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These cute cats, pups, and elephant are just some of the hand-crafted items made by the women inmates in a prison program where I volunteer. All of the items they make go to charitable organizations in a number of nearby communities, and are sewn using materials donated by local quilters and crafters. I'm able to photograph these because I'm on the delivery team for this group.
In addition to stuffed critters, they also make puppets and other dolls for children’s service agencies. I love the Grampa puppet with his tufts of gray hair.
The women make use of the smallest fabric leftovers from their quilts to come up with snappy outfits for the puppets and dolls. And they add extra touches like yarn hair and expressive painted faces.
The program is a job assignment, so the 14 women report each day for a morning and an afternoon session, four days a week. Their quilts go to veteran’s agencies, and they make crochet hats for Salvation Army, cancer recovery programs, and children’s services. Their large fabric tote bags made from decorator weight fabrics are popular with family agencies for clients who need to carry belongings to new locations. The women like knowing that the work of their hands is going to help people in need, especially women and children in difficult circumstances. I’m always amazed to see what they come up with- they’re a very creative group! I hope you enjoy seeing what they’ve made.
The challenge was out to make a cupcake-themed fiber project in honor of Quilter's of Alachua County Day Guild’s anniversary. The intent was to make a small pincushion or hot pad for a swap. However, with a tendency toward overkill, I answered the challenge by making two small pin cushions, and then kept going with this small journal quilt. When it comes to a journal quilt (those that measure about the size of a sheet of paper at 8 1/2” x 11”), I don’t hold back and pretty much throw everything at it. So in this little sweetie I used selvages, thread sketching, recycled lace for the frosting, beads for the sprinkles, and a felt ball for the cherry on top. And the edging is some of the fabric twine I showed here. My daughter claimed this project for her home, so it went to guild as a show-and-tell, while the pincushions went into the swap. I forgot to photograph them and they’re gone now.
I even like how the thread sketching looks on the back of the quilt. I always stop to admire quilt backs and the look the stitching gives to them. Oops- I see I missed a couple of threads. Will have to get after them.
Names were drawn, and I won this cupcake hot pad made by another guild member. I love the fabric print, and the candle on top is a loop for hanging. Very cute. It’s been awhile since I posted because we took what’s become pretty much an annual trip to Maine for a week. We're of the mind that we need to travel while we still can! The weather was beautiful for the most part. The one rainy day is the one we spent inside at the “Maine Quilts” show in Augusta. Very inspiring to say the least! Here’s a little photo tour of our trip.
The peaceful shore.
Red sails in the sunset near Kennebunkport.
Perkins Cove in the early morning.
Our home-away-from-home. This cozy cottage was right on the edge of a sea marsh. Very quiet and peaceful there, with all the conveniences of home.
The breathtaking views from The Marginal Way- a mile or so walk along the heights in Ogunquit.
Shopping in Kennebunkport. I was drawn to the vintage bathing beauties in this lovely display.
And the Blue Moon over the ocean at Goose Rocks Beach where we stayed. How refreshing is time by the ocean? So beautiful.
