Drawing for Basics Charity Challenge delayed

Sorry folks life has sprung up. I will do the drawings by Friday though I promise.
We had over 200 people join in and I am so pleased I can't even tell you.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all you do to help others in your communities and across the globe/

Pin Cushion Swap

 I was on twitter and struck with the fancy to have a pin cushion swap. I put it out there and there was lots of replies so here we go!

Details

Send one pincushion to your partner by April 22nd.

The pin cushion can be any size, filled with crushed walnut shells or sand, unless your swap partner indicates a desire otherwise. You can get the shells in the pet aisle, bird area. It's all cleaned etc and makes a really great filling. Or the craft store but it's way more expensive there for the same thing.

We have some internationals so if you can't send internationally let me know in your sign up e-mail and I'll try to keep you domestic. If it's not in the e-mail I will assume you will send internationally.

You can use a pattern or make up your own, embellish to your hearts desire, or keep it simpler. Just make sure it is closed so there isn't a huge mess at the end!

You can include goodies if you wish but it is not necessary.

This will be a secret swap! And the person you send to may not be sending to you. Or they may. It'll be random like. I assure you will not send to yourself though. ;)

If you want to have more then one partner, so you're sending multiple packages, send me a separate e-mail for each one with the number in each subject line. So Pin Cushion Swap 1, Pin Cushion Swap 2 etc.

Still sounding good?

To sign up

Send me an e-mail, caraquilts @ gmail.com, with the subject line including Pin Cushion Swap.
Include your name, address, blog address if you have one, and any twitter/flickr/I-don't-know-what-other-sites handles. And anything your partner may need to know. Like you hate yellow. Or think florals are the devil. You know the important things.

Oh, and if you have a preference for filling. Like you'd like it stuffed with batt instead of shells.Or are allergic to something that may be used. Like my friend who is allergic to walnuts. The shells would be bad. So let me know.

I'll accept entries until March 12th. Ship by date is April 22nd but earlier is better, especially if your pin cushion is flying on a trip far, far away.

Send me an e-mail to sign up, or comment here for any questions.

March's Perse-Anality Bag and Charm School Pattern!

 You can find the Basics Charity Challenge here. The deadline has been extend to March 7th.

   As many of you know I'm designing patterns for Stitchin' Heaven's Perse-Anality club, as well as their Charm School.

With the purse club you get the fabrics and my exclusive pattern and the charm school gives you two charm packs and the exclusive pattern, with the option to buy the kit to make the entire project at a discount!
This month's purse is the Flirty Pouch! Check it out!

And this is the Charm School pattern, which is using Central Park.

Mail!

Look what came in the mail today! My mug rugs from the secret swap! YAY!
I even got a super cute coaster!

They're made from Frolic and are so incredibly gorgeous! Thanks Jay!

The Basics Charity Challenge a bit more

The actual challenge can be found here. Please leave comments here for the prize entries. Please note the Challenge has been extended one week to March 7th, and so many more prizes have been added.

 When I started this Challenge I was hoping to help some people. I was concerned and passionate but it has grown beyond my original idea and has snared me in even deeper.

I have received an immense amount of email from people. People donating more prizes, telling me stories- their own, their families- and I have been so incredibly touched.
I am not someone special. I do not have 1000s of followers yet this challenge has made me feel so connected to so many people.

The one thing that has come out over and over is that it could so easily have been any number of us if not for some turn of luck, or chance. Maybe we had family to run to, maybe we saw the signs early enough, whatever the reason it is but by grace that it wasn't us. And for some it was.

The strength it takes to leave an abusive relationship is immense. It takes courage and conviction and so often that comes from the knowledge that we must protect our children.

 This is email just arrived today and I had to share.
This is why we need these shelters and why we need to make sure they are able to support and safe guard our sisters and their children.

Cara,

I think it is wonderful that you have organized this challenge. God bless you for bringing more awareness to domestic violence.

I am a fellow quilter who lives in Virginia. Last Thursday morning, I had a doctor's appointment. Afterwards, I drove to a nearby Chick-fil-a for a chicken biscuit. As I pulled into the drive-thru, I heard popping sounds. I looked up and saw a man running through the parking lot shooting. I immediately backed up and drove to a nearby spot and called 911.

This man shot and killed his estranged wife as she sat in her car in the drive-thru. They had been separated for a year. She had a restraining order against him for previous acts of domestic violence. Their three daughters now have neither parent.

It took me a couple of days to shake it off. I am lucky that I also have a husband who would do anything to keep me safe and sound.

Thank again,

Donna Kirk

http://www2.insidenova.com/news/2011/feb/17/21/one-shot-dead-woodbridge-chick-fil-ar-850060/
http://www2.insidenova.com/news/2011/feb/17/court-records-woodbridge-shooting-victim-lived-con-ar-851090/

 And I have to say as sad as this is, it is not the worst of what I have read in the last 2 weeks. I have been brought to tears many times. And that is ok. To bear witness to suffering can sometimes be all we can do, but it can also be very helpful to those experiencing it.

Please keep giving, whether it is time, money, materials, thoughts/prayers or of course the basics. Make sure that women have a place to go to be safe. And say thanks because you are not one of them.
And if you are, reach out. There is help. Even if you have to disappear there are people out there who can help.

Snowball fights, mug rugs and Mother Nature.

Check out the Basic's Charity Challenge here. There is only until February 28th to get entered for some of those AMAZING prizes!

  So what else have I been up to? Not a heck of a lot. We've had a lot of crazy pressure changes which are giving me migraines. Mother Nature has gone bipolar here and she really needs to get on meds.

We had more snow last week and everyone had some fun outside.

Here they are all tuckered out from shoveling, and snowball throwing.

I also finished up and sent off the mug rugs, for a swap.

My partner didn't give any preferences and doesn't have a blog so I just went with these and hope she likes them!

DH gave me these for Valentine's Day.

Yup, those mug rugs make great flower coasters too!

Remember to get entered into the Basics Charity Challenge and have a great weekend!

Winner of Inspired to Sew Blog Tour!

First let me say I was so honoured to read all of your inspirations. Some were sweet, some funny, some simple and some I identified with a lot.

The winner of a copy of Bari J's Inspired to Sew book is.....Syd!

Who left this wonderful comment!

Syd e-mail me your address caraquilts @ gmail . com and I'll get your book sent out to you!