Splish Splash Quilt Bash Fun in Michigan

As we head into the Fourth of July holiday weekend, we wanted to give you an update on what is happening with our inaugural Splish Splash Quilt Bash Challenge between The Joyful Quilter in New York and Quilt-n-Bee in Michigan.

Sharon Kaiser and her daughter have really been busy promoting Hopes & Dreams.  The last count (and she says it's growing daily) was 51 quilts made and donated by her quilt shop patrons and friends.

Sharon took this picture of a couple of the quilts at the marina on Grand Traverse Bay to celebrate a little of the 'splish' in the 'splash' of helping to bring awareness to ALS in her community, as well as provide warmth, hope and love to PALS - people living with ALS - who will receive the quilts.

For Sharon the joy of the challenge is in honoring her neice Cheryl who died of ALS when she was 50. "Sharon was always willing to share her gifts with everyone else and she was an avid quilter," says Sharon. "The Splish Splish Quilt Bash and Hopes & Dreams are the perfect way to give life to her gifts and help someone else who is living with this devestating disease."

Sharon Kaiser of Quilt-n-Bee in Michigan participating
in the Splish Splash Quilt Bash to honor her neice Cheryl who died of ALS at the age of 50.

The fun 'banter' between the two shop owners continues. 

The Joyful Quilter Splish Splash Quilt Bash donation and prize pool.

Earlier this week, Susan at The Joyful Quilter posted this photo of her Splish Splash display on her Facebook Page.  Susan posted, "Our Splish-Splash pool is half full!  Donate a quilt or other project and be entered into our drawing for a prize valued at $500!  Now through July 31st!"

So Sharon at Quilt-n-Bee, in a good natured way, replies, "I've got to get a cool boat like that!  Only ours will have to be MUCH larger...lol."

To which Susan counters with, "Sorry Sharon, I forgot to mention the quilts in the in-ground pool in back..."

Provoking a big grin and belly laugh from Sharon who ended with, "Now that made me laugh out loud!!! Thank you, I certainly needed that."

Actually - if there are any THANK YOU's to pass out, it's from all of us here at Quilters Dream Batting and the Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS.  Susan and Sharon - your participation not only honors but brings to life the joy and love of your family members and is bringing HOPE to our DREAMS of a CURE for ALS!

Mistyfuse - Sticking Together with Hopes & Dreams to Find a Cure for ALS

Many of you know Mistyfuse.  

Their line of lightweight fusible materials are great for applique and basting a quilt. Last year Mistyfuse joined our Hopes & Dreams team and have decided to stick with us again as a $1,000 Grand Sponsor for our 6th Annual Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS that begins August 1st.

Becky packing Mistyfuse.

When we asked Mistyfuse why they chose to be a Hopes & Dreams sponsor they wrote, "A handmade quilt can convey so much: love, warmth, creative expression, community, generosity, care...the list could go on...

Larisa packing Goddess Sheets.

...Sharing the work from one person's hands to warm and comfort another is so inspiring and this makes our job providing materials to make this possible easy...

Goddess Sheets are a perfect compliment to applying Mistyfuse to all your applique and craft projects.

...We are pleased to be a part of the Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge to raise money and awareness to find a cure for ALS and hope that many, many quilts are shared to bring comfort to those struggling from this disease."

If you have a moment, please click here and tell Mistyfuse THANK YOU for continuing as a member of the Hopes & Dreams sponsorship team.  

And if you happen to have some prefused Mistyfuse fabric scraps hanging around, click here for a free pattern they offer for a free Mini Fabric Collage Journel designed for Mistyfuse by Sue Bleiweiss.

Meet Todd and Liesl Gibson of Straight Stitch Society

Meet Todd and Liesl Gibson.

Todd and Liesl Gibson 

The Gibson's own Straight Stitch Society patterns.

As you can read in the photo above, Straight Stitch Society brings the "fun back to sewing with supercute projects that feature a little attitude and a lot of flair."

The Gibson's also have 'a lot of flair' themselves in supporting worthy causes and they believe the Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS is one of them.  Todd and Liesl have been Grand Sponsors of the Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS from the beginning.  When we talked to Todd and asked him why they chose to be Grand Sponsors of the Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS, and why they continue to be Grand Sponsors, Todd's replied, "Because you asked nicely."  

That nonchalant, happy attitude is also present in the companies Manifesto.

If you have a moment, click here and tell Todd and Liesl "Thank You" for supporting Hopes & Dreams.  

To Todd and Liesl - Quilters Dream Batting and the Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS send a big 

for matching the kindness of our ask with the kindness of your support!

Your grateful Hopes & Dreams Coordinator

Canadian Quilt Shop Joins Hopes & Dreams as a Sponsor

Meet Kelsey and Joanie.

Kelsey Morrow (right) and Joanie Morrow (left) owners of The Stitchery Quilt Shop
in Alberta, Canada as well as owners of Patternworkz Design Studio.

We had the good fortune of meeting these two fabulous ladies at Spring Quilt Market in Pittsburgh, PA in May. This mother and daughter team stopped by the Quilters Dream Batting booth to feel all the different types of batting Quilters Dream offers.  Before we knew it, we were in awe of their work!

"Double Vision" fabric line designed by Joanie and Kelsey Morrow for Andover Fabrics.

They were sharing with us a fabric bundle of their batiks (which many of you know I love!) and before we knew it - Joanie and Kelsey were off to see if Andover Fabrics would become a Grand Sponsor of the Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS.  Well, a little bit later, Joanie and Kelsey returned and decided THEY were going to be a Grand Sponsor themselves!  

Joanie sent an email this morning that in part reads:

"Finally...your package of goodies is on it's way!!! Our hats off to you and Hopes & Dreams.  Extraordinary volunteers and organization that exemplify the spirit of helping others.  We get the easy part of making a donation."

They are sending 2 yards each of every fabric you see in the above photo of their Double Vision line - 22 batiks and 18 prints - PLUS patterns!

Joanie and Kelsey share your passion for helping others and have also given of their time, talents and treasures to support Hopes & Dreams.  If you have a moment, send a note of "THANKS" to Joanie and Kelsey by clicking here and check out their design company - Patternworkz - by clicking here.

Andover Fabrics shared a copy of Joanie's pattern "Between the Lines Quilt" in promoting the fabric line which you can access through the Double Vision Fabrics link below the picture of the quilt.

Double Vision Fabrics

If you are in or near Alberta stop by The Stitchery - RR#2 Site 1 Box 6 Olds, Alberta.  If you here in the U.S. and like their fabric and patterns, ask your local quilt shop to place an order through their Andover Fabrics rep.

Joanie and Kelsey - you truly are giving Hope to our Dreams of a Cure for ALS!

Your grateful Hopes & Dreams coordinator

Guest Blogger: Nan Baker from Purrfect Spots is Wild about Bunnies!

Wild about bunnies!

Do you like bunnies? Well who doesn't like bunnies? They are so cute and soft and snuggly plus they make you think of Spring and Easter. And because I love bunnies, I designed a bunny quilt. But these are no ordinary bunnies. These adorable bunnies are the creation of the internationally famous watercolorist, Will Bullas. He has long been known in the art world for his fabulous paintings and many of them are of animals. However, Will has a wonderful sense of humor and that gives his art work a very different twist. He has received numerous awards and you can read all about him and see more of his artwork at by visiting his website.

I have known Will for almost 20 years.  I first used his designs in my needlework patterns featuring cross stitch.  Here are two of them shown in cross stitch.  "Dust Bunnies" is a favorite.

"Dust Bunnies"

Dust Bunnies was featured as a quilted wall hanging in The Quilt Pattern Magazine (March 2014).  Quilters Dream Wool was used in that quilt as well. 

"The Recruit",  in cross stitch is one of the blocks featured in the bunny quilt. No matter whether you are doing cross stitch or quilting, the bunnies are great designs.

"The Recruit"

After working with Will's images in needlework, I was delighted to be able to do a quilt adaptation. The result is my latest quilt called "Bullas Bunnies"!

"Bullas Bunnies"

Not only are the bunnies adorable with lots of personality, but the names that Will has given them are priceless. He has a wonderful sense of humor.

Starting at the top left and going across are:

 Hare Style with a bowtie. Hareball with a baseball – think Spring training. Easter Fashion  - the baby duck and chick have bunny ears. Cottontails and Cute Buns(no comment needed here). The Recruit (shown earlier in cross stitch) shows a baby duck with his bunny ears. Bunnet all decked out in her Easter Bonnet. Honeybun has a bee on his nose. Baby Talk shows cute baby chicks and a baby bunny.

The fabrics used in this quilt are by Hoffman using mostly their 1895 Watercolor Collection. Because of the painted look of the fabrics, it is just "purrfect" to use for the bunnies as it gives them a natural shading. You can add more shading if you want, but many times it is not necessary. The speciality threads that make all the cute expressions on the bunnies' faces are by Kreinik Threads. Working with the threads, you can make the long whiskers on the bunnies plus give them eyelashes and ear fuzz! I even used their iron-on ribbon to make the bee in Honeybun. 

But one question you might ask is how did these bunnies get so fluffy? Well thanks to Quilters Dream Batting, their Dream Wool did the trick. I had never quilted with wool or a "puffy" loft, so I was a little apprehensive. I checked with the staff at Quilters Dream, told them about the quilt and what I was trying to accomplish. Their suggestion was Dream Wool. The quilt measures 46" x 63" just a little larger than a throw. I don't have a long arm machine, just a regular sewing machine so it looked like a monumental task. And with the extra "fluff" I wondered how it was going to work. (Picture 6) 

Well my worries were unfounded. Dream Wool was very easy to work with and not real bulky like I had feared. I must tell you it quilted like a dream (Oh I think that is their saying.) But it is true and if you haven't tried it, I urge you to do so. And if you have any questions their great staff will be more than happy to help you. 

I hope you like the Bullas Bunnies pattern and when you do start making those bunnies, I hope you will share pictures of your bunnies and your quilt. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to let me know. I also would like to thank Quilters Dream Batting for allowing me to share my story about the bunnies on their blog.

~Nan Baker

Website: www.purrfectspots.com
Blog: www.purrfectspots.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PurrfectSpotsDesigns
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/purrfectspots/
 Patterns: Quilt Woman.com