Green Fairy Quilt Charity Quilt Donation

A finished project.....oh yes!!  I enjoy finishing projects on one hand and on the other,  I actually feel sad like I do when I come to the end of a very good book.  I finished hand stitching the binding on last night and it will go in the mail first thing tomorrow morning. 

Judi and Clint from Green Fairy Quilts have a charity and most of you have read my posts about them before.  Since Judi is pregnant (with her fourth!! :)  In September, Clint will be going without Judi to Romania to take quilts to orphans and homeless children in Romania. 

I won this MODA Jelly Roll and Judi's pattern, Strip This Quilt, a year or so ago.  I could not think of a better use for the Jelly Roll than to make one of Judi's patterns and send it  back for their trip to Romania.


I had no idea how hard it is to actually photograph a quilt "for real."  This was the best I could do for the time I had so pretend you don't see shadows etc.

The pantogram has butterflies, swirls and a sun.  You can see that I'm a beginner with a long arm quilting machine but I think it looks pretty good if I don't say so myself. 

This is the back of the quilt.  As with most things in life, this quilt was a team effort.  I took the fabric and pattern with me to PA several weeks ago.  Mary Jane, IHAN East Coast Operations Manager, and I enjoyed putting the top together.  When I got home I called another friend, Dale, who has a long arm quilt machine.  Dale taught me how to follow a pantogram and with her guidance and help I finished quilting it in 3 or 4 hours.  I had a ball with the long arm quilting machine.  Can you imagine a charity quilt ending up costing me 12 - 15 thousand dollars?  It might because now I know what those babies can do and that sure was fun!

I wish Clint safe travels to Romania in September.   For those of you don't know about the Green Fairy Charity click here and read more.  100% of all monies donated goes directly to Romania.    Please consider making a donation for their trip.  There is no amount that is too small.  If you have a zillion frequent flier miles piling up.....donate them to Judi and Clint for their trip next year :)

Believe it or not I actually hugged my quilt before I folded it up and put it in the box.  I actually feel sad sending it away because I have really enjoyed making it.  I guess that is the sort of quilt I would want to receive if I were a little girl.....one that is loved and is sent with love. 

Bye bye little quilt.....fly away and bring joy and happiness to a little one far away.

Smiles,

Kelly

PA Projects.....Ahhhhh :)

These are some of the other UFO's I worked on while in PA. I won this pattern and a Jelly Roll from Green Fairy Quilts last year.

This is what the the quilt top looks like now. It is not finished yet but my goal is to finish it and ship it to Judi and Clint for their Romania Trip (Green Fairy Charity). Clint will be going to Romania again this year to take quilts to homeless children and those who live in orphanages. They are still collecting donations for their trip as well. Click here for more information. Did you know that 100% of the funds go directly to the children in Romania? They pay for their own travel expenses so that every penny they raise goes to those in need. I applaud Judi and Clint and look forward to sending this quilt for them to take along.

The Snap Backpack pattern by Lacy Hill of Golden Thyme Designs. I am embarrassed to say that I started this backpack last November while in PA for Thanksgiving.

This is the front of the backpack. As you might be able to see, I had done a chalk drawing of a Celtic knot and I had intended to applique it to the back of the backpack. I decided it needed something much more "wonderful." But exactly what that wonderful is I don't know. Do you have any ideas? I'd sure like to hear your thoughts. I now know why Lacey used colorful fabrics for her backpack. I love batiks and I really like how my bag turned out....but it is too plain.

Here are the pockets inside. I love all the pockets the pattern calls for. I will have a place for everything!

This is a photo of the back and the straps. I just love the bag, I just need some ideas for embellishing the back.

Last night I finished hand stitching around all of the bended bias for my table runner (Linda Poole's class).   So I'm making progress and I'm enjoying all the hand stitching.  I think that is my favorite.

On a personal note, I'm finding it very difficult to re-acclimate back into my routine here in OH.  All I can think of most days is what my friends are doing in PA.   Anyone have an extra 450,000 to buy the farm across from MJ's house?  I'll send you the proper spelling of my name so you can have it put on the deed correctly.  I'd even send a thank you card....LOL.

Smiles,

Kelly

Want to be moved?

I can't find the way to embed this video yet so I'll let you click here to see it. It is from the Green Fairy Quilts Charity trip 2009. Judi and Clint just got back from Romania. Though you might be moved....I certainly was.

I just want to share with all of you how I got involved raising a little bit of money for Judi and Clint. It was totally by chance that I saw a "giveaway" notice someplace and it was for a jelly roll and a pattern. It looked nice so I entered the giveaway. Someplace I saw the "Green Fairy Charity" on her site or blog...don't know which. I was curious so I clicked on it. I thought it was nice...and nothing more....until I saw that 100% of the donations go directly to the people and children in Romania. Before that time I had never seen a charity where 100% of the money went to the people/purpose it was being given to.

I e-mailed Judi and asked if it was indeed true...were they a registered charity and did 100% of the money go to the purpose stated. She said yes and showed me where the registrations for the charity were documented at the State and Federal levels.

Then I asked how she got started and were they involved in a larger program of some sort. Judi said she was watching Oprah one day and Oprah said you can make a difference just do what you love....or something to that effect. Judi likes to quilt so she started there. Now there has been two trips to Romania....and it was that simple. Not easy at all....but certainly simple to do what they love and to offer those gifts to others.

I was already planning a garage sale to reduce the clutter around here. I had the idea to ask other folks if they had a box or bag of unwanted items they could donate it and I would sell it at the garage sale. I just e-mailed neighbors and friends and asked them to send the e-mail along to anyone they thought might be interested. The things that were donated raised 572.00. It was simple.....just an idea....not easy....but pretty darn low tech and simple.

Smiles,
Kelly

Green Fairy Quilt Charity Update Saturday Edition

It sure was hot here in Ohio today. I am hot and stinky. By chance I've not eaten since this morning. I'm so hungry I could eat almost anything right now. Amazing perspective gained for what it must be like day after day for those in Romania that Judi and her husband are going to feed. I did not intend to do this....but it sure is a lesson.

I'm sure you are tired of hearing me ramble...you want to know the amount raised today don't you? I knew it. Are you ready for this? No you are not....sit down....(you're probably sitting down...lol)...today the total was Two Hundred Forty Two dollars and Fifty Seven cents. Grand total: 500.44.....now that I can get excited about. 500 Hundred Dollars.....in just three days!!! Amazing isn't it.

I want to say to everyone who has commented or e-mailed me about what a great thing I've done......my contribution was some elbow grease, I sent out two sets of e-mails, and I had 30 copies made (my husband actually did this) to hand out at the garage sale. I did donate some of my things to the sale....but not nearly as much as others donated. It is not me....not Kelly that is amazing...I promise you that. It is the generous donations of others that made this all possible. It was my neighbor who came on Thursday night to unload a pick-up truck because my husband and I both were away. It was my girlfriends neighbor who donated an entire truck load of wonderful belongings to the sale. It was my Mother who drove down to help look after my boys so I could do the sale. It was every customer who came and purchased something. Please don't tell others or even comment that it was me.....I was a part of the event....that is all...nothing more or less. I certainly am excited about what was accomplished and I'm overjoyed that Judi and Clint Madsen, Green Fairy Quilts, are going to Romania to take quilts and feed hungry people with the money that a group of us in Ohio are donating.

Most days I have 100 - 150 visitors to this blog. I was thinking as I was writing this post.....what if everyone who reads this blog would go to Judi and Clint's website and donate just 3.40. I checked paypal and for Judi to receive the full 3.00 you would have to send the extra 40 cents....less than the price of a stamp. That would be an additional 300.00. Please consider clicking on the Green Fairy Quilts link above in blue and donating 3.40.

I'm off to eat a big dinner....I'm starvin marvin.

Smiles,

Kelly

Green Fairy Quilt Charity Update Friday Edition

Last night when I was tucking in the boys I asked Zachary if he would help me with the garage sale in the morning. He said, "Mommy do you think Daddy could us a window so I could sell cupcakes and lemonade?" I smiled and told him I would ask Daddy. Inside I was laughing. He sees the cartoons and they always have one of those Lemonade stands that have an awning and an opening to put the lemonade through. How sweet. He was so excited.

So I get up at 6:00 this morning and made cupcakes. We did not have lemonade so I made some Green Tea mix I had. By 8:00 I had two boys screaming they wanted cupcakes for breakfast. Where did my sweet Zachary and Aaron go?

Last night while I was at the Black Swamp Quilters meeting, my girlfriend delivered an entire truck load of things for the sale. Her neighbor had all these things left from their garage sale a week earlier. She dropped of a dining room table, 4 chairs, this love seat, 2 large bags of clothes, kids toys and electronics. I was floored.

Then this afternoon I had the woman come back who donated the pick up truck full from the day before the sale with another truck load. Two pick-up truck loads of stuff....wow. As if that were not enough, I had another friend who is moving out of state deliver yet another pick-up truck full of things.

I am elbow high in miscellaneous stuff!!! There were very few customers this morning. At 11:00 I went out and checked on the signs. They all needed to be straightened or put back up. Afterwards things picked up a little. Even though it was a slow day....we earned One Hundred Thirty Three dollars and Twelve cents. That makes a grand total of Two Hundred Fifty-Seven dollars and Eighty-seven cents. Wooooo Hooooo Diddlllllleeeeyyyyy Doooooooo and Ye Haw Too :)

Lets pray tomorrow is a flood of people so I can have all this stuff off my driveway and into new homes.

Smiles,

Kelly

Green Fairy Quilt Charity Update

9:00 AM

1:30 Thursday

Day One of the garage sale is now over. I asked friends and neighbors to drop off their unwanted belongings so I could add them to my garage sale. I was having a garage sale anyway and thought doing a fundraiser for Green Fairy Quilts at the same time would be an easy way to raise money to help those in Romania. I became interested in helping them fundraise because 100% of the money goes directly to those in need. Nothing is skimmed off to pay for a CEO's salary or for postage to request more funds. I'm kind of funny about that stuff.

So, do you want to know how much was raised in 4 1/2 hours? I knew you did....why did I bother to ask? One Hundred Twenty Four dollars and Seventy Five cents. Why did I write it out and not use numbers???? So those who just want to check the amount would have to work for it!!! LOL....I'm soooo bad.

I have another friend bringing a sofa and some more things tonight. I'll keep everyone posted.

Smiles,

Kelly

Grandparents At Last!!!!

Let me be the first to announce that Rick and I are now Grandparents. I'm so excited. I've wanted to be a Grandmother all of my life. Grandparents are the absolute best. I can now join the glowing Grandparents Club.

Introducing "Fluffy and Funny".....Zach's Twins (his choice of names). He chose the seeds at the store early in spring. He planted them and has taken care of them all summer. This morning they bloomed. Aren't they beautiful? No crying, nighttime diaper changes or baby blankets.

Next, I'd like to introduce "Reddy and Bob the Tomato" (is on the right ...Aaron says it is because it looks like a face). These are Aaron's children. He loves tomatoes and he planted way too many tomato plants this spring. We will be keeping Reddy and Bob....but many of their siblings will be put up for adoption. The rest of the clan will become salsa. Eating one's Grandchildren is cruel....but in this case....we are making an exception.

Meet Rosie. She is my lovely blossom. No bonnets necessary.

This is Rosies friend. They live next door to one another.

Last but not least.....Rick and I have grown another child. This one is the best of the 5 we have. She requires only water....no college money...no wedding money....no back to school clothes.....no whining in the grocery store.....no fighting over legos....Why on GGE did we not discover this first?

Please don't send congratulatory gifts at this time. We don't have room for any more belongs. As a matter of fact, we are having a garage sale this weekend in hopes of re-locating lots of our stuff. There will be two sections for our relocation program. The first is our family general re-location. The other is a Green Fairy Quilts re-location project. Many people have contributed unwanted belongings to be re-located. The monies raised (100%) will go to the Green Fairy Quilt Charity to feed and dress children and their families in Romania. For more information check out the Green Fairy Quilt Charity.

Granny Smiles,

Kelly

Winner Alert.....

I have won my first blog giveaway!!! One of my friends e-mailed me to say I had won. I checked it out....and I sure am the winner. I'm speechless.....especially after what I pre-posted to my blog. Everyone will be rolling their eyes after my blog posts while I'm out of town. Thank you to Marguerite for the nice e-mail :)

It was the drawing with the wonderful opportunity. I won a jelly roll and a pattern at Green Fairy Quilts blogspot.

Candy kisses.....how ironic.....you'll know what I mean in a few posts.

I was drawn to the opportunity because 100% of the monies collected goes to feed people in Romania. If you've ever seen any television programs on the homeless children you will know why I donated to this cause. I once saw one of these on televison and I had to stop watching TV for months. I cried so hard I threw up. I can't stand the suffering of children. So if you are so moved to donate (she said even 1.00 will help quite a bit) you know your money did not go to postage to send fliers requesting money or to someone's airfare etc.

Just an FYI....I have no affiliation to Green Fairy Quilts and I've never met the owner. I was just moved and a trusted friend said the charity was legitimate. Typically I don't tell people who I donate money to but I thought this was a grass roots way of getting something meaningfull done.

Smiles,

Kelly