Stitchin' Mission can lead to...

Stitchin' Mission #19 was at St. Mark's Anglican Church, Darling Point (Sydney), Australia, in 2009. Those lessons have evolved into a thriving group that's St. Mark's Quilters.

Click here to visit my friend, Di's blog post about what they've been up to.

Let Go and Let God

As children bring their broken toys
with tears, for us to mend,
I brought my broken dreams to God,
because he was my friend.


But then, instead of leaving Him
in peace, to work alone,
I hung around and tried to help,
with ways that were my own.

At last, I snatched them back
and cried, "How can you be so slow?"
My child, He said, "What could I do?
You never did let go."
author unknown


Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.    Phillippians 4:6-7 (NLT)

DVD Recording Postponed

For more than a week, I have spent many hours cutting and making all the samples and examples needed to record a five lessons series of Stitchin' Mission beginner quiltmaking lessons. By my calculations, I've cut out enough fabric strips and blocks, and sewn enough strip-sets and quilt tops to make seven 36" X 48" quilts!

36" X 48" Stitchin' Mission "Noah's Ark" quilt - fabrics courtesy of Michael Miller Fabrics

As well, four dear friends volunteered about 20 hours of their time - each! - to plan, prepare, and rehearse for the approximately eight hours of DVD content.

We worked out a master plan, determined props, wrote copious notes and made test recordings. Though we encountered glitches along the way, we seemed to be making progress.

But when we realized two days of recording would be required instead of one, and a technical difficulty arose with the sound... and then found that the cost of appropriate post-production editing software was as much as the entire budget, it became clear that the $1,000 grant received last August was insufficient for this project and that changes were needed.

After several confabs and much discussion, late last Friday the difficult decision was made to put the entire project on hold. While no one is ruling out the possibility of overcoming the problems - with a different recording location (a muted environment so a single videocamera can be used to simultaneously record video and audio) or with different post-recording editing software - for the time being, all the work is being packed up and put away.

Every part...

every piece... 

Tied quilt with basted edges ready for teaching binding.

every mini quilt...

12" X 12" mini quilt for teaching how to hand sew a binding

19" X 19" sample of walking foot quilting - in the valley; cross-hatch; channel; echo 

... and my sewing machine, and quiltmaking tools and supplies will come back home. I'm ready for a breather from the stress of trying to making this DVD happen, but I will continue to pray about the best use of the grant. I very much appreciate the encouraging comments and support you've already expressed for Stitchin' Mission and this DVD.

Nominated for an Award

The Stitchin' Mission beginner quiltmaking lessons I teach have been nominated to win the 2011 "Best Teacher/Instructor" award. To win the honor, votes must be cast and tallied to choose a winner.

At any time between now and March 31, you may cast one vote in each of ten categories, or just in the Best Teacher/Instructor category, if you prefer.

• Best Designer
• Best Teacher/Instructor
• Best Author
• Best Quilt Store (physical)
• Best Quilt Store (online)
• Best Long Arm Quilter
• Most Innovative Product (physical)
• Most Innovative Product (software item)
• Most Influential Person in the World of Quilting To-Date (AKA "Lifetime Achievement")
• Best Quilt Retreat

Nominees are listed here. You may vote only one time in one or all of the ten categories.

Go here to see the nominees, then cast a vote by posting a comment indicating who you're voting for. By commenting, you not only cast your vote, but enter a chance to be selected to win a prize.

Be sure your vote/comment includes your email address so you can be contacted if you are selected to win a prize. The format for leaving your email address can be, for example: mary dot smith at mchsi dot com

Thank you for considering voting for Stitchin' Mission and me - Linda Hungerford. I really appreciate your support!

P.S. We've put together a small pre-production team that is working together on the Stitchin' Mission DVD, and we're making progress. I'll keep you updated. - Linda

Quilts were hung in God's house, with care

February 9-25, these are some of the 49 quilts you'll see on display at Lutheran Church of Hope, 925 Jordan Creek Parkway, West Des Moines, Iowa. 

near the Welcome Center, on the bulkhead

You are invited to stop in any time for a first-hand look. Even better, come for a worship service:

Worship at Hope    

Celebration Services in the Worship CenterSaturday 5:00 pm
Sunday 9:15 am
Sunday 11:00 am
Sunday 5:00 pm

Traditional Services in the Chapel
Sunday 8:00 am 
Sunday 11:00 am

above doors into The Bridge

near the main entrance

outside the Worship Center, in the east hall, on the east wall

outside the Worship Center, in the east hall, on the west wall

outside the Worship Center, on the east wall

in the Chapel hall

Thank you quilters for 49 beautiful quilts. Some fortunate children in South Africa will have something to snuggle with, and the knowledge that someone cares about them.

"Web" Refresher

Quilter friend and Stitchin' Mission #19 coordinator, Di J., in Sydney, Australia, recently made an hourglass block quilt with a friend.

Di J., and her friend, Di B, shared the project because it's a gift for mutual friend. After laying out the quilt, they each took home half of the quilt top to sew together. They were able to do this because they know how to make a web, keeping their block arrangements intact.

Di J.'s blog is SnippetsnScraps. And here is where she explains and shows how to make a web. She did a lovely job.

Stitchin' Mission #24 is a Wrap

It wasn't learning to quilt that kept newbies from attending Stitchin' Mission lessons at Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines, Iowa. It was winter weather that challenged everyone!

Other than lessons on January 3 and 17, each Monday evening newbies and Rebekahs alike found themselves forced into deciding whether it was safe to travel to and from classes. Disappointingly, ten newbies missed the last lesson and were therefore unable to be in our group photos. But doesn't everyone look great in this picture?

Sincere thanks to photographer Rick McCubbin who makes himself available whenever quilters (Stitchin' Mission and Hope Quilters) need pictures of themselves or their quilts. We appreciate you, Rick!