SAVE THE MLK JR HOLIDAY FOR OUR NEXT QUILT-A-THON

JOIN US!

Monday, January 16, 2017, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, is our next scheduled community-service quilt-a-thon.

It will be held at Alliance Hall from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., at the Unitarian Universalist Area Church, First Parish in Sherborn, 11 Washington Street, Sherborn, Mass.

Volunteers of all ages and abilities are encouraged to attend. Light refreshments will be served.

For those who can, please bring your sewing machine.

OUR FALL 2016 QUILT-A-THON

Twelve volunteers from six different communities gathered together on Saturday, November 5th, for an all-day quilt-a-thon.

As always, the results were amazing!

Nine colorful quilts were finished, carrying The Power of the Quilt Project label.

Several others were taken home by volunteers to hand-sew the binding and machine-stitch the quilts. These will be returned at the January 16, 2017 quilt-a-thon, held on the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, and will receive a hand-sewn PQP label as the finishing touch.

UUAC member Barbie Breer has been part of

this project since its inception in 2003.

PQP Coordinator Cris Crawford

Joanne Beaupre loves to sew.

Several of the quilters are also members of the Rhododendron Needlers Quilt Guild, a joint partner of The Power of the Quilt Project.

The Power of the Quilt Project is one of the many service and justice ministries of the Unitarian Universalist Area Church, First Parish in Sherborn, Mass.

SAVE THE DATE for our FALL QUILT-A-THON - Saturday, November 5, 2016

Mark your calendars now, and plan to join us on Saturday, November 5th for the next Power of the Quilt Project Quilt-a-thon.

Stay all day or for as long as you wish!

Time:       9 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Lunch and refreshments provided!

Location:  Unitarian Universalist Area Church, First Parish in Sherborn

                11 Washington Street, Sherborn, MA 01770

                Plenty of parking.

This is a great service project and quilters of all ages and abilities are invited.

Even if you've never quilted before, there will be hand-sewing tasks to be completed, ensuring each finished quilt bears a Power of the Quilt Project label.

Cris Crawford and Sally Demler show off some of the quilts recently distributed to patients undergoing chemotherapy in the Greater Boston and Metrowest areas.

A Touching Moment

I had the honor of delivering one of the Power of the Quilt Project's lap robes to a dear friend this summer. This was a new experience for me.

I've known him for most of my life - so that's about 50 years or so now - and he is married to my very best friend.

Cris Crawford, our PQP coordinator, selected a handsome navy blue, white, and gold lap robe that was beautifully made. It just so happened that I had been part of the "pinning" group when the backing material was added. The material was dark, with a whimsical series of Betty Boop cartoons in white all over. Betty was on a motorcycle, Betty was driving in an old car, Betty was up to all kinds of shinanigans in this print!

Betty Boop happened to be my mother's favorite cartoon character, and my friend enjoyed my mother a lot over the years. He also used to ride a motorcycle and loves old cars. I felt sure that this quilt would bring a smile his way, despite all that he is going through, living with cancer.

Because I had helped make this quilt (granted, in an incredibly small way), I was eager to deliver it to my friend at his home.

He was moved beyond words.

That's all I can say. He loved it ,and he loves that the church is involved in this special ministry, providing people like him with such an incredibly amazing personal gift - bringing a smile to his face, joy to his heart, and a tear to his eye.

I don't know who created the majority of this quilt, but if you're reading this blog, and it sounds familiar, thank you for your work of art. A labor of love, I know.

You may never know the impact of your gift, but rest assured, an impact is made!

God bless the quilters involved in this program, for they are bringing joy to others through their service work.

Spring Quilt-A-Thon a Success!

In total, 17 volunteers from surrounding communities gathered together for the recent Power of the Quilt Project (PQP) all-day spring quilt-a-thon held at the Unitarian Universalist Area Church in Sherborn, Mass. 

Natick Girl Scout Leader Christine Schell arranged for several Scouts to participate. Pictured below (l to r) are Schell with Chelsea Eaton, Savannah Kaltofen and Z Peverill-Conti. (Not pictured: Scout Ellie Schelleng)

Natick Girl Scouts learn how to build quilt kits during the spring
quilt-a-thon as part of their Fiber Arts Merit Badge.

Each quilt - a unique work of art.

Each of 20 quilts was hand-finished with the cloth label that describes the project as a joint partnership between the UUAC and the Rhododendron Needlers Quilt Guild of Walpole. 

Afterwards, a sampling of the completed quilts was hung for a week’s display in the church sanctuary.

PQP Coordinator Cris Crawford gets in some machine time.

Since the Power of the Quilt Project’s inception in 2003, 2,120 colorful quilts have been assembled and disseminated to individuals undergoing chemotherapy treatments.

Donna Allen shows us this quilt's colorful design.

A quilt is a tangible connection from the giver to the recipient which says he or she is a person worth caring for. The power of this caring can provide hope during a scary and lonely time. Even quilt recipients who are part of a large community of friends and family members find peace and comfort snuggled up with a homemade quilt.

Thanks to everyone who shared the day with us! 

Quilt on!!

Most Recent Comfort Quilt Donation

Pictured below are Cris Crawford, coordinator of the Power of the Quilt Project at the Unitarian Universalist Area Church, First Parish in Sherborn, along with Sally Demler, holding two of the recently-finished comfort quilts. Twelve cheerful-looking cozy quilts were donated in early March to the Harvard Vanguard Cancer Treatment Center in Kenmore Square, Boston. 

We know these lovely quilts will be enjoyed by the men and women there who are undergoing chemotherapy treatments.

Sally is also the leader of the Yarn Spinners, a group of volunteers who meet monthly at the church to knit and crochet baby caps and blankets for children facing hardship. The unique items created by this group are distributed regularly through Project Linus.

Cris and Sally love showing off everyone's handiwork!

PQP March Quilt-a-thon - Rescheduled

If you're planning to join us for the next Power of the Quilt Quilt-a-thon, please know that it has been rescheduled for Saturday, April 2, 2016. It will still be held from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. in Alliance Hall at the Unitarian Universalist Area Church, First Parish in Sherborn.

We hope you will still be able to participate. Come for part of the day or for the full day.

Lunch and beverages will be provided for all volunteers joining in.

Sewing, pinning, ironing, and cutting stations are available.
If you plan to join us, please bring your own sewing machine.
Volunteers for handwork are also needed.

If you are unable to join us but have a quilt square to share, please drop it by the church or mail it to the following address, and we will incorporate your square into a community comfort quilt.

The Power of the Quilt Project

Unitarian Universalist Area Church

11 Washington Street

Sherborn, MA  01770

We look forward to seeing you then!

Fabric Squares to Share?

First off, we hope you're planning to join our next Power of the Quilt Project Quilt-a-thon on Saturday, March 19, 2016 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the UUAC, First Parish in Sherborn. Lunch is provided and all are welcome!

But, if you are unable to join us that day, might you consider donating a fabric square or two that volunteers might use in a community quilt? 

As you know, all squares should be 6.5 inches from edge to edge. Squares may be dropped off at the church or mailed to the address below.

U.U.A.C., First Parish

Power of the Quilt Project

11 Washington Street

Sherborn, Massachusetts 01770

We hope you'll extend this invitation to fellow quilters as well!

On behalf of everyone at the UUAC and the Rhododendron Needlers Quilt Guild, thank you for continuing to support the Power of the Quilt Project which has been donating cozy comfort quilts to men and women undergoing chemotherapy for more than a decade now!

SAVE THE DATE!

Saturday, March 19, 2016 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

The next quilt-a-thon sponsored by the UUAC, First Parish in Sherborn, and the Rhododendron Needlers Quilt Guild is set for Saturday, March 19th.

Volunteers usually arrive around 9 a.m., enjoy coffee, water, refreshments and a lunch hosted by the church, work hard on the projects at hand, enjoy one another's company, catch up with friends and make new acquaintances, and wrap up activities around 4 p.m. 

There will be tasks needing the talents of those who like to hand stitch, measure and cut fabric squares, pin quilts to backings, machine stitch or hand tie quilt tops, and add labels by hand. If you don't know how ... we'll teach you!

The efforts of the 22 volunteers who gathered at the Jan. 18 event resulted in work on more than 20 quilts. 12 beautiful quilts were completed. Those were either finished that day or had been dropped off by volunteers who finished a quilt or two at home. Several volunteers took quilts home to put on bindings and the like.

Our youngest quilter that day was young Sage Lafleur who would be celebrating her 11th birthday in a few days. What a great experience to kick-start what might become a lifelong passion!

Sage learns how to lay out the
side pieces to her quilt top.
Cris had her select the light and
dark fabric squares for her first
quilt project. Nice job!

Here's young Sage at her mom's
machine. Sage turned 11 this month!
She'd been to sewing camp, but this was the first time
she tried her hand at learning the art of quilting, with
guidance from coordinator Cris Crawford.

Whatever your skill or talent, please be sure to join in on the fun. It's all for a wonderful cause.


SPECIAL NOTE: There may be one more quilt-a-thon for this church year which will be held in Easton, Mass., so keep checking back here for updates about that event.

The Sunday After ...

In the image below you'll see five of the latest comfort quilts - completed by devoted volunteers from The Power of the Quilt Project - which are hung from the church's balcony in time for today's service at the UUAC First Parish in Sherborn.

Colorful quilt patterns warm up the UUAC's
sanctuary on a cold winter morning.

Some quilts were completed at the Quilt-a-thon (sponsored by the UUAC and the Rhododendron Needlers Quilt Guild) on the MLK, Jr. holiday, Jan. 18, and others were completed by volunteers in their homes and dropped off at the church during the day-long quilt-making event.

Thanks to coordinator, Cris Crawford, for hanging the quilts and taking such a great picture for use in this blog.

These quilts will most likely bring wonderful smiles and happy hearts to those who receive them.

Post MLK Day Quilt-a-thon News

Fun Fact: The 22 volunteers who participated in the recent quilt-a-thon held in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., came from 11 surrounding towns! 

That, in itself, is a lovely demonstration of the power of unity, coupled with a commitment to service.

At the end of the quilt-a-thon, Cris Crawford, coordinator of The Power of the Quilt Project, tallied up all the efforts of our 22 volunteers, and more than 20 quilts were worked on! Congratulations to all!

As mentioned in the previous blog, a dozen comfort quilts were completed that day and are now ready for distribution to those in need.

These finished quilts will bring joy and comfort
to those who receive them.

Vickie Karian, longtime volunteer, finished two quilts with machine stitching during the quilt-a-thon. She kindly took several quilts home that will need her finishing touch -- either by machine stitching or hand-tying the quilts. 

Then, she'll bring those completed quilts to the church where other volunteers will sew on a special label by hand. It is at this point that the quilts are truly "finished" and ready for distribution.

Vickie's 30 years' experience quilting came in handy
to complete two comfort quilts during the Jan. 18 quilt-a-thon.

Barbie Breer, a UUAC newcomer,
enjoys affixing the final label by hand.

MLK Jr Community Service Project

Today, in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. and a commitment to serving others, 22 volunteers came together at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Sherborn, MA, blending their talents of hand sewing, machine stitching, cutting and piecing fabric squares, pinning, backing and quilting comfort quilts. 

A dozen beautiful quilts were worked on and finished. These will be given to women and men undergoing chemotherapy and for the Linus Project which provides comforting quilts and blankets for children facing hardship.

Many thanks to Cris Crawford, member of the UUAC, First Parish in Sherborn, and part of the Rhododendron Needlers Quilt Guild in Walpole, who has coordinated the Power of the Quilt Project for the past three years.

Some participants experienced their very first quilt-a-thon today, and others have been quilting for 20 or more years!

You can see the love being put into these incredible creations, as witnessed in the faces of those involved.

The label lovingly hand sewn to each completed quilt.

Margaret May
A part of The Power of the Quilt Project
for 10 years.

Tobi Hoffman at work on a "Jelly Roll" quilt.

11-year-old Sage LaFleur is making her first-ever quilt today!

Sally, Sue, Jeanne and Sandy pitch in 

to pin Margaret's quilt to "batting" and a fabric backing. 

See one of the quilt squares close up, below.

Margaret and Cris display the finished quilt.