first i must start with our visit from madelyn:) hahahaha. what silly girls we were . . . kindred spirits in quilting for sure. madelyn was a great sport and jumped in with both feet and i must admit that i took advantage of her energy. i fixed a big pot of soup and we ate mostly that for the 3 days she was here -- sorry madelyn:) but it was the best way to just keep moving.
and madelyn came bearing gifts:) what a good heart to take the train alone with such big loads!! 3 large cutting mats size 34 X 24 and a smaller one 18 X 24 that she was able to find in athens for us. and she couldn't bend them or fold them so she and her husband built a large cardboard satchel to tuck them into and plus a suitcase full of fabric -- she gets extra stars.
with madelyn's help and because we planned a special work night with all the quilters we were able to get ahead a little bit. madelyn quilted two full quilts on the machine!! way to go madelyn!! and we cut all the backs and bindings for 4 more. yay!! i was able to get 4 kits cut for the work night and the girls have started putting those kits together. 2 kits went to the girls in katarini and the rest will be for us to make for the A-21 house. and of course as with all things . . . we had to make a big mess!! hahahaha. our best surprise of all was that we got valerie's new quilt top from england while madelyn was here . . . fun, fun. such beautiful colors. and valerie, you will notice a slight difference in the top you sent:) it was just a little small for the A-21 house but we wanted them to have it so badly that we added a couple of boarders to stretch it a bit -- i hope you don't mind. this was a coordinated effort. and we had just the right colors to compliment it. i hope you like it:)
we put madelyn on the early train and she was exhausted and so was i:) but it was a good feeling. now you must realize that before madelyn even got here i had gone days before down to katarini to teach 3 young women to quilt. two single moms and one widow will be piecing quilt tops by hand and then i will get them quilted for them on our machine until they can save and purchase a machine and frame of their own. thomas and i made the trip together by train -- love the train rides:) the women there are in desperate need. in fact there is a group of about 50 families of which many cannot put food on the table or give milk to their babies. benjamin house is helping them weekly with a food bank and this helps but they need a steady income. the quilt business will hopefull fill a big void there.
we put madelyn on the early train and she was exhausted and so was i:) but it was a good feeling. now you must realize that before madelyn even got here i had gone days before down to katarini to teach 3 young women to quilt. two single moms and one widow will be piecing quilt tops by hand and then i will get them quilted for them on our machine until they can save and purchase a machine and frame of their own. thomas and i made the trip together by train -- love the train rides:) the women there are in desperate need. in fact there is a group of about 50 families of which many cannot put food on the table or give milk to their babies. benjamin house is helping them weekly with a food bank and this helps but they need a steady income. the quilt business will hopefull fill a big void there.
so i took 3 kits down to get them started and just sent another 2. i have both quilts here in the studio now and will be quilting them on the machine today. then they will be taken by the couple in katarini who are helping them to get this quilting business going. this couple will be in the states for the next few weeks and will show them around and hopefully sell them for a nice price and maybe take some orders for more. at any rate, we hope they will return empty handed and with income for the women!! here are the first two they have completed and will sell.