Quilts of Valor

If you have dropped in the Bright Hopes Quilting Shop lately, you will have noticed couple of quilts with a decidedly patriotic take. Here is the first one made by Mona.

The perfectly named pattern, Just Between Friends

After the Houston Market last year, Mona brought home lots of information about a major campaign push starting this May to distribute quilts to wounded US soldiers and that fabric companies were getting on board by printing more "RED WHITE & BLUE" fabric lines.

Quilts of Valor is probably nothing new to a lot of you and we have been shown plenty of beautiful quilts come through the shop on their way to this great organization but what is new is how the project is spreading beyond the strength of quilters to those who have never picked up a needle and thread.

If you go to the Quilts of Valor website, you will find everything you need to know to make and give a quilt. You will see samples of quilts that already been sent off, You will read that as of February 2011, Quilts of Valor has given 37,000 quilts to wounded soldiers. 37,000. They also have patterns and suggestions for fast quilts.

You will see that there are volunteers who will do the quilting for you and return it for binding and labeling. What a generous and charitable thing! (I have personally had one quilt finished this way.)

But if making an entire quilt is something you are unable to do and you still want to be involved, MODA has another idea.

Just One Star is a project where all you do is make one star, using the pattern provided and donate it to Moda. They need 1800 stars to complete their goal of 100 quilts by June. (So, make 2!) Please take note that the pattern also asks you sign your block with your name and state.

Now, you may send your block(s) directly to Moda at the address provided or bring them to Bright Hopes Quilting. We are a drop-off point through the month of April. They are already starting to come in. Pearl will be mailing every block she receives in one big package.

Okay, to pump you up, I make this promise. I will post a photo of every complete quilt that you make to send to Quilts of Valor. I would love to receive either a photo from you via email or bring your quilt in before you send it off and let us take the shot. I would love love love to have a gallery of these quilts on this blog!

I knocked this quilt out in a week. It's a simple 12" block sawtooth star, with sashing and cornerstones and 2 borders.

12 Stars

Let's see how many stars we can collect in April!

New!

We got a new shipment in and I wanted to show you a little of what arrived.

Here is a great ruler rack. It's small footprint won't take up lots of space on your cutting table and will keep your rulers organized & handy. $12.00

Here is fusilbe piping, a notion Pearl and Mona found at market. Talk about fast!
Applique Society meets at Bright Hopes next Thursday, March 31 and we have some new and beautiful books of designs. Here is 101 Applique Blocks

And Gracie's Garden Sampler. This pattern flew out of the shop and we have more coming...

.. and Mona made this sample from one of the patterns to show. She does such lovely work. And is teaching a class in hand applique next month. If you want to learn how to do it, grab this opportunity while it's available.
Mona has also made a sample for this cool pattern... a chenille rug using layers of fabric. You need to show cool this is. And fast!

Linda Kay had the Lagniappe class last Saturday and here you see the ladies with finished reversible bags...

I love being there when the class is over and the finished projects are all together! Thanks for letting us show off your work.

March Mayhem

We've been receiving so many parcels with new fabrics and patterns and I have fallen way behind with up-dating the blog to keep you abreast. Add to this our continuing email issues (yes, they have resurfaced....just when I thought we had that sorted out!) and now there is so much to tell. Let me get started first with fabrics.

Last month we got in the Jason Yenter "Camelot" line of fabrics. Now, I know it seems like we all just put Christmas away but this line definitely has a seasonal feel to it, notwithstanding the name. He also has a book of quilt patterns specifically designed to showcase the fabrics an we have cut kits for two of them, Guinevere and Lady of the Lake. Georgia is working on a sample for the shop and here is one square to show you how they come together.

They are gorgeous, richly intricate designs we have admired for several years now.

You know how I feel about batiks.......Pearl has been getting so many new and exciting bolts and I just keep collecting them...... may I live long enough to use them all.....


This pastel batik is an ombre that has a subtle wave of colors passing through it.

Ah, The Universe is here in the store...... have you been searching for fabric for a young boy that loves science?

Check out our planets and stars!

CLASSES

Jayne has been holding several classes and just finished this one for the Diamond Double...... here are a couple of the students and the project underway.

She is teaching another class next Tuesday, March 22 for the "Tote Club" making this popular "Tote It" pattern using that great mesh fabric. This large roomy tote is perfect for many things, like knitting projects or beach bags..... and Jayne has many so many, she has it down pat. If you'd like to join the class, there is still time to sign up. 985-845-9554.

Speaking of classes, X-Block Triple Play is next Thursday with Celeste.

Six Halves Makes a Whole Starburst

and now it's made two! Linda Kay has brought in her beautiful sample of this quilt (and class) using the William Morris fabrics and we have it hanging at the shop. Stop by to see it.

Here is a close-up of the center

"medallion".

This is the batik version, so you can really see a comparison......

The class begins next Friday and takes you through the cutting, the piecing, (yes, the ripping when something goes awry) and the completion of a really beautiful design.

This is a five-part class and a good one for someone who has taken the introductory class of quilting and wants to practice her skills. There are a lot of familiar half-squares and 9-patches and this quilt brings it altogether.

New Month.....

New Calendar

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As always, if you click on any class above, you'll get a snapshot of what the class is. For more detail, please refer to our newsletter PDF. If you'd like us to email you one, please pop us a message at brighthopes1@bellsouth.net.