Throughout the years, quilts and crafts have been used to raise funds for many causes.  This is a way quilters and crafters can come together and use their talents to create a piece of art for a worthy effort.
Some of these fund raisers include:

Raffles
Auctions
Bond drives
Silent auctions
Craft fairs

In the article, Quilts on display tell history of Sarnia-Lambton, I learned about the “signature quilts” made by quilting groups to raise money for bond drives during World Wars I and II.  For these fund raising efforts, local residents paid to have their names stitched in the quilts.
It was interesting to learn that the curator of …read more

My daughter purchased shadowbox frames for saving family memories. We now are trying to decide whose memories we’ll place in each.  We have two larger ones and two 8 x 10-inch frames.
In a shadowbox frame, the solid back is recessed beyond the front of the frame, so you can place something three dimensional as well as flat objects within it.  We have several options:
Memorabilia of my uncle’s, particularly his World War II medals, photos of his military years, perhaps parts of letters written to my mom from training camps, along with any other items we find.  Background might be flag …read more

As Michelle Obama surrounds herself with her daughters and school children to prepare a White House Kitchen Garden, other parents may see the advantages of a family garden.  You’ll raise food for better nourishment and hopefully to save on your budget.
This also can be a fun family time.  Gardening is part of my heritage, for every year we raised a garden when I was growing up on the farm.  It was a necessity to provide food for a family of six, a hired man and uncle who lived with us.  We joined in the gardening tasks as a matter of course.  …read more

I recall, even though it was many years ago, the lovely silk pillow cases with golden fringe my Uncle Al sent to my grandmother when he was stationed in California during World War II.  These pillow cases had scenes from San Francisco where Uncle Al visited.  One had the Golden Gate Bridge on it and the other a scene from Chinatown.
My grandmother stuffed throw pillows in the cases and placed them on the couch in her living room (we called it a parlor in those days), where they fascinated me as I imagined this place Uncle Al visited.  (Many years later I …read more

Some of your family members may have memories of Pearl Harbor, the attack on December 7, 1941 that precipitated the United States’ involvement in World War II.  Some fought in the war, others worked in war related industries on the home front.  Children helped with Victory Gardens, learned about rationing, air raids, and black-outs.
I was a child during those years of World War II and give talks about this era to those who have no memories of it. 
“Write down your memories about World War II,” someone told me.  So I’ve begun doing this so that my daughter, grandchildren and …read more

Patriotic Quilts
Veterans Day celebrations bring to mind parades, flags flying, patriotic songs, and recognition of those who have and are serving in the military to protect our country.  I think of my Uncle Al, whose flag we fly from our deck for patriotic celebrations.
(This was the flag draped over his casket at his funeral many years after his service for his country during World War II, service of which he was very proud.)
Have you made patriotic quilts, pillows, and other fabric art items in recognition of patriotic holidays?  There also are many quilt patterns with patriotic names in …read more

QuiltingAndPatchwork.com
 As I glanced through a quilting magazine, I saw an introduction to Victory Garden quilts by Eleanor Burns.  Since I was a child during the Victory Garden years of World War II, in the 1940s, these brought back memories.
Even the fabrics were reminiscent of those we used in making clothing and other items in that era.  These were fabrics like those used when  I learned to sew,  my grandmother pieced quilts by hand, and Auntie sewed aprons and hand towels.
Victory gardens, where Americans raised their own fruit and vegetables, often the first time for many, were popular then.  Some also planted flowers …read more