Dear fellow quilters/crafters
Your quilting story could be featured in an upcoming quilt book I am researching (not due for release until 2011). The book will touch on community and quilting and I would love to hear from you.

Please email me whipup[at]gmail.com if you have ever…
1. made quilts for charity
2. organised a quilt drive for your local community/church or larger organisation
3. participated in or organised a quilt swap, (or quilt block swap), virtual quilting bee or quilt-a-long
4. belonged to an ‘in person’ quilting group where you get together regularly to quilt
5. made or organised a community quilt / friendship quilt

I would love to hear your stories – there are no boundaries on age or location – wherever you live, whoever you are – I want to hear from you. Email me telling the where and when of your quilting project and I will follow up with further questions.
thanks so much for your help.

Kathreen

Edda Lilja and her 52 hat project is now up to week 37 and the hats are fantastic – a little quirky and quite original. Here is her website where you can see all the hat – just a few of my faves are pictured below.

The pattern for that cute elf/fairy hat is available here for a small fee

September is National Sewing Month, established in 1982 to recognize the importance of home sewing to our nation. To celebrate, the National Sewing Month website is holding a contest with the theme of “reuse, remake, restyle”.

Rockpool candy – Let me ease your day new intervention launching on 6 July. Let me ease your day is a new movement, taking yarn bombing, and repurposing it for the good of all, by providing knitted, crocheted and sewn textiles to the people in our society who might just need a random act of kindness to ease their day.

In times of financial worry, charities suffer. The public pull in their purse strings and stop giving. When the living is easy, our money is often given to charity to ease our consciences, to allow us to carry on our day to day lives without having to interact with needy causes and to feel like we’re doing something. But I want society to be different. As crafters we have skills that we can put to use and make a difference that is not dependent on the free change we have in our pockets.

Back in 2008, after learning that the future of handmade children’s products was threatened by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), we reached out to you as fellow citizens. It was our hope that if enough people became aware of the situation, together we could keep handmade toys, clothing, and other wonderful products for children legal, and available in the United States. About 15,000 people signed our petition, and many of you have worked hard to spread the word. Thanks to you, Congress has heard loud and clear that Americans do not want our crafters and cottage industries to disappear!

Help support the continued work of the Handmade Toy Alliance by becoming a member – details here.

Thank you to Ina for sending in this link.

Pillowcase Challenge Contest! at Lark books: Three lucky winners will receive a copy of Craft Challenge- Dozens of Ways to Repurpose a Pillowcase and 9 more of Lark’s newest, most indie-wonderful craft titles. Find out more here:

The Amazing Recycled Crafts Contest at FamilyFun.com [via ecochild's play] Turn your litter into glitter, to be in the running for a chance to win a computer and more – info here.

Sock Summit 2009 is a one of a kind conference for handknitters, that explores the humble art form known as the human sock. Celebrate the diversity of sock knitting. Aug 6-9 Portland Oregon – start planning now – Registration for the Sock Summit is planned for sometime in the month of May – stay tuned.

Urban craft uprising – apply now.

An open discussion at craft leftovers about issues relating to working from home on your own crafty business. Some topics raised:

Having a hard time getting my daily things done, not because of lack of time, but because of lack of time constraints.

Scheduling is another big topic. How to set up the day to be free to be creative and exploratory but at the same time get everything done to meet all the deadlines.

How to write up a business plan and how to set some long term goals for self and for the crafty business when everything is so undefined.

Lots more will be covered – so tune in to craft leftovers

Today its valentines day – feb 14, for me – married with two children, valentines day has lost its appeal, but still its an excuse pick some flowers from the garden and give all my loved ones a big juicy kiss. For others Valentines day is a big deal, romantic getaways and expensive gifts, some of you may hate valentines day – its just another reminder of your singleness – why not go crazy with anti valentine sentiment – or else celebrate your freedom with friends. For us crafty types valentines day is a really good excuse for some serious light hearted crafting. Whatever or however you feel about valentines day – I hope it was a good one.

Thinking of the victims of the Australian bushfires today – lost their homes and loved ones – why not spare some change for those in need – find out how you can give some handmade help here. Or buy something handmade here to help out the cause.

Some quick last minute valentines stuff – oh joy has some links to e-cards – very cute : I love these vintage valentine cards (one pictured here) : design for mankind – last minute giveaway.

“American Artist” Launches New Online Community for Artists – a user-driven website that allows artists to show the depth of their creativity and engage with other artists in exciting new ways.

Amy sent in this “Please think about this family today and say I love you to those you do. Life is fragile.” :: Amy’s Auction :: Design mom Auction (275+ opportunities to help Nie recovery - All of the auctions are being run independently and may have different rules and different end times.)

Spoonflower update: updated and improved shopping cart :: Lower shipping rates :: 3-Yard Limit On Fabric Items (reduced printer mistakes on larger pieces) :: now you can cast your vote for a second type of fabric to be offered ::

a giveaway at craftactually

ILLUSTRATIVE Art festival together with a Young Illustrator’s Award competition :: Deadline for submission fee: 31st of August 2008 :: Deadline for submission works: 31st of August 2008

Mind bites: video instructional contest ‘The Baby Formula’: launches September 3. (instructional videos related to babies and parenting) :: $1500 of cash prizes :: they are working with ‘Any Baby Can’, a charity that helps children to reach their potential through education, therapy and family support services :: crafty submissions in the parenting/new baby genre might include: knitted or crocheted blankets/clothes/toys, quilts, baby book scrapbooks, appliqué, embroidery, breastfeeding necklaces, stroller toys, pacifier clips, baby announcements, etc.