Merry Christmas from the Gingham Girls, ca 1978.
Yep, that’s me on the right. Wearing more handmade dresses and aprons made by my mom. (Notice the gingham ribbons on the tree too. 😉 )
First of all, a HUGE thank you for the amazing encouragement and support this past year. 2017 has been an amazing year for Diary of a Quilter. And I owe all of it to you readers. Thank you so much.
The Christmas season is such a wonderful time to feel good will for our fellow men. This video has really inspired me this Christmas season – thinking about the many rescuers and helpers throughout our country/world who have helped in big and small ways over the past year.
As I’ve thought about plans and ideas for 2018 I’ve come up with an idea I’m really excited about. I know this community is one with amazingly kind and generous hearts. So I thought it would be fun to have a monthly prompt for a small way to help a good cause each month. (Kind of like doing a block of the month, only channeling that ‘block’ toward a cause that can use it.) I want it to be simple and doable, knowing that “by small and simple things, great things are brought to pass” and many hands working together can make a difference!
In January I’ll share the first project. You can participate if you feel so inclined, or wait until another month when time feels more available.
I have a few projects in mind for the coming year, but I’m also looking for ideas of other great causes to contribute to and support. If you have a great suggestion, let me know!
Seasons Greetings! Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Joyous Kwanzaa! Happy Holidays! Happy New Year! Peach on Earth, Goodwill toward all.
Whatever way you are celebrating this season, I’m sending much love and wishes for you and your loved ones from my house to yours!!
XOXOXOXO
Susan Grancio
I’ve been making blocks for Covered In Love hosted by catandkatquilts for quite a while. Formerly monthly pattern posts, she now posts a new block/color palette every two months. Low-key, make as many as you care to when you can. Great idea you have to curate ways we can contribute to some of the many good causes seeking to fill needs. Wishing your family happy and healthy holidays. @susansquiltstudio
Clare
Thank you for giving so much of yourself into this blog and all of your time. I love reading and seeing what you have made. You inspire me. Merry Christmas!
Jane Sprague
Thank you so much for your generosity, Amy. I hope that you and yours have the merriest of Christmases and a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year!
Barbara Opett
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year ? 2018
Kathie L
I look forward to contributing in some small way next year. Heaven knows I have the fabric to put to use! Merry Christmas to you. If I were to named after a fabric, it would be Houndstooth Girl. It was my favorite fabric to sew when I was in high school (in the 1960s).
Amy
Ha! I love it!
Kristyn
Merry Christmas and Happy Solstice. I am guessing I would be a flannel girl, it’s so soft.
I am a new follower, and I hope to use my beginning sewing skills for good causes in 2018
Libby in TN
Merry Christmas to you, too! Lovely idea; I will contribute when/where I can.
Susan Wolcott
Goodwill to women, too.
Thank you for your generous spirit. Making quilts and donating them to Linus Project makes one feel Peace.
Amy
Absolutely! Project Linus is a great cause!
Buffy
Merry Christmas
Amanda
I love your idea for new year. If you want a sewing (though not quilting) project for one month, check out Days for Girls. I’ve organized and participated in projects for them in the past, and the work they do is amazing. 🙂
Amy
Yes! I love Days for Girls! Great suggestion!
Rosemaryflower
Merry Christmas Amy, to you and your loved ones.
Time flies, we have to slow down and enjoy the goodness
Thank you for always being an inspiration ❤️??
Sydney Schatz
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! And thank you for the bright ideas. Your quilts are gorgeous! I love the quilts in the photo above. I see that you have a tutorial for the one on the left on the sofa. Is there one for the one on the right? Thanks!
TJ
Thank you so much. What a wonderful idea for 2018!
Rosalyn Schultze
Holiday greetings to you and your family. I love the idea of a monthly special project. Looking forward to it!
karen
Merry Christmas to you and your family, Amy! Thank you for another year of inspiration and creativity. And I love the Gingham Girls–too adorable. Your kindness plans for next year sounds like something the world really needs right now. I’m in!
Lynette
Merry Christmas, Amy 🙂 LOVE the pic – perfect Little House moment there.
Joni
Merry Christmas to you and your family! I love your gingham girls pic. I had the same outfit, same red gingham bows on the tree as well as a gingham braided fabric wreath (still use it today). I love your plans for the New Year and will play along and sew for our local CASA girls and boys (who need comforting and love).
Izzy R
Merry Christmas Gingham Girls have a wonderful day !!!
Jessica Lowry
Merriest Christmas wishes to you and yours! I have always sewn for LINUS quilts. They will take quilts, tops, blocks, backing or fabric and give comfort quilts to children in need.
Jean
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I know I am not alone in saying how much I appreciate your blog for its creative inspiration combined with can-do enthusiasm. Diary of Quilter is a happy sight in my inbox.
Teach You To Sew
Merry Christmas, Amy! -Joe
Brenda in WA
I remember making little house on the prairie dresses for my girls and their dolls. Thank you for the reminder of those times. Seasons blessings to you and your family to continue through the new year.
Lea
I love your generous spirit Amy!!
I’ve been making quilts for children who are homeless.
I’m expanding my quilt making to include children who have been traumatized. These quilts will be distributed by the police dept. Some police departments also like to keep quilts in their cars to help comfort children.
Some (not all) police departments that have a K9 unit have fundraisers to raise funds for the equipment the K9’s need (like vests, etc.) They may like a quilt to raffle or auction.
I’m working on a quilt (your beautiful modern tree quilt tutorial!! 🙂 ). This quilt will be going to Guardian Angel Medical Service Dogs (GAMSD) ( https://www.medicalservicedogs.org/ ) to help them raise funds. They teach medical service dogs to help people in many, many different ways. These dogs give their recipients their life back again. Many of the recipients are veterans It costs $25,000 to teach each dog and their is never a cost to the recipient. GAMSD run on private donations. They also teach rescued German Shepherds, some of these dogs just hours away from being euthanized.
I also plan on making some small quilts for animals shelters who want them (not all want them.) Some animal shelters believe that a pretty little quilt helps to make the shelter more inviting to people looking to adopt. They’ll stay longer looking at the animals and this in turn increases the likelihood that more animals will find their forever home.
And last of all some animal shelters could use a quilt to raise funds and awareness for their shelter.