It is a Wrap!

I have not vanished off the face of the planet…just taking a break from quilt things and I am preparing for the holidays. I love Christmas but I do let all my “want to do this” add stress to my life. I wanted to share the final numbers from our sales before we close this year.

Wednesday, all the Quilters at First had lunch with Rev. Amy and Rev. Jeff, the Coffee Shop Women, representatives for the Religious Nurture Center (RNC) and Erin, the Church’s Director of Communications to officially present out gifts to the TV Ministry and to the RNC. After taxes and credit card fees were paid, we were able to give each $9,500.

These gifts to these very special ministries are the result of many, many hours of sewing and quilting. And without our friends, church members, and members of the community purchasing the table runners, tea towels, new and vintage quilts, we would not be able to give the needed funds. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you for your support and encouragement.

Of course, we have started on next year’s projects. Most of us have given ourselves permission to start on a large quilt–we have nine months after all to finish it! But two table runners were completed.

A friend donated this charming table topper. The center is 30’s and 40’s reproduction fabric. Perfect setting for a lamp or vase of spring flowers. It is 17″ square and $25.

This for someone –hopefully you are reading this– that donated an SUV full of fabric and craft supplies to us before the Thanksgiving holidays. Our receptionist did not get your name, so we have no way to contact you and say “thank you”! We added so much fabric to our stash–worth hundreds of dollars, plus the dozens and dozens of brand new terry cloth hand towels.

Here is how all those towels will be use—FUMC is in partnership with Irving Elementary School. Each December the staff at Irving organizes a day for the students to “shop” for a significant person in their life. Members of FUMC have been collecting hundreds of small adult gifts from which the students may choose. These volunteers will also help the students wrap the gifts so that they may be a surprise at home. We gladly donated these new sets of towels to this endeavor. Spatulas or soaps will be added to make these towels a great gift for mom or grandma. So, who ever donated the SUV full of supplies to the Quilters at First, we wanted you to know your gifts have supported two great ministries.

One wall in our quilt room has shelves full of bolts and tubs of fabric! Shirley suggested we each challenge ourselves to making a quilt just from the fabric on hand. Next fall at the quilt sale, we will have a showing of “Quilts from the Stash” in one corner of the room. Do you have a better name? Should be interesting. I think I am going to try to make a traditional scrappy “Courthouse Steps” quilt.

Thank you all for a great year…Who knows what 2025 will bring, but quilting soothes my spirit and all my friends, quilters or not, make me stronger. So let us make 2025 even better!