Dr. Feldman Univ of Michigan

Three Weeks Left in the 2014 Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS

24!

That's how many days remain in the 2014 Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS!  While this year's challenge ends July 31st, there is still plenty of time to send in a quilt and have a chance at winning some fabulous prizes from our wonderful Sponsors.

Presenting Sponsors ($2,500+)

[Click on each logo to visit their website]

Quilters Dream Batting
589 Central Drive
Virginia Beach, VA  23454
(888) 268-8664

J.N. Harpers is a fourth generation business in Canada that distributes fabrics ranging from fine apparel, exquisite Italian shirtings, a full range of interfacings, as well as a full compliment of products for the quilting industry - batiks, cotton prints, excellent basics and batting.

J.N. Harper Co.
8335 Devonshire Road
Town of Mount Royal, Quebec H4P 2L1
Canada

Grand Sponsors ($1,000+)

[Click on each logo to visit their webpage]

 

Dragon Threads
490 Tucker Drive
Worthington, OH 43085
(614) 841-9388

Forever in Stitches
120 N. Main Street
Bluffton, OH 45817
(866) 434-7552

hang it dang it
Innovative Solutions
692 Roger Canyon Road
Laramie, WY 82072
(307) 760-5279

Judy Martin Books
Crosley-Griffith Publishing Company, Inc.
P.O. Box 512
Grinnell, IA 50112
(641) 236-4854

Minick & Simpson
1528 Miller Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI  48103
(734) 665-8334

Mistyfuse
Attached, Inc.
Brooklyn, NY
(631) 750-8500

Quilters' Gift Shop
2506 Robinson Street
Colorado Springs, CO  80904
(719) 635-0968

Straight Stitch Society
35 Meadow Street, Studio 316
Brooklyn, NY  11206
(347) 422-0970

The Warm Company
5529 186th Place SW
Lynnwood, WA 98037
(800) 234-9276

The Wooden Bear
1685 McBride Ridge Court
Winterest, IA  50273
(866) 927-8458

Golden Ruler Sponsors($500)

[Click on each logo to visit their webpage]

Angela Walters
Quilting is my Therapy
AngelaWaltersquilting@gmail.com

Swirly Girls
info@swirlygirlsdesign.com

 

All generous quilters who donate a quilt will be entered into a general drawing to win great prizes, including Quilters Dream Batting, books, patterns, fabric, notions and more valued at $1,000.

All quilts must be postmarked by July 31, 2014. Quilts received after this date will automatically be entered into next years challenge.

THANK YOU!  For the gift of your time, talents and quilts that are helping us bring HOPE to our DREAMS of a CURE for ALS!

Meet Linda Teufel of Dragon Threads - $1,000 Grand Sponsor of Hopes & Dreams

Say hello to Linda Teufel.

Linda Tuefel owner of Dragon Threads.

Linda has owned and operated Dragon Threads Textile Art Books since 1994.

Linda is also the author of two books, KOOS couture & collage and Quilting Party! Group Quilting for Celbration, Commemoration, and Charity.

Linda loves helping others, whether introducing them to a new idea or twist on a traditional art form, or inspiring someone to make quilts that are donated to others.  She believes in Hopes & Dreams and became a Grand Sponsor the very first year of the challenge in 2009.

When we asked Linda why she continues to support Hopes & Dreams by donating $1,000 in books as prizes each year, she said, "My best friend's mother has ALS and went through it and my Aunt had it, too.  I didn't watch my Aunt go through the daily struggles with this disease, but I saw her from time to time and it's pretty disturbing up close.  My best friends mother was in her body, but couldn't come out having lost all muscle movement.  They got her a machine to help her communicate and then took her to Germany to try testing.  It was very sad. Donating the books is a little thing to do.  It's not finding a cure, but it is something."

Yes, Linda - it is a big something!  If you will, take a moment and click here and tell Linda "Thanks!" for continuing to support the Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS as a Grand Sponsor.

Featured #battgirls (July2014)- Got Kwilts?/Richla Ramsey

I made my first quilt when I was pregnant with my first daughter 8 years ago.  I had to stop working due to complications and decided to take a beginning quilting class.  Several quilts later, I was hooked.  I did my research and decided to start my own longarm business.  Pretty funny, since I am such a tomboy and never liked to sew!  Next to playing tennis, it is now my favorite thing to do.  I have a new studio, 2 Longarms and can't wait until I get "Thelma" and "Louise" working each day.  

This spacious colorful studio is sure to inspire the creative!

Richla's Inspiration:

I am truly inspired everyday by the women and quilts that walk through my door.  I can not believe how many talented and creative women are out there. I'm just waiting for that day when a man brings me a quilt- I know they are out there. I find it amazing that I rarely work on the same quilt twice!  I LOVE what I do! My favorite thing about quilting is how the batting, thread and quilting process totally changes a piece of fabric and brings it to life. I love how my clients always light up when they see their finished quilt and how it changed.  I truly believe that Dream battings make all the difference. 

Her technique:

 I started using multiple layers of batting because I was trying to make a quilt feel like my Grandmas' quilts.  Plus, my family never used the quilts I made because they were too thin. If I could get 3 layers of Dream Woolunder my hopper, my family would be very happy!  

2 layers of batting:
Dream Cotton (on top)
Dream Wool (on bottom)

 I have found that mixing the battings together on a single quilt can change the feel of the quilt and also help me manipulate shapes on a quilt and make it very dimensional. I have many clients who now ask for double layers of batting and are not afraid to mix it up!  

How to achieve this look:

If I decide to mix Cotton with Wool or Puff, I always put the cotton on the bottom.  This allows the Wool or Puff to fill in on the top. I also try to do more dense quilting around the shape I want to accent, so the Wool or Puff will fill in the open area.  The first time I did this, I was concerned because the quilt looked so puffy, but now I love working with double layers. 

2 layers of batting:
Dream Cotton (on top)
Dream Wool (on bottom)

Double layer of Dream Cotton

Keep up with Got Kwilts? Richla Ramsey:

Click HERE for her longarm class schedule.

Visit Richla's Blog for more helpful tips and inspiration.

Follow Richla on Facebook.
Email: gotkwilts@comcast.net

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How about that studio?! I don't know about you but now I have the sudden urge to clean my craft space....maybe. Don't forget to follow and find Richla for more interesting techniques and upcoming classes from the links above! Remember, you can always give us a call if you need samples or have any questions. We are always looking for the next Featured #battgirls , so submit your projects and you could be our next feature blog post! 

Happy Quilting!
The Original

Quilts, Baseball, Apple Pie and Hopes & Dreams

Here's to Quilts, Baseball, Apple Pie and Hopes & Dreams

Fireworks, home cooking, family gatherings and our flag waving, national anthem singing American Pride. Those are many of the images we remember in preparing for and celebrating our nation's Independence this 4th of July weekend.

It's "Baseball, Apple Pie and the American Way."  

75-years ago, July 4, 1939, it was baseball and the courage of Hall of Fame first baseman Lou Gehrig that changed the unknown face of one of the most devastating diseases we know, ALS - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

With our Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS, Quilters Dream Batting is working to bring Hope to the Dreams of a Cure for ALS.  And this weekend, Major League Baseball [MLB.com] is also helping to raise funds and bring awareness to ALS.  The below video was produced by Major League Baseball [MLB.com] and features all 30 current MLB first basemen (and a cameo by Yankee Derek Jeter) reciting Gehrig's now-iconic oration.  It was played at Yankee Stadium before New York hosted the Tampa Bay Rays' afternoon game Wednesday, July 3.

[Read Lou Gehrig's Full Speech here]

Too many of our fellow Americans are facing the same death sentence that Lou Gehrig faced - far too many.  Your quilts donated to the Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS are making a difference in the lives of our "PALS" - people living with ALS.  They are also making a real difference in supporting research that is close to finding a treatment and cure for ALS.

This year's Challenge is coming to an end - let's make July our month of hope with the dream of independence from the struggles of ALS.  Please encourage your family, patrons, and quilting friends to donate a quilt to Hopes & Dreams by July 31st . (Quilts received later will be part of next year's Challenge.)

If you need additional information, please call Quilters Dream Batting toll-free at (888) 268-8664.

Quilts can be sent to:

Hopes & Dreams

c/o Quilters Dream Batting

589 Central Drive

Virginia Beach, VA  23454

Like our Hopes & Dreams Facebook page to view all of the beautiful quilts and wonderful prizes that have been donated so far!  The generosity of quilters is truly remarkable.

 

If you enjoy our Facebook Page please suggest it to a friend.

Thank you for helping us give hope to our dreams of a cure!