Another Fine Finish!

On Monday evening (Nov. 1), another highly successful Stitchin' Mission concluded at Sheridan Park United Methodist Church on Des Moines' east side. Twenty people, including a father/daughter team, participated in lessons. The quilt count stood at 35 on Monday evening, but with a turn-in date of Sunday, Nov. 14, it's expected that the finally quilt tally will be nearly 40. What a wonderful show of support for babies born at Broadlawns Family Birthing Center!

And, what a beautiful display of quilts we'll see at the church from Nov. 20-30! I hope everyone in the Des Moines area can stop by for a look.

Our last lesson included lots of stories and laughter. Everyone's enthused about participating in another Stitchin' Mission.

Here are some of our quilters with their quilts. Unfortunately, several quilters were unable to make it to the last lessons. 

These three ladies are all related to one another, and even work at the same place!

Marilyn, Hollee, Joan

Karen, Phyllis, Sharon

Mary Kay, Beth, Ranae

These are some of the wonderfully helpful, and generous-with-their-time Rebekahs.

Norma, Angie, Michelle

Deb

Co-coordinator, Anita

Thank you all for making Stitchin' Mission so much fun! It's a double blessing that it blesses not only us who make quilts, but also the recipients. We are most definitely better togther!

Me - Linda

A Fine Finish!

Stitchin' Mission #23 concluded Tuesday evening at Martensdale Community Church. What a wonderful group of participants! Look at all those bright quilts and even more bright, smiling faces.

The quilt count isn't yet final since a few remain to be finished, but it looks as though approximately 35 quilts will be divided between children in LaMesa, Mexico, and Ruth Harbor, a Des Moines home for unwed mothers. Gorgeous!

These two Stitchin' Mission co-coordinators did an excellent job of planning and welcoming everyone to their church. Thank you both!

Linda B.

Renee S.

Nor would Stitchin' Mission be successful without the talented guidance offered by these dedicated Rebekahs. And they made quilts too! Wonderful!

Deb D.

Michelle T.

Norma H.

John 17:21 says, "(Jesus speaking) I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one - as you are in me, Father, and I am in you." (NLT)

In every Stitchin' Mission, women and men, from a variety of beliefs and various denominations meet weekly, and together become the one that Jesus prays we will be. 

My prayer is that Stitchin' Mission will continual to be an occasion to join in community, regardless of our denominations, and be our opportunity to work together in service. In doing so, Jesus' prayer is answered.

Amen.

Third Class - UNsewing!?

I don't have any photos to share from last week's two Stitchin' Missions, except for this one taken by Susan, the coordinator at Sheridan Park United Methodist Church.

One of our quilters discovered she'd loaded her sewing machine bobbin backward, so the piecing stitches pulled out like basting. Several people offered to help with unsewing, so the quilt top could be resewn more securely.

Without pointing out the "victim" of the sewing machine mistake, here we are, left to right:

Abigail, Michelle, Linda (me), and Merri Jo.

Thanks quilters for helping one another. We're so much better together!

Stitchin' Mission Rotary Cutting Lesson

With two Stitchin' Missions happening simultaneously, we've got plenty of photo opportunities. More people than time to snap photos!

Everyone, in both classes, learned rotary cutting during the second lesson. The following are photos of students and Rebekahs (helpers) at Sheridan Park United Methodist Church, on the east side of Des Moines.

L-R: Joan, Hollee and Marilyn

Maddie and Jerry, a father-daughter team! 

Phyllis

Mary Kay, and "Rebekah" Norma

Merri Jo

"Rebekah" Michelle, and Pat

 And at Stitchin' Mission #23 at Martensdale Community Church...

L-R: Beth, and SM#23 Co-Coordinator Linda Brewer

L-R: "Rebekah" Deb, and Susan

L-R: Emma, "Rebekah" Deb, and Holly

Two Stitchin' Missions Off to a Flying Start

Monday night saw the start of Stitchin' Mission #22 at Sheridan Park United Methodist Church with 16 newbies in attendance. Coordinator Susan, was able to get Wal-Mart to donate a $50 gift card toward fabric purchases, and here she is making her selections.

 Also at SM#22, Angie, a first-time Rebekah, checks out the donated fabrics.

 Tuesday evening, Stitchin' Mission #23 began at Martensdale Community Church with 23 newbies. 

 

Going beyond the usual, co-coordinators Linda and Renee measured, labeled and organized all the donated fabric pieces.

 It looks very appealing, doesn't it?

 These new quilters thought so too!

Newbies, have fun finalizing your fabric selections this week!

Dream Big Grow Here Update

I will be making a short video too that I anticipate will also be put on the Dream Big Grow Here website. The $1,000 check-processing is in the works as I am trying to make plans for a January, 2011 Stitchin' Mission that will be videotaped. I'll keep you posted!

In the meantime, two Stitchin' Mission beginner quiltmaking series start later this month. Please invite your friends to give quiltmaking a try. What better opportunity can anyone have than to learn how to make a quilt for free!?

Click here to read more about the Stitchin' Mission series on Des Moines' east side.

Click here to read more about the Stitchin' Mission series in Martensdale, Iowa.

Quilts made in these Stitchin' Missions will benefit:

• Broadlawns Family Birthing Center, Des Moines
• Mission La Mesa, Mexico
• Ruth Harbor, Des Moines.

Thank you all for your support!

Linda

Stitchin' Mission Wins!

Thank you!

Voting for Stitchin' Mission to win the $1,000 Dream Big, Grow Here grant, concluded at midnight, August 31. Thanks to all of you, Stitchin' Mission won, receiving 2, 519 votes over a 16-day period. Your support has been overwhelming beyond words. My simple "thank you" does not begin to adequately express the depths of my appreciation for everyone who voted, and my thoughts about this experience. God is faithful to us, even when we don't expect it, or think we deserve it. Praise Him for what He has done.

All follow-up information about the Stitchin' Mission grant will be posted to this blog. Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart!