Project Linus Lower DelMarVa Chapter

Dear Abby Feb 13, 2012

2012-02-13T08:12:00.001-08:00

DEAR ABBY: You often suggest volunteer work as a way of combating loneliness or boredom. Research has shown that volunteering has health benefits as well as social benefits. In addition to the pride, satisfaction and accomplishment for the individuals involved, volunteer work also strengthens communities. That's why I hope you will support Project Linus by telling your readers about its national Make a Blanket Day on Saturday, Feb. 18.On that day volunteers across the country will be making quilts, blankets and afghans that will be donated to children ages 0-18 who are experiencing stressful situations such as hospitalizations, natural disasters, foster care and homelessness.No sewing skills are required. Volunteers can help if they can thread a needle, cut with scissors and tie a knot. Thank you, Abby, for sharing the information about this worthwhile project with your many readers. -- KAREN IN SNOHOMISH, WASH.

DEAR KAREN: I'm pleased to help spread the word. Dear Abby readers are the kindest, most generous people in the world. Those who are interested in obtaining more information, or locating a local chapter that will be sponsoring a work party on Feb. 18, should visit www.projectlinus.org.

Project Linus Blanket Bee, Phoenix AZ

2012-01-30T05:44:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, January 28, I

had the pleasure of attending a Blanket Bee in Phoenix, Arizona with Judee Agee, the former coordinator of the chapter here. Judee and I met years ago at a Project Linus Annual Conference in Bloomington IL. For me, it was a very pleasant day. I am bringing new ideas back to my group! The meeting room was filled to overflowing with about 70 ladies, men and teens, all there to make blankets for kids. It was a beautiful winter day here. The meeting room overlooked the red rock mountains of Phoenix and activities spilled outside onto the sidewalk! Some of us were sewing, many were crocheting & knitting. One volunteer ironed quilt tops for the quilters. One teen organized a table full of donated yarn, then folded and distributed many yards of quilting fabrics. Another dedicated teen checked every blanket for accidental pins by hanging blankets on the rack in the pictures, then scanning with an airport type metal detector! Other volunteers labeled, bagged and tagged blankets, getting them ready for delivery and loading bags into cars and trucks. Over 360 blankets were received and readied for delivery to kids!

The energy of the group recharged my battery! About 400 Project Linus chapters are found all over the United States. We don't do things the same way, we do work with the same guidelines, but our basic purpose and mission is the same-- to comfort hurting children by providing a handmade blanket just for them. An equally important sideline is to provide a wonderful activity for people to use their hearts and their talents to make the blankets. Not all the volunteers who help will actually sew or knit. It takes many hands to do our work! We need energetic volunteers to do recordkeeping, publicity, delivery, organizing, building things, setting up the rooms and loading the vehicles. A job for everyone!

2011-11-27T19:50:00.000-08:00

Signature Quilt for a special lady. For those of you who contributed blocks or are about to, here is the colorful results of so many PL volunteers! I will add photos as blocks arrive.

Delivering 100 Blankets

2011-11-15T07:57:00.000-08:00

Nemours Alfred I duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington DE is one of my favorite facilities.

Rob and I had the opportunity to take 100 wonderful, colorful blankets to the children's hospital. There the Child Life Coordinators will use them in very special ways for sick, fragile and hurting children. I know that Christmas is coming soon and the whole department is preparing for the programming they have for the kids. We are lucky to have a world reknown children's hospital here on the DelMarVa Peninsula! Its good to be able to help them, help children.

Linus' Blanket is now in the National Toy Hall of Fame!

2011-11-15T07:55:00.000-08:00

In today's news, from the Associated Press, Linus's blanket has
landed recently in the National Toy Hall of Fame! Curators said the blanket
was a special addition in the spirit of two earlier inductees, the cardboard
box and the stick. They praised its ability to serve either as recreational
raw material or an accessory transferred in many ways by a child's
imagination. For Linus, the comfort imparted by his precious blue blanket
blends with its"play function" as a lasso, a whip, a Snoopy tow rope and, in
later adventures, "when he talks about turning his blanket into a sports coat
when he grows up." Getting into the National Toy Hall of Fame isn't easy.
Each toy must be widely recognized, foster learning, creativity or
discovery through play, and endure in popularity over generations. Yeah, for
our blankets!

More pictures to show the signature quilt block

2011-11-06T16:11:00.001-08:00

Signature Quilt

2011-11-06T13:23:00.001-08:00

Blocks should be sewn onto a solid 100% cotton background. Please choose a
clear bright color for the
background.
Strips should be from black & white print fabrics.
Before mailing, please sign or embroider your name and a cheery message in
the center diagonal! Be careful that the writing is not too close to the
edges, to allow us to trim the edge of each block and allow for seams. Please
use a Crayola or other good quality permanent ink, fabric marker.

Cut 1 10" square of a bright, clear solid color cotton fabric. This is your background fabric. When complete you will see a diagonal strip of this color in the finished block.

Draw a diagonal 3" wide on the reverse side.

Strips may be all same width or random. Use a flip and sew method to sew
strips onto background square.

Stitch the first strip on each side of diagonal area, by following the
lines you have drawn on the reverse.
Press flat and sew another strip. Repeat until the corners are
covered.

Please mail completed square to Donna Clarke, 1400 Cedar St, Pocomoke
City MD 21851

Signature quilt pattern

2011-11-06T13:12:00.001-08:00

Blankets on display at Salem UMC

2011-09-24T18:48:00.000-07:00

2011-09-24T18:37:00.000-07:00

Blankets on display at Salem UMC

2011-09-24T18:35:00.000-07:00

Kids Helping Kids

2011-09-12T12:43:00.000-07:00

At Saturday's Furnace Town Outdoor Quilt Show, children colored quilt squares with fabric markers. The theme was "Transportation and Wheels". 14 colorful quilt pieces were completed, so now I have to sew them into a fitting quilt to showcase their art work. The children got to see a quilt made from colored squares from a previous quilt show. One artist participated both times! thank you Gracie!

"Adopt an Orphan" day for Project Linus

2011-08-27T11:01:00.000-07:00

Friday September 23 at 4 pm, Project Linus will host our first "Adopt an Orphan" Day.

Participating quilters will choose a diaper from the baby bed. Each diaper will contain 1 or more "orphan" quilt blocks. Fabric will be provided for each participant to complete a quilt top using the contents of their diaper! It will be important to do some sharing of ideas and brainstorming in order to make a nice quilt.

Strippers Race a Success!

2011-08-27T10:43:00.000-07:00

The Great Strippers Race

2011-08-04T07:53:00.000-07:00

The Great Strippers Race

Wednesday August 24

4 pm - 6 pm

Robinanne's Quilting Shop

129 Market St

Pocomoke City MD

Join us! We will learn who has the fastest sewing machine in town, as volunteers gather for the race! I will provide 30, 2 1/2" wide x WOF strips, & 1 half strip of pre-cut fabric. Racers will complete a child's quilt top for Project Linus. There will be a prize for the fastest quilter!

I am suggesting that you call Robin at 410-957-4766 or me at 410-713-9321 to register.

The fastest time so far is 34 minutes. Can you beat that time?

See ya!

Successful Conference Held in Peoria

2011-08-04T05:27:00.000-07:00

Successful Conference Held in Peoria IL

2011-08-04T04:58:00.000-07:00

My husband and I returned from the Project Linus National Conference held in Peoria IL for 4 very hot days in July! We came back energized for this mission, brought new ideas and new patterns for quilters. Project Linus is now 15 years old. Nationally, we have given 5 million hand made blankets to children. Our local chapter is 7 1/2 years old. We have given 5000 blankets on DelMarVa! This shows great dedication. Volunteers keep this momentum going. From the ladies who sew, quilt, knit & crochet, to the college students from SU who make hundreds of fleece blankets to the others who help in other ways, we get the job done. All blankets have a Project Linus label sewn on by 2 volunteers. All blankets have a hang tag. One volunteer writes thank you notes. Several volunteers drive hundreds of miles to deliver blankets. It takes money to keep this going also. Donations are always welcome.

Thanks to all who help in any way

Happy 15th Birthday Project Linus

2010-12-31T13:41:00.001-08:00

Happy Birthday Project Linus! The National Organization, started by Karen Loucks Rinedollar, is now 15 years old! Way to go, Karen! What a vision she had! Our local chapter was 8 years old in November, and although we are not as busy as most urban chapters, and some rural chapters, we serve our communities well.

2010-12-31T07:22:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!
This past year was a good one for my Lower DelMarVa Chapter, partly because so many people were motivated to help the children in Haiti, following the earthquakes there. At this time I have one more box of blankets for the Haiti children, and will be working with UMCOR to get them to the kids who need them.
To usher in the New Year, we held a small MABD in Pocomoke yesterday, at Robinanne's quilting service. Only 3 ladies came, but we had a warm and cozy day making paper-pieced sailboats from the pattern in Quiltmaker Magazine. These will be made into blankets by Carol Greer, and quilted by Debbie Pierce-Dunn. Nice!

Snow Day!

2010-12-26T13:08:00.001-08:00

Snow Day! Although I braved the cold to take some nice photos this morning, I have been inside since then. Snow days are so good for tromping around in those bulky down jackets, warm boots with the fur around the top and silly looking hats that are just too warm to leave in the drawer. Snow dampens the sounds on the highway and quiets the world in a peaceful way. My husband and I took a walk around the downtown area here so that I could again shoot pictures of the great old Chesapeake Skipjack temporarily docked here, by our river front museum and the historic old bridge. Houses and churches, covered with snow and untouched by previous footsteps motivate me to record the beauty that God has dumped on the southern half of the East Coast today! Well now I am indoors enjoying the warmth. Since I am leaving on another far away job assignment soon, I have to finish some undone projects and put them somewhere, preferably in storage with other blankets to be delivered. I thought of the mission of Project Linus and the warmth and comfort of our blankets.

2010-12-24T08:22:00.000-08:00

It's Yours to Keep Forever
by Sonya Uhler

Linus has a blanket that's all his very own,
It comforts and sustains him when he's feeling all alone.

He knows others love him for 'twas made with special care
And because it means so much to him, its carried everywhere.
You too can have a blanket that was made especially for you
To comfort and support you when you're feeling kind of blue
Its yours to keep forever so you may always know
That others out there love you and to you our wishes go

Poem borrowed from Mary Balagna's blog

Frog Quilt Challenge

2010-11-16T05:50:00.000-08:00

"You've been frogged" was a challenge we did about 2 years ago. My sister had sent me a crazy cast iron frog with instructions that told me I could not get rid of it until I did something nice for someone else, and she DID NOT want it back! It became a Project Linus challenge with a new twist. I made a frog themed quilt block, then wrote a set of slightly altered rules. The recipient could only get rid of the frog by making a frog themed quilt block. She then could "Frog" another quilter. When we had enough frog blocks for a teen sized quilt, I added sashing to the blocks and completed a top. Recently the top was quilted by Debbie Pierce-Dunn. I completed the binding last night. In the meantime, the frog was passed along to a PL coordinator in Great Falls Montana. I am so anxious to hear of the frog's cross country travel! If anyone knows where the frog is, please share! The ladies asked for a new challenge-- so we are doing the "Funky Chicken" . Blocks must be 8.5". Anyone can do a block and send it to me at 1400 Cedar St, Pocomoke City MD 21851

2010-11-07T13:24:00.001-08:00

We love Thank You notes:
This one was addressed to a very prolific volunteer, Betsy.
Dear Ms S___
Thank you so much for the blankets you made for the NICU babies at PRMC. Our twins stayed there for about 2 months and used your blankets. The Project Linus blankets are a wonderful idea and make the NICU a much warmer place. Thanks again, Love Stan and Jennie B

2010-10-24T16:55:00.000-07:00

Remember when? When we shopped for fabric they ran the folded edge through a machine and we loved to watch the dial turn. Next the lady would click the machine and a slit would be nicked in the fabric. She would remove the fabric and either tear or cut the fabric. When you got home, you measured it again, and there was always more than the amount you asked for. Before you could cut out your dress, blouse or curtains, it was necessary to straighten the grain. I remember trying to find one thread at each end, that was complete all the way across. Mom taught me to pull the thread then cut along the line formed by the missing thread. Now the fabric was "straight". It often would not fold evenly, but at least you knew it was "straight"!

2010-10-24T12:30:00.000-07:00

Project Linus of Lower DelMarVa held 2 workshops this weekend for making blankets for the children we serve. At the Shorebirds Quilters' Retreat in beautiful Silver Beach on Friday, there were 30 ladies quilting by the Chesapeake Bay. What a view and such perfect weather!! I presented directions and a demo of 2 quilt patterns. Zip Strip by Prairie Sky is a colorful "Fun & Done" quilt-as-you-go pattern which can use up some of your small pieces of stash fabric. Any age child would love this bright quilt with colors that dance across the blocks!

The other pattern is "Basically Kids Stuff" a scrap-happy free pattern on the Connecting Threads website. I pre-cut the squares and rectangles with scraps. The 3 1/2" squares are all from leftover dog and cat prints.

The ladies in charge of this event had high tea for all of us at 3 pm. Such a clever idea to have an assortment of tea cups and saucers for us to keep. The Irish tea was wonderful, Regina! I've been bragging on you!

Saturday there were 13 ladies at Salem UMC in Pocomoke. We were prepared to teach the same 2 blocks as the day before, but the crochet teachers held everyone's interest! Thank you Debbie Quick and Anne Bottino.

2010-10-03T08:34:00.000-07:00

Saturday, October 23

Make A Blanket Day

10 am - 3 pm

Salem United Methodist Church

2nd & Walnut Sts

Pocomoke MD

All are welcome! Bring a friend.

Fabric and yarn provided

noon time speaker will be a nurse from one of our recipient facilities

Come and hear her stories!

Bring sewing machine and/or crochet hook.

For the quilters:

new Scrap Happy patterns will be taught

For the crocheters, we will have lots of fleece to finish with crocheted edges.

2010-10-03T08:32:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Helen Lines of Pocomoke, who won the Shorebirds Quilt Guild raffle quilt.

2010-09-20T11:50:00.000-07:00

2010-09-20T11:34:00.000-07:00

We had a fabulous time at the Pacific NW Project Linus mini-conference. Thank you Jodene for making this temporary Oregon resident so welcome! We all left this 3 day weekend event, full of new ideas, fabric, lessons, projects, door prizes, patterns, inspiration, enthusiasm, warm & fuzzy feelings, new friends and happy exhaustion! It was such a nice touch to be able to listen to the leaders of recipient organizations. They told about where our blankets go and how they are loved by the children, and by the adults who give them. Teen moms get a help with new baby needs while learning about loving and caring for their infants, grieving kids get a blanket to wrap up in while learning to deal with the loss of a parent or sibling, a child whose house burned down, or kids new to foster care may all get a blanket. Sick kids in hospitals get blankets too. It is a wonderful outlet for those of us who sew, knit or crochet. One volunteer thanked the organizations for giving us an outlet for our talents, or fabric stash, and our need to serve the community.

2010-09-20T11:10:00.000-07:00

Just needed to share a photo that J...' mom sent me of her little burrito boy wrapped up so cozily in his Project Linus blanket. thanks again to Joan Try of Portland/ Vancouver for stitching the quilt and coordinator Jodene Cook for getting it to me so I could give it to a child in crisis.

2010-09-16T23:10:00.000-07:00

A big thank you to Ashley Davidson from the Volunteer office of Salisbury University! She organized a group of Freshmen during orientation week, and we now have a large donation of soft, comfy, colorful fleece blankets! Also thanks are in order for Mrs Barbara Phillips of Salisbury who graciously allowed the college kids to drop the blankets off at her house. Then, another thank you goes out to Pat Rebman and her husband who filled their pick up truck and brought the blankets to Pocomoke where a few other volunteers will label them. Deliveries to hospitals will be made in October.

2010-09-16T22:53:00.000-07:00

I recently had the pleasure of giving a blanket to a 5 year old cutey whose house burned down on Sept 1. He was fun to watch. First he pulled the quilt out of the box I took it in. He shook it out and spread it on the floor, then smoothed out all the wrinkles. Next, he flopped on the quilt and stretched out to see if it was a good fit. All smiles the whole time, he studied the bright prints and found that it had race cars, orange flames and bright stars all over it. He is a big Oregon Duck fan and loves orange and black, the team colors. J. wrote a thank you note to the maker using lots of bright colors for his pictures. The first morning after sleeping with this perfect quilt, he came downstairs in his PJs, wrapped up like a burrito in his new favorite blanket!

Blankets for kids in Haiti

2010-02-04T20:16:00.000-08:00

70 blankets! In just 2 short weeks the ladies of Lower DelMarVa have made 70 blankets which are already on their way to kids of Haiti. I was fortunate to be able to give 2 young Haitian girls their own warm quilts. These girls were adopted by a family in Glendive MT where I am working for a few weeks. The other 68 blankets made on DelMarVa have gone to UMCOR ( United Methodist Committee on Relief), who will ship and distribute them on Haiti. Much of this effort is due to the energy of Barbara Williams and Patti Woodhurst. Thanks to all of you!

In general, our Project Linus blankets go to kids on DelMarVa, then occasionally to other parts of the US where there is a special need. The Haiti disaster is so big that many of us felt like the kids there would really be comforted by a blanket. Please do not forget that we are still trying to serve all the hospitals and organizations locally, as we have done for the last 6 years.

2010-01-26T07:19:00.000-08:00

Make A Blanket Day
Wattsville United Methodist Church
Saturday Feb 20, 2010
10 am - 4 pm
kits available for sewing blankets for Haiti kids

Blankets for Haiti

2010-01-19T11:40:00.000-08:00

We have a great way to spread the love with our blankets by sending some to victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti.
Barbara Williams and others have been moved to hold blanket days for making simple blankets of flannel and 100% cottons. Because of the very warm climate, all blankets for this mission will be 2 layers-- flannel on one side and 100% cotton on the other side. One ideas is just a simple blanket-- stitch 2 pieces together rights sides together, leaving a small opening for turning right side out. Turn, then press the edges neatly. Top stitch around the edges then stitch in the middle-- an "X", a decorative stitch, or whatever else your imagination lets you.

Second idea is a simple blanket made from strips cut across the width of the fabric x 6". Put the first 2 strips wrong sides together, then place the next 2 strips right sides together-- one on each side. Stitch this seam about 1/2". Flip the second pair and press seam. Continue until the blanket is as large as you want. I suggest between 42 and 72".

Blankets should be delivered to Robinanne's Quilting Service or Salem United Methodist Church in Pocomoke before Feb 6. On that date they will be taken to the Peninsula Conference HQ for shipment and distribution by UMCOR to needy kids in Haiti. ( United Methodist Committee on Relief).
Contact me by email or call Robinanne's Quilting Service @ 410-957-4766 for dates and times of the workshops.

winners of Cowboy Challenge

2009-10-18T16:36:00.000-07:00

Last year I announced the Project Linus challenge to make blankets with a cowboy/ cowgirl theme. Robinanne agreed to carry some of the line of fabric chosen by the National office of PL. Quilters took home a piece of the selected fabric and purchased coordinating pieces. I am amazed at the quilts which came in! Each was unique, colorful and well done. Lots of creative thinking went into each design. The kids will LOVE them, and thats the best part!

Congratulations to Pat Davis, Lynn Hiltz and Mary Maloney for creating the blankets which were voted as the favorites.

2009-10-16T13:52:00.000-07:00

Autism Blankets

This is a relatively new idea-- that special blankets may help families of Autistic children get some needed sleep. These special children often sleep much better with a heavy blanket over them-- one that weighs about 10 - 15% of their body weight. The Thursday volunteers who meet at the local quilt shop have made 15 blankets for this cause. All will be filled with rolled up sheets. Ladies of Salem have donated the sheets and will be filling the blankets. A finished sample is shown in the photos.

Autism Blankets

2009-10-16T10:54:00.000-07:00

Autism Blankets for Worcester County Kids

The concept of special blankets for Autistic kids is relatively new. Families are sleeping much better when their very special child is covered by a heavy blanket. When I say heavy, I mean that these blankets should weigh about 10 - 15% of the child's weight. We are told that one side should have a children's print fabric and the other side should be a calming color. Channels are stitched to provide space for rolled sheets which make the needed weights. The Thursday sewing group did the initial stitching at the local quilt shop, while ladies from Salem collected clean, used sheets. Once all 15 of our blankets are filled, they will go to the Occupational Therapists at Cedar Chapel School in Snow Hill. Depending on the success of our first effort, we will consider making more of these blankets.

Honoring Blanketeers

2009-10-16T10:25:00.001-07:00

Volunteer Blanketeers honored at Salem United Methodist Church October 18

Colorful Project Linus Blankets draped over pews, railings, window ledges and altar rail are a great testimony to the dedication, love and talent of many volunteers who quilt, sew, tie, crochet and knit for children. Each person in attendance will be asked to write a message of comfort and cheer to add to a blanket for a personal touch. In addition, many of the blankets in the front are very special. 12 blankets were made with extra special care for the annual themed challenge. This year the quilters are "competing" with cowboy/ cowgirl themes. So much thought went into these blankets with horses, famous cowboys, hats, boots and other wild west symbols. At a penny/ vote we are hoping to earn some needed money while finding the favorite!

A great big thank you to all who make blankets or donate funds to make the work possible.

Crooked Brook

2009-09-30T10:39:00.001-07:00

Crooked Brook, a manufacturer of fleece and fleece products donates fleece to Project Linus Chapters. Please scroll down to find links to their products.

2009-09-23T19:33:00.000-07:00

Project Linus display at Furnacetown. In an effort to recruit more volunteers and to talk about our mission and our accomplishments, my husband and I had a few sample blankets and the raffle quilt in Furnacetown on September 19th and 20th during the 2009 Nassawango Quilt Show,

Quilt Raffle to benefit Project Linus

2009-09-23T19:24:00.001-07:00

Quilt Raffle to benefit Project Linus

The Shorebirds Quilters, who meet monthly in Pocomoke at Robinanne's Quilting Service, have recently completed a quilt and started selling raffle tickets at the Quilt Show in Furnacetown last weekend ( Sept 19 & 20). Tickets are $1 each, 6 for $5. If you wish to purchase a ticket or contribute to Project Linus, Lower DelMarVa Chapter, contact me or Robin at the Quilt Shop.

The quilt drawing will be held in mid December at the guild's Christmas meeting.

2009-09-23T19:13:00.000-07:00

A recent work assignment took me to Vancouver Washington. While I was there I had the pleasure of attending part of a sewing day with the Portland/ Vancouver Chapter of Project Linus. Chapter Coordinator, Jodene Cook has some great ideas! This picture shows one of their group projects which they call "Mix it Up". A color scheme was chosen and participating volunteers make squares to exchange. Pieces are cut in the following sizes: 4 1/2" square, 2 1/2 x 4 1/2" rectangle and 2 1/2 x 6 1/2" rectangle. Each volunteer makes a number of blocks the same, then they are exchanged to make a more interesting quilt.

2009-09-23T19:06:00.000-07:00

Students at Salisbury University held a Make a Blanket Day today. I was invited to attend, but they handled everything! Todays event kicks off an effort to make and donate 200 fleece blankets by then end of October! Thank you for your efforts! Ashley Davidson speerheaded this effort. Ashley is a grad student who works in the volunteer office at the university.

thanks

2009-07-24T10:26:00.000-07:00

Thank you notes received. Your blanket making efforts are greatly appreciated!

"On behalf of PRMC Pediatric Unit, I want to thank you and Project Linus for the very nice supply of blankets and quilts you make and donate to us. The parents as well as the children really love them. We deeply appreciate them. Thank you, Isabelle White, Pediatrics, PRMC"

"Dear Project Linus Volunteer, Your gift makes life a little brighter for children recieving care at the Nemours/Alfred I duPont Hospital for Children. Thanks so much for your generosity and your thoughful contribution. The quilts you sent are so beautiful. Thank you so much for your generous efforts for the children we serve. Beth Carlough"

Thursday Quilters

2009-07-20T08:59:00.000-07:00

Project Linus blanketeers of Lower DelMarVa gather together weekly at Robinanne's Quilting Service in Pocomoke City. Basic instruction for quilting is available from these ladies.

Join us on Thursdays from 10 am- 3 pm. Order lunch from a local restaurant or bring a bag lunch.

Blanket Deliveries in July

2009-07-13T05:14:00.000-07:00

Blanket Deliveries!

You all so graciously make hundreds of blankets each year. The logistics of getting blankets to all the facilities can be complex, but I try and simplify it when I can. As you may know, we work with hospitals from Nassawadox Va in the southern most part of the DelMarVa Peninsula to AI duPont Regional Childrens Hospital way up north in Wilmington DE-- over 4 hours drive time between these 2. I make sure that we get blankets to all the area hospitals about every 3 months.

Last week I was able to arrange for delivery of blankets to most of our facilities. I took 60 blankets to Peninsula Regional Medical Center, Pediatric department and the Special Care nursery. The nurses in Peds were so glad to see the blankets! They just love to give them to their little patients. Newborn hats knitted by June Davis went to the NICU too.

The rest of the recent deliveries were about delegating and cooperating! Pat Rebman took 25 blankets to Nanticoke Memorial in Seaford, where the volunteers at the desk in the front lobby take care of getting our bags to the nursery and the Pediatric areas. Thanks, Pat! Nanticoke is also served by the Dover Delaware PL group.

A friend who works parttime at McCready in Crisfield took 10 blankets to the ER. There is no pediatric department but the ER nurses find children who are really comforted by the blankets during their emergency procedures. Thanks, Kristen!

A I duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington is a 3 hour drive from here. We now have a cooperative arrangement with Sysco Foods. Becki Shumaker picked up 50 blankets and 103 pillowcases and took them to Elvin White, the Asst. Transportation Manager. Thanks to Elvin, the blankets and pillowcases are now in the child Life Department there!

50 blankets were delivered to Nassawadox VA by Jennifer Langley. They will be used in Pediatrics, ER and newborn areas.

Lastly, I sent 5 patriotic themed blankets to Florida for the children of returning soldiers. This week a large number of badly injured military personnel will see their families for the first time since they were injured. There are some who come home with horrific things for the children and spouses to deal with. Project Linus groups from all over the country sent patriotic blankets to eash the stress on the children of these veterans.

Autism Blankets

2009-07-13T05:08:00.000-07:00

Autism Blankets

We will be making at least 20 blankets for autistic children of Worcester County MD. Each blanket is made from 2 - 1 yard pieces of fabric, 1 print, 1 solid, and 2 1/2 yards of velcro. The "Lily's Hug" pattern was shared by another coordinator at this year's Annual conference. Channels are stitched into the blanket and stuffed with a rolled sheet in each, then sealed with velcro. Blankets for autistic children should weigh about 10 - 15% of their body weight. They are also called, "weighted blankets" and may soothe children with autistism and a few other children with sensory diagnoses.

Playing it safe with rotary cutters

2009-07-02T04:06:00.000-07:00

Rotary Cutter Safety

Aren't rotary cutters great tools? The invention of the rutary cutter has changed quiltmaking forever! I recently had an accident with my rotary cutter. All my fault, of course! The stitches are out but my thumb is now infected. It seems that I may have some permanent damage but time will tell. I was cutting a thick stack of fabric in a free form curvy line. Some of the contributing factors include a slightly loose blade in the rotary cutter, and I was sitting on the floor while cutting. I will refer you to a website which has some safety information.
I also want to encourage you to purchase a ruler with finger guard. I got mine from Mariner's Compass Quilt Shop, 11 Centre Street, Bath Maine 04530 phone: 207-443-2900. I was not using this ruler at the time-- using a square template because the pieces were small. Since the accident I also purchased a "Klutz" glove. These are made for Fons and Porter and sold in many quilt shops. The same sort of glove may be found on some websites where safety equipment is sold. Smaller sizes are hard to find from safety websites. Read to find out what the glove is made from. Some have latex dots on them and should be avoided by persons with latex allergies. Others are latex free. Be careful! You only get one pair of hands.

http://quilting.about.com/od/rotarycuttingskills/tp/rotary_safety.htm

Fun at Conference

2009-07-01T12:31:00.000-07:00

Country and Western bands were a hit at the banquets. Silliness and smiles prevailed!

Linus Stars photo

2009-07-01T12:18:00.000-07:00

Linus Stars Quilt

This quilt is described in a post below. Known as the Linus Star, It was designed by Patricia Pepe and requires her "X-Block template for cutting the star points. It is much easier than it looks! Watch how the pattern morphs into a new star if you reverse the template. ( Some people learn by doing)

Linus Stars photo

2009-07-01T12:06:00.001-07:00

Diamonds for Lucy

This quilt can be made with 5 - 6" charm squares or 10" blocks. Use fabrics from the annual conference exchange of 10" squares or cut them from theme fabrics, stash fabrics or the scrap bin. Most important is to first divide your blocks into light and dark, with no mediums. Put small squares in pairs, 1 light, facing 1 dark. Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner and stitch on both sides of the line, a 1/4" seam. Cut apart and press. Arrange the squares to form a diamond or whatever pattern you like. There are many design possibilities. Have fun with this quick quilt!

Linus Stars

2009-06-30T19:33:00.000-07:00

Patricia Pepe designed this pattern just for Project Linus! She is a wonderful teacher. Her enthusiasm made her class so much fun. I will share the techniques needed for sewing this pattern. We used Patricia's "X-Block" template. These are wonderfully versatile templates, which can make easy work of a complex pattern. Drop in at Robinanne's in Pocomoke any Thursday in July and see the quilt top.

Buzz Cake Quilt Pattern

2009-06-30T18:50:00.001-07:00

Buzz Cake has a catchy name. This quilt is bold, easy, quick and unique. It requires 36 10" squares. These can be a purchased set of "layer cakes" or better yet-- cut 10" squares from scraps! Mix colors from your stash and use this pattern to combine old calicos and newer fabrics for a brand new look. Chose 4 of the 10" squares and cut them into 5" squares so that you have a total of 16 5" squares. Come see this quilt top at Robinanne's Quilting Service on a Thursday real soon.

Autism Blankets

2009-06-30T18:44:00.001-07:00

One very interesting part of Project Linus Institute this year was our opportunity to hear from an autism counselor, an autistic young adult and an expert in the construction of weighted blankets for autistic children. We learned that the blankets need to be weighted, since these children are more comforted by the heaviness of a blanket like this. I will be gathering the necessary supplies so that we may begin making these special blankets in August. The first batch will be delivered to the Cedar Chapel Special School in Snow Hill MD. Future deliveries will depend on the success of the first weighted blankets we make. Supplies include: 2 1 yard pieces of coordinating fabric, 1 solid and 1 print, 2 2/3 yd of velcro, and 12 twin bed sheets for each blanket. More details will be described in our first workshop.

2009-06-25T14:38:00.000-07:00

The Project Linus Institute is a 4 day fun-filled event, held in Bloomington IL. I am here for the whole time. I can't wait to share patterns, ideas and new techniques with the Thursday Quilters and anyone else who will listen and learn. Warm up your rotary cutters and get ready for some new quilts to make! See you in a week, quilters!!

Welcome

2009-06-25T07:44:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Project Linus Lower DelMarVa Chapter blog.
This blog was created at the Project Linus Institute in Bloomington, IL.
Donna & Rob are currently in attendance at the Institute, learning all the latest about Project Linus.