I delivered the bags last night to my Homeless Helpers granddaughter. Friends and I made 89 bags, for the kids to fill with toiletries and food for the homeless people in Detroit. Not quite the 200 Mary asked me for, but it was a valiant effort. And they got a contribution of 300 bags from school.Still to be counted are the bags from the other kids on the team.

Some friends have expressed surprise we were willing to give up good quilting fabrics for this cause. (Batiks!)
A long time ago a teacher taught me that the word sacrifice, from the Latin root words,  actually means to make holy. Is there a better way to use fabric that we have in excess of our needs? Doesn't it translate our avaricious accumulation of possessions into a means of comfort for those in need, and redeem our actions? I hope so. Seeing my daughter and granddaughter, who are well fed, and housed and employed, affected by interacting with homeless people, is very touching. Their compassion should be a means of causing others to become involved with acts of mercy.

15 more bags for Homeless Helpers. This makes 71 done. I just cut out 18 more bags and 18 more linings and handles. More to sew tomorrow.

Nineteen bags for Homeless Helpers. My count of items is 266. The bag count is 56, so far.
I made tablerunners and bracelets for several people for gifts. So my actual count is higher than the pictures, since the gifts are secret.

One of two small Guadalupe quilts. I sent the other to my sister.

One of 3 bracelets. The others went to friends already.

Two tablerunners, simple quilted fabrics, for people with calm houses.

A new Art Quilt, Be Yourself. She isn't quite finished, needs a face and more sparkles. This makes 242.

As of now, my count for the year is 235. I have a stack of uncounted bags for Homeless Helpers that I will add. And a couple more items too. This has been a relaxed year. I have not been blogging as much as I did the past few years. I slowed down in part because I felt frenzied, and in part because I was discouraged. I felt I was talking to myself all the time. Many friends have since told me they look at this blog often, but don't comment for one reason or another. I want to thank the silent watchers for letting me know they are there.
Over the past year, my focus has shifted from production to reflection. Hand stitching has grabbed hold of me again. It takes a lot more time to hand sew, but it is very satisfying. I think of my hand sewn pieces as thoughts, not products. I don't put much design into them. They come out of my hands as is. Mostly they are about moods, philosophy, and intentions.

And speaking of intentions, here are some of mine for the coming year:

Remember connecting with people is more important than finishing something.

Remember that selling my work is important enough to put time into doing it. Otherwise there is no money for making more.

Remember to keep active, so I have energy and health to do the above.

Remember spending time in front of TV is only valuable if the time is shared with a loved one.

Remember I want to be remembered as a loving wife, caring mother, devoted grandmother, good friend, dependable worker, and skilled artisan, and act to make that happen.

I wish the best for you in the new year. I hope you keep using it, so you don't start losing it. And if you lost it already, I'll lend you some of mine.

Fourteen more bags for my granddaughters' Homeless Helpers project. These were made by Gail, a good friend. She also gave me fabric for many more bags. Today will be a sewing day. I hope to make 15 more bags.

GO, Keep Going,  Another little girl art quilt. This one was inspired by Leann, who said it first, and wears 2 different color shoes.

More tote bags for the homeless project my granddaughter is managing. See it at their website, Homeless Helpers
These were made by Deb.

 First things first, these are 4 more bags for my granddaughters' campaign to feed the homeless. That makes 20 bags. And 234 items for the year.

 This little girl is saying "The first thing to do is Begin."  She is part of the new little girl series.  Still having fun with this. She is in the desert, because I was in California.

This one says "Sing your heart out, Baby." I like these colors, a bit deeper than the others. Her landscape looks lunar to me.

Holiday Sale at Two Twelve Arts, opens Dec. 10. This one is a whopper. Great stuff!

This is the first batch of tote bags for my granddaughters' PBJ Ministries project. Mary and her DI team want to feed 1000 homeless people this winter. They want to put toiletries and peanut butter, jelly and bread in these bags, and distribute them to homeless people in Detroit.
There are 5 team members, so each is responsible for providing 200 fabric bags. They hope the people will use the bags after the food is gone. I promised to make 50, and give fabric for 50 more. But I think, with the help of a couple friends, we can make all 200.
The 5 members of the Destination Imagination team, which is a group that fosters creative problem solving, will have to find a way to get all the toothbrushes, and paste, soap, and food, to fill the bags. The kids are 13 years old. They plan to help their church group feed people in December, and do it themselves in January.
I think this is a laudable effort, and want to support them as much as I can. This makes 228 items made this year.

A

A new art quilt, You Are Powerful. I am loving these little girls, more to come.
Number 212!