10 Year Anniversary!

2019 marks the 10 year anniversary of the Hopes and Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS!! Thank you to everyone who has contributed over the last decade to this wonderful cause.

(Boxes of donated quilts, waiting to be opened)

Over 9000 quilts have been donated since we started back in 2009 and over $218,000 has been raised with 100% of the funds going to ALS research!!! 

(Kari from the VCQ Virginia Consortium of Quilters
bringing quilts to Hopes and Dreams.)

Hopes and Dreams strives to find a cure for ALS, one quilt at a time. The more quilts that are entered, the more good that we can do!

The quilting community has touched so many lives and has brought healing to the patients who are suffering with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) – Lou Gherig’s Disease.

(ALS patient, Pete, with a Hopes and Dreams quilt)

ALS affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement, though the core cause is unknown and no cure exists. When neurons in the brain can no longer communicate with muscles, those with ALS  suffer from muscle weakening, twitching, and an inability to move their arms, legs and body. Over time, the condition gets worse. 

(The ALS Association of Orange County Chapter with Hopes and Dreams quilts, ready to be given to ALS patients at their Christmas party.)

We appreciate every sponsor who has donated prizes, funds, and quilts to Hopes and Dreams throughout the years! Thanks to our generous sponsors, we have had wonderful prizes to send to the winners of the Hopes and Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS. All of those prizes help to bring awareness to our charity, which in return, brings in more quilts to give to ALS patients. 

Prizes from the 2018-2019 Hopes and Dreams Quilt Challenge 

Thank you sponsors, we could not do this with out you!! 

It is generally estimated that there are over 30,000 people living with ALS in the United States at any given time. We have a goal to have 30,000 quilts donated to Hopes and Dreams. Thanks to all of our quilters, sponsors and friends, we know that we will reach that goal!

Selling quilts to raise funds at the VB Farmers Market

Stravitz Sculpture & Fine Art Gallery

Without the help from Hopes & Dreams ambassadors and friends we would be unable to run our annual Quilt Challenge. You help by completing administrative tasks, selling quilts and purchasing quilts, and lending your time and hearts to this cause. Thank you for all of your hard work and helping make these hopes and dreams come true!!

Featured Battgirl // Janie McCombs

After seeing beautiful quilts that my grandmothers and aunts had made, I knew I wanted to learn all about the process. They used their quilts as a necessity. We didn’t live close to any of them. We would do family reunions which lasted two weeks every other year. I remember staying at my Aunt Johnny’s and we would pile quilts on the floor of the living room for me to use as a bed. I am not kidding when I say the pile was about 8 inches thick.

I am a self taught quilter. I started quilting when I was in my early 20’s. I had a lot of mishaps but I stayed with it. Now I get my inspiration from quilting magazines, blogs that I follow and researching the internet for a specific block or quilt layout.

I find quilting very relaxing. My favorite part of the quilting process would be when I remove the finished quilt from the dryer. I call that quilty goodness.

Janie McComb's sewing room 

If I have questions about anything whether it be quilt related, a recipe, or a bird in my backyard if I ask my quilting friends they are more than happy to help.

My go to Quilters Dream Batting is the Bleached (white)Quilters Dream Cotton and Quilters Dream Deluxe Poly. These two batting's make my white and light or soft colors look bright.

I spray baste my quilts for quilting. Sometimes you have to reposition the batting, quilt top or bottom.  Quilters Dream Batting lifts up easily without stretching or tearing no matter how many times it takes to get the layout just right.

Close up of Into the Woods quilt

Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone, try new patterns and above all else enjoy the process. We are much harder on our work than we really need to be.

Fujita Maze Garden Path quilt

I enjoy sharing my work in progress through social media with a lot of photos. I hope you find time to visit me. 

Keep up with Janie on Instagram & Facebook

Happy Quilting!