank you so much to the sponsors, and especially to you Sarah for all your hard work!!! xx

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  9. Thank you for all your hard work on this spectacular event!! I know you'll be busy wrapping up for days, and I'll wait to hear from you on contacting the winner of my prize for shipping. Congratulations to everyone involved with this awesome project!!

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  10. OMG, that's wonderful! Thank you so much, Sarah, for the opportunity to participate. As H2H has grown, I can't imagine your workload to administer it all. Thank you for all your hard work!

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  11. (That bear at the end, LOL.) Wow, wow, wow! What a fantastic turnout from this year's event! Congratulations, thank you for all your hard work, and I hope you're getting a vacation after all this! :)

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  12. Wow, what an amazing finish to such a wonderful event!! Thanks again Sarah for organizing all this, it's no small feat and you handle it with such grace. I'm so happy I got myself settled in the new house in time to participate. I'm already planning for next year (in my head!).

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  13. That is such a huge amount of quilts! Quilters are just the best.

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  14. Thanks so much for all of your hard work and thanks to all of the generous sponsors! I'm looking forward to sharing H2H with my Guild in the fall and continuing my participation next year. Rest up!!

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  15. What an incredible event Sarah. You must feel so proud of what you have accomplished here. Such an outpouring of love. Congratulations and thank you so much.

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  16. It just keeps getting better every year! Thank you so much, Sarah! This is a huge undertaking and you inspire, coordinate and ship a huge amount of stuff! I bet you surely will feel like that polar bear looks but know we are all so grateful! and Thank you to the amazing sponsors that have supported your efforts. I'm thrilled to receive a Quilter's Dream batt...I love their batting! and Thank you to all your quilters joining in. This is such a wonderful endeavor that inspires us to keep giving throughout the year.

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  17. I was truly blessed to be a participant this year and am excitedly looking forward to next year. Thank you for being such a generous and gracious hostess. We couldn't do what we do without you !!!

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  18. This is an amazing number! (And just think...next year will be bigger!!!) I'm excited to have won a quilty bundle and while I was reading more specific descriptions of some, the extra suspense to find out what arrives will just add to the fun! Not only happy mail, but surprise happy mail! Thank you for hosting and coordinating. I'm already planning quilts for next year!

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  19. It is such a privilege to be part of your annual challenge.
    This years number is truly amazing. Thank You

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  20. Thank you, Sarah (and Susan!!) I got a good laugh out of winning longarm quilting services when I'm a longarm quilter, too. LOL! Off to see what quilt I will send...

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  21. Thanks to you, Sarah. You do an amazing job with this event. I don't know how you accomplish it all. Thanks also to all who donated prizes. Plus, I've seen some beautiful quilts that I am putting on my bucket list:)

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  22. Put your feet up Sarah! This quilt drive is a huge feat for you and helps so many. Thanks for hosting it again.

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  23. What a wonderful project this has been and I feel blessed to have participated! These numbers are incredible and a true tribute to the quilting community!

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  24. What a great quilt drive!!! Thank you for organizing us and providing an outlet for our creativity. I love the thought of my quilts out there in the universe bringing comfort and joy to someone. I am blessed to have been able to participate.

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  25. What an awesome number!!! Kudos to all the effort you put in on this wonderful event. May you receive blessings inumeral!!

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  26. Wow....just wow....that's a lot of quilts. Well done to everyone. Thanks again for all your hard work in organizing this.

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  27. Wow. I'm stunned by the number of quilts, too! That's a lot of quilting going on for such great causes! Yes, I'm already thinking of next year. =) Thanks to all the wonderful sponsors who donated prizes. I doubt that any of us helped for that, but it's still nice, and a special thanks to Figo. I'm looking forward to seeing their products, and looking for them at my favorite quilt shops. Thank YOU for all the hard work you do, year after year, to make such a great success of this challenge.

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  28. Amazing! Thank you Sarah for all your hard work in putting this wonderful challenge together.

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  29. All ours thanks go to you, Sarah, for your outstanding work on this project.

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  30. It is always a joy participating in this challenge. Thank you for making it fun.

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  31. Sarah, thank YOU for all of your work that goes into this wonderful challenge. Without you, this many quilts would not have been donated to such worthy causes.

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  32. Well done to everyone, the quilters, the sponsors and most of all, to you, Sarah, for the incredible effort you make to foster this project. I hope there are some secret fairies out there who contribute funds to help you pay for all the thank you gifts you send out yourself.
    Pat

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  33. Congratulations everyone! Sarah, thank you for hosting and all the hard work you put into this. The numbers are staggering. Kudos to you for a job well done. (claps hands)

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  34. Wow - that's amazing how many quilters donated that many quilts! Reading through this post, showcasing the generosity of the sponsors and quilters, is truly amazing. Thank you, Sarah, for organizing the effort. Truly a work of love!

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  35. I think gobsmacked is the word of the month!! We almost DOUBLED the number of quilts from last year?? That's great news! So much quilty goodness going out into the world. A huge THANK YOU to you and the sponsors, Sarah!!

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  36. Thank you for coordinating this project. Already thinking of next year. I am keeping the addresses of organizations so I can still send something I didn't get finished.

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  37. Absolutely amazing! What an effort on your part to coordinate this and thanks to all who participated! Quilters ARE the best! Many thanks to the sponsors who donated these wonderful prizes as well!

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  38. What an incredible showing for the Hands2Help this year!

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  39. Hi Sarah! A huge THANK YOU is being sent to YOU for organizing this tremendous outpouring. But for you, those numbers would be much, much smaller. And look at those numbers!! 199 quilters made 875 quilts. That's an average of over FOUR per quilter!!! I am already making plans for next year - watching for a good pattern or size. I know the need doesn't end today, and after the huge donation surge slows down there is still a need. Thank you again for all of your hard work. I see I won a bundle of fabric! How thrilling is that? It shall go toward another donation quilt. ~smile~ Roseanne

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  40. I can hardly believe that so many quilts were made this year! WOW!! Thank you for again providing me with an outlet for doing good with my quilts. See you next year!

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  41. Oh my gosh - you worked so hard on this - what an amazing number - and thank you for coordinating prizes!! How wonderful!

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  42. Oh WOW! I knew there would be a lot of quilts this year, but I never dreamed there would be so many!! This makes me so happy! But I’m a little concerned about how much more work that makes for you. Do you have helpers? Thanks again for organizing this fantastic opportunity for us to share our quilt love.

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