The different a Selvage can make: PURSES!

Talk about laugher and fun at the North American Relief Sale meetings in Iowa City when we started talking "Green"! What can a selvage do? "You throw them away", was the first response. The crochet hook was moving right along as Marlys's friend had supplied balls of selvages from their quilt borders. The result: Bags and Purses! Each one was different: Bags with fabric handles for over the shoulder to Clutch Handbags. As the ideas and suggestions came, each purse was different. (The crochet hook is still going, too).

We also were reminded of "One selvage can make a difference". Purses were sold for a donation to MCC and selvages have brought in over $100! (That's a third of a child's education with Global Family). Yes, the Global Family Program has a special place in my heart after spending time two years ago in India, meeting the gal I sponsor, Rita, and becoming friends with the fantastic MCC staff in Kulkutta, India!

Blessings,
Marlys

Framed House Block Hand and Machine Quilted

The block came with a story with the purchase of a HUD Home and a celebration of dates. MCC celebrates more then making and giving houses globally, we also support our local needs and achievements. This is an example of a quilt block become a piece of "Framed Art" and was auctioned at a MCC Relief Sale.

Colored House Blocks "with a story"!

These blocks are colored and there are probably 10 to 12 of them. Some have an horse pulling a sled which reminds me of being in the Amish communities as the coloring is so very soft. Some of the blocks are bolder as seen in the attachments today. These blocks are available from Marlys at the Blogs contact email address or the Love Joy Piece chatline.

PA "House" Block Quilt with Hut Boarder Fabric - Available for Relief Sale

This quilt is available for a Relief Sale and is currently being hand quilted. It resembles the House Traveling Quilt that was sold last year. This quilt has 6 blocks instead of the 9 in the Traveling Quilt and uses the same "Hut" fabric. See the November 2008 for stories from the Traveling Quilt.

Purses and/or Bags: From Heart and House Block

Here are some different types of bags that have been made using the Heart and House blocks. They have been sold at pre-event sales and also during MCC Auctions. There are many patterns available and with a little creativity and interesting fabrics, we hear "I want that" and that makes it all interesting!

Canadian House Block Quilt

We are celebrating the first Canadian Block Quilt to the Blog and it's made from Baskets Bev received. This "Traveling Quilt" is available for MCC Relief Sales in Canada as it travels to the various Relief Sales collecting donations but the quilt is not sold. If interested in the quilt, please contact Bev or the Hartzlers, North America MCC Relief Sale Coordinators.

Basket Quilt with Blocks on Point - Minot, North Dakota

The Basket Block from individuals around the United States will be quilted and auctioned in Minot, North Dakota, in March or April of 2010. The Mott's picked the Minot quilt top. The quilt may have an additional boarder to accent the teal blue Cherrywood Fabric (thank you Cherrywood for your donation). The beauty of Cherrywood fabrics is that the cotton looks like suede.

In March or April 2010, women will be hand quilting the quilt during the auction and at some point the quilt will be auctioned. If it is not completely quilted, the new owner will receive the finished quilt in the next few weeks. We look forward to a finished picture of the quilt and the financial benefit to MCC from Upper Midwest Relief Sale in 2010.

Questions regarding the Upper Midwest Relief Sale, please contact Larry Muff at 218-983-3376 or borse@minot.com

House Quilt to be auctioned at the Arthur, Illinois

Blocks from around the United States were made into a quilt top and the House Block Quilt will be auctioned at the Arthur, Illinois, MCC Relief Sale on August 28 to 29, 2009. Questions about the sale, please contact: Steve Miller at 217-543-2841 or prairienet.org/arthurreliefsale.

To the Arthur Sale, it was great to see you at the MCC Relief Sale Meetings in Iowa City, Iowa in May and watch you pick the House Block Quilt that was "meant" for Arthur. We pray God's blessings.

Basket Quilt

The creativity of the makers and donors of the House Blocks for this quilt was quite exciting. Can you find the quilt block you made? One blocks lists a country in Africa. The Quilt celebrates the purpose of individuality of the maker and the individuals that will benefit from the quilt and the funds the quilt will raise!

The House Quilt was designed from the book: Log Cabin Quilts with Attitude by Sharon Rotz. Looking at the book and looking at the quilt - it was a stretch in creativity by Marlys with the encouragement of friends Lorna, Annette, Linda, Kathy, Therese and a few more quilting friend at a Quilt Retreat near Pequot Lakes, Minnesota in March 2009.

The quilt is currently in Versailles, Missouri, scheduled for hand quilting this summer or fall.

Which Relief Sale will Auction the quilt? We are waiting to hear the result and we will post the result when the information is available.