Hands2Help Comfort Quilt Challenge Week #2 - The Schedule!!

 

Hi, all!

Slowly but surely, at least on my end, things are moving along for this year's Challenge!  To date, we have 83 people signed up to participate, and I so love seeing both all the old friends on the list and the new ones we get to make as we go!! There's still plenty of time to sign up to participate, and don't worry - there's no horrible pressure or major commitment!  It's not the end of the world if you have to drop out along the way - so go ahead and sign up if you are interested!  There will be fun things going on here every Sunday to keep you engaged (and to keep the Challenge top of mind!) so choose a way to follow the blog if you want to keep updated.  I like following by email best, because every time there's a new post on a blog I'm interested in, it shows up in my inbox.  But you do you!

This week I'm going to share the calendar for the Challenge this year.  We've got some great guest bloggers in the works, plus we'll be doing some giveaways along the way specifically for those who are signed up for the Challenge (another reason to fill out that form!).  Here's the plan....

March

19 - First day of signups

26 - Signups continue, calendar shared

April

2 - Guest Blogger

9 - Guest Blogger

16 - Check-in and Giveaway!

23 - Guest Blogger

30 - Guest Blogger

May

7 - Check-in and Giveaway!

14 - Guest Blogger

21 - Guest Blogger

28 - Final Link-up Begins

June

4 - Final Count and Giveaway!

There will be some changes this year as we strive to make this an enjoyable experience for everyone.  Bear with me as we work through all this together!

If you missed the signups post last week, here's the form again.  NOTE:  You will need to scroll down through multiple questions, then PRESS SUBMIT to complete your signup.  Please don't miss that step!  You will receive an immediate confirmation that you have completed the form after you submit the form.

Are you working on your quilts yet?  I know I have several going in my head as I sit here on a deck looking out at Mobile Bay - but no sewing machine this week, so no quilt tops for me!  Once I get home (and the taxes are done!) though, Katie bar the door!  

Hugs!

Sarah

PS If you have talked to me about doing a guest post this year, please check your email so we can get the schedule finished!!!

So Thankful For Quilty Friends!

 

Hi, all!

I have some good news - when I announced that the Hands2Help Challenge would be postponed or cancelled this year, I received the nicest email from Mari of The Academic Quilter offering to take it over for this year!  She will be posting about the schedule (which will be a little bit different owing to the late start) soon, so hop over to her website and follow her so you don't miss out on anything!

Quilty friends really are freaking awesome!!

Hugs!

Sarah

Make-A-List Monday - Getting Ready For Vacay!

Hi, all!

I love Mondays - and especially the Monday of the week before vacation!  It will be a super busy week as I get everything ready, but the anticipation makes it all worth it.  

But first, let's see what happened with last week's list....

1.  Finish assembling the t-shirt quilt top.

2.  Quilt and bind the t-shirt quilt.

Done!  I'll be delivering the quilt tomorrow, just in time for the little girl's treatments which begin Friday morning.  I'll share more pictures on Friday with a bit of the story...

3.  Divvy up the thank you gifts for Hands2Help, and then contact the sponsors who will be shipping directly with contact information for the recipients.

4.  Package up all the rest and get them in the mail!

I am overjoyed to say that Hands2Help 2021 is all. wrapped. up!  All the packages have been mailed, all the sponsors who were mailing directly have been connected with their recipients, and an email with a special gift has gone out to all those who finished the Challenge.  If you participated and haven't received the email, check your spam folder - the email was sent to a large number of blind copies and that sometimes causes them to be bounced.  

If you still can't find it, email me directly at 

salliesue57 (at) gmail (dot) com.

And I did get a few other things done, too!  I've been working on a special project for Scrappy Wednesday, and I made some headway on it this week.  I'll be sharing more on Wednesday....

And today I did something I've been considering for quite a while - I moved around some of the furniture in my studio!  It's just a start, there's much more to be done and the rest of the room looks like a bomb went off, but I think I'm going to like it.  Maybe I'll get Lilli to help me with the rest of it!  

And now, here's what I'll be doing this week...

1.  Pack up my sewing machine for vacation - she deserves a little fun in the sun, too!

2.  Organize everything we need to take with us.

3.  Spend a fun morning with the munchkins.

4.  Write two blogposts and schedule them in advance.

It's a short list, but it's also a short week with a lot to do!  And unfortunately, my brain is already at the beach - if I didn't have my lists, I'd be in trouble!  

So now, the only thing I need to know is - - - what are YOU working on this week?

Hugs!

Sarah

Hands2Help 2021 Is In The Books!!

 

Hi, all!

We've made it!  Thirteen weeks ago, the Hands2Help Comfort Quilt Challenge 2021 began, and since that time, an amazing effort has been going on to spread comfort across the world!  By the numbers, quilters from 45 U.S. states, four Canadian provinces, and one Australian territory participated.  Isn't that incredible?  And here's another number...

195 fabulous quilters completed

this year's Challenge!!!

But that's not the best number from this year...

Because you all set a new record!!!

That's right!!!  This year you all made and donated 1,034 quilts, 

the largest number of quilts ever donated through Hands2Help in one year!!!  

You. Are. Amazing!!!

And now for an update: those numbers are light!  197 participants and 1044 quilts!!!

*&*&*&*&*&*&*

Can you tell I'm a little excited?  I was hoping we might hit 1000 this year, but as I started to total up quilts as they came in earlier this week it looked like we would come up just a little short.  You can imagine my happy dance when the numbers ticked over that magic number - and then kept rising!

And a funny story - this morning when I had breakfast with the grandkids, I asked Lilli to guess how many quilts had been donated through the Challenge.  She thought about it for a minute and said, "Three hundred!"  I said, "Nope.  1034."  Her response?  "HOLY COW!!!""  My thoughts exactly!

So what happens now?  Well, for those of you who already have your quilts shipped off, you get to sit back and relax.  Those who still need to ship, you have your task in front of you!  And me?  Well, Lilli and I will be getting to work over the next two weeks divvying up thank you goodies and getting them packed up for shipping, and contacting sponsors who will be shipping directly with contact info.  Hang tight, y'all - everyone gets a little thank you for participating in the Challenge!   You will be getting some happy mail from me, either by email or snail mail, in the next two or three weeks if my luck holds - I really want to get it all done by vacation!  NOTE:  If for some reason your address has changed since the Challenge started, be sure to email me directly at salliesue57 (at) gmail (dot) com right away and let me know!

*&*&*&*&*&*&*

And now, from the bottom of my heart, I say thank you!  

You are the heartbeat of the Challenge, 

the reason it happens every year.  

You bring joy and comfort to so many people 

across the world, and change lives for the better.  

Never underestimate the power of a quilt!  

I wish I could make each and every one of you a quilt - 

you are MY Hometown Heroes!   

Hugs!

Sarah

Can I Get A Whoop Whoop? MORE Quilts for Hands2Help!!

 Hi, all!

Friday has finally rolled around once again, and we all know what that means - it's time for us to get our whoop whoop on!  It's been a busy week around here, and my inbox has been flooded with beautiful quilts being shipped all over the country for Hands2Help!  So today I'm going to share the ones that have come in since Tuesday so we can all give those non-blogging participants a huge WHOOP WHOOP!  Let's get started!

*&*&*&*&*&*&

Adele D. sent these quilts off to Covered in Love, Little Lambs, 
and Quilty Hugs!

Angie N. made this joyful quilt for Little Lambs!

Britt P. made this beauty for Quilty Hugs

Erin D. gave these quilts to her Hometown Heroes!

Jeanne S. sent this quilt and eleven more to a local charity!

Karen A. also donated to a local charity.

Londa B. donated to Quilty Hugs and her Hometown Hero!

Mary O. sent her quilts to Covered in Love and Quilty Hugs!

Peggy P. sent these beautiful quilts to Victoria Quilts Canada!

Ruth S. made these two for Little Lambs of Utah!

Debbie G. just finished this one for Little Lambs!

Cindy B. made this cute little elephant for Little Lambs!

Terry D. made the quilt on the left for Little Lambs and the other 
is for her Hometown Hero!

Here's Kathy C.'s contribution, for Hometown Heroes and Little Lambs!

Ila M. made this beautiful quilt for her Hometown Hero!

Jan S. chose to donate her quilts locally!

Sue T. sent hers to Little Lambs and Quilty Hugs!

And Terri L. sent these two to Victoria Quilts Canada!

Aren't these amazing?  

So many fabulous quilts from the quilting community

spreading so much comfort!!  

So let's hear it for ALL the H2H quilters - 

A HUGE whoop whoop!!

And be sure to come back on Sunday for the final count....

It's gonna be good!!

*&*&*&*&*&*

And now it's your turn!

What's got you whooping it up this week?

What's making you do a great big happy dance?

Share!  We want to dance right along with you,

And it's always more fun to dance with friends!

The party will stay open until Sunday midnight.

Hope to see you there!

Hugs!

Sarah

Hands2Help 2021 - And The Quilts Keep Rolling In!

 

Hi, all!

This year's response to the Hands2Help Comfort Quilt Challenge has been overwhelming - after posting so many beautiful "non-blogger" quilts on Sunday, I kept receiving more in my inbox!  So here's another post with some beauties....

Yvonne J. is sending these colorful quilts to Little Lambs and Covered In Love!

And here are quilts with a theme - made by Paula D., they are going to 
some Hometown Hero teachers, a guidance counselor, and an after-school care worker!

Kathy L. made this beautiful quilt for Quilty Hugs

Kathryn S. sent these two to Quilty Hugs!

Jean W. donated this quilt locally...

Ila M. also chose to donate locally!

Grace T. sent this colorful pinwheel quilt to Little Lambs

Connie W. donated these two quilts locally.

Barbara W. also chose to donate locally...

...and Barb H sent this colorful gem to Quilty Hugs!

Lisa S. sent these pretties to Covered in Love and Little Lambs!

And last but not least, Amanda R. sent these six to Little Lambs!

Wow!  Isn't it fun to see all the beautiful designs and colors?  Just imagine how many blessings are being spread out across the country these last few months - it's amazing!!!

If you're a non-blogger and you still haven't sent me your pictures, there's still time!  If necessary, I'll do another post on Friday to share whatever comes in.

I can't wait to share the final numbers with you all on Sunday!  Keep your fingers crossed - it looks like it's going to be HUGE!

Hugs!

Sarah

Hands2Help - Time to Show Off Your Quilts!

 

Hi, all!

Can you believe it? We've finally reached the end of this year's Hands2Help Comfort Quilt Challenge!  I'm so excited to see all the quilts that have been sent off to provide comfort to people all over the world - you are all so amazing to have been a part of this huge effort!!

Just a quick note about this post - I'll be sharing pictures of some quilts that have been sent to me over the past couple of weeks since the last check-in date, and some "housekeeping" items at the end of the post, then you'll find the linky party at the very end.  So take a few minutes to look at some beautiful and inspiring quilts, take note of some important updates, then link up your own quilts if you are on social media.

Let's get started!

*&*&*&*&*&*&*

As I said, I've been receiving emails with pictures of beautiful quilts for so long - it's like Christmas in my in-box!  Here are the ones that came in since the last check-in date...

Barb N sent these; one for a Hometown Hero and three for Little Lambs

Carol W. sent this one to Little Lambs

These three were made by Dar S. and were sent to Covered in Love and local charities

Debbie H. made this beautiful heart quilt for a local charity

Duffy M. sent these fun quilts to Little Lambs

Elizabeth W. sent two quilts to Quilty Hugs and one to Little Lambs

Heidee L. made this scrappy wonder for Quilty Hugs!

Jeanine C. made these bright and cheerful quilts for Little Lambs and Project Linus

Joan D. sent these two fun quilts to Quilty Hugs!

Jodi M. sent these two quilts to Little Lambs!

Karen C. sent two quilts to Covered in Love, one to Quilty Hugs, and two to Little Lambs

Kathy B. sent these sweet quilts to Little Lambs!

Kathy D. sent these bright and cheerful quilts to Little Lambs also!

This quilt was made by Kathy W. for her Hometown Hero!

Kris J. sent this quilt to Little Lambs

Linda M. sent these quilts to Victoria Quilts Canada and MCC!

Linda S. made this quilt for a young child at Little Lambs!

Marsha P. sent these quilts to Covered in Love and Little Lambs

Stephanie D. from Australia made these beauties for local charities

Suzanne C. gave the beautiful gray and yellow quilt to her Hometown Hero,
and sent the other four quilts to Little Lambs!

Jane S. sent quilts to Covered in Love and Little Lambs...

Kathy M. sent this beauty to Quilty Hugs...

And Teresa C. sent these fun sunny quilts to Little Lambs!

*&*&*&*&*&*&*

What a wonderful array of quilt-y comfort!  It's amazing to see the beauty and variety of quilts that evidence so much compassion on the part of the givers.  Good work!!

And now for the housekeeping part.  I'm going to send out an email to everyone on the sign-up list with a link to a Google Form.  The form requests your full name, and asks if you completed the Challenge this year.  If you are working on quilts but haven't finished them yet, choose "not yet" on that question.  I know you will send them off in good time!  The next questions deal with the number of quilts you made for each charity.  Each of those are required fields, so if you made no quilts for a charity, just type in "none" or "n/a".  If you gave quilts to a local charity, list the number in the last question.

The purpose of this form is so that I hopefully won't miss anyone who participated in the Challenge!  I'm always worried that in checking all the links and Instagram and Flickr, etc., I will miss someone's submission somewhere along the line, and I want to be sure that everyone is counted.  You are all so amazing!  If you don't see it in your email box, please check your spam folder - my email address is salliesue57 (at) gmail (dot) com.   (It may be sent to spam because it's sent to so many people in a blind cc.)

And now it's time for you to link up!  (The linky party will stay open until Friday 6/4 at midnight CST.)  Show off your beautiful quilts in a blogpost or Instagram post or Flickr picture.  We all want to see them!  And if you are a non-blogger and have pictures to share of quilts that I haven't already posted, feel free to send them to me and I'll share them in another post later this week.

I'm excited to see just how many quilts are donated this year - I have a feeling it's going to be a banner year!  Be sure to come back next week for the final numbers!

Hugs!

Sarah