Progress on the list!

I made a bit of progress on my list this past weekend.

I trimmed the edges of my Bermuda Seaglass quilt and cut the binding...still need to sew it together.  Goldie gave it her seal of approval by posing on it...

Then I squared up the blocks for my guild donation quilt.  This was done early in the morning...well, not too early.  This was done in the morning after two cups of coffee and while DH was out at the driving range.  The house was cool and quiet.  I could focus!

Now I just need to put the inner borders on and piece the applique outer borders (turquoise, black and white, and then yellow...because there just is't enough color yet!)  This will be done in a group!

The mailman just came and delivered the little Alzheimer quilt I won at auction.  It is called "Hoedown" and was made by PJ Howard of Denver, NC...it is a great little quilt!  Adding it to the little quilt gallery today!

Update on the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative...

Below is an update from Ami Simms on the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative.  This has been a wonderful program that not only raised money for Alzheimer's research but increased awareness of the disease and provided support for family members by letting them know they were not alone in facing this disease. 

So if you haven't made a small quilt or bought a quilt to support this great cause know this is the last year to be a part of it!  Lets help make this a banner year for AAQI!


Note from Ami:

The Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative will most likely reach the $1,000,000 mark in money raised for Alzheimer’s research some time in 2013!

The work of your hands and the compassion in your hearts has brought us to this milestone. I will be forever grateful to each and every one of you for your support and dedication.

Ami and her mother, Beebe, in 2006 shortly after the AAQI began.

What began as one person’s response to sorrow and frustration has grown into a national charity embraced by a large portion of the quilting community. More than 13,000 quilts have beendonated, turning sweat equity into over $883,000 for research so far. For many donors these quilts were healing works of art which helped them grieve as they stitched for the greater good. Hundreds of thousands of people have seen the AAQI’s two traveling quilt exhibits about Alzheimer’s. Through this artistry came the realization for many that they were not alone on this journey of heartbreak; others understood, perhaps for the first time, what a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s really means. Together quilters have funded 11 research studies at six universities and a medical school. Three more studies will be funded this month and hopefully more throughout 2013. Because of the AAQI, scientists know a little bit more about Alzheimer’s than they did before. Hopefully this understanding will bring us all closer to a cure.

When I created the AAQI back in 2006, I never expected it to become so successful! I also never imaged how much work it would take to keep it going. As the AAQI blossomed, board members and core volunteers have had to increase our hours and pace to keep up. While I find enormous satisfaction in nurturing the AAQI, I much prefer sewing to administrating. I miss just being a full-time quilter.

For this reason, 2013 will be the last year of fundraising for the Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative. I hope you will help the AAQI reach our goal of One Million Dollars for research and then at the end of 2013 celebrate with everyone who made this tremendous achievement possible. Please review the important dates below:

February 15, 2013: All bookings for the traveling exhibit “Alzheimer’s Illustrated: From Heartbreak to Hope” must be finalized.

March 1, 2013:  First online auction of quilts from “Alzheimer’s Illustrated: From Heartbreak to Hope” traveling exhibit. Twenty-six Name Quilts will be auctioned during the first 10 days of March, April, May, June, July, August, and September. Payment will be required at the conclusion of each auction with shipping in October 2013 after the exhibit retires. The 54 Priority: Alzheimer’s Quilts from the traveling exhibit will be auctioned during the first 10 days of October and December.

July 2013: Last month to participate in the Quilt-A-Month Club.

August 1, 2013: Last day to register Priority: Alzheimer’s Quilts. Quilts delivered to scanners after August 20 will be refused.

October 29 – November 3, 2013: International Quilt Festival. We hope to be invited back one last time to sell quilts in Houston, TX.

November 1-10, 2013: Celebrity Invitational Quilt Online Auction

December 30, 2013: Last day Priority: Alzheimer’s Quilts can be purchased online.

December 31, 2013: Quilts For Sale and Donation pages will be removed from the AAQI website and all solicitations will cease.

2014-2015: The Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative will monitor research grants awarded in 2013. The AQQI web page will be left intact for at least six months. Any funds not needed to sustain the AAQI’s final expenses will be donated to research. Remaining assets will be disposed of according to IRS regulations after which time the corporation will be dissolved.

There is still much work to this year as we sprint to the finish line. I hope everyone who reads this will join in, either as a seasoned veteran or a first time quilt donor or quilt buyer. We will continue to make a difference until the very last quilt is sold. Let’s make 2013 the best year ever!

Thank you for your support,

Ami Simms
Founder & Executive Director
Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative

AAQI quilt!

My second quilt from the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative arrived last week.  I twas made by Paula Dennee of Colorado.  I've followed her blog for a few years and when she posted this scottie quilt I knew I was interested!    If you haven't checked out the AAQI website lately go on over...lots of great little quilts and all the money goes to help fund Alzheimer research.

I've been meaning to send them a small quilt but every time the quilt ends up too large!  Of course I could just cut one down...need to work on that!

I have a large collection of antique and vintage quilts but I also collect some smaller contemporary pieces as well.  This display is in my hallway and includes pieces by Tonya Rucucci, Margaret Hunt, and Rachel Thomas.  I rotate the small quilts in this hallway every few months.  They are so much easier to handle and store than the full size antique ones!

Organization in the sewing  studio continues....hope to have enough out to clean the carpet tomorrow then we can move the furniture around.  I looked at lighting options again and think I have it worked out.  Who knew there was so much to choose from!  I also bought some new stools...one for the kitchen and another for my cutting table. The ones with the wheels are just too unstable for me (don't ask how I know....) and the adjustable metal one that I had my heart set on ended up being very uncomfortable.  This red one is just right.  (and no I didn't buy it just because it is red and matches my new scottie wallhanging!  They do look really nice together though!)

Personally I 'm really proud I've stayed at it so long...tough work and so many possible distractions with long lost UFO's and the finding of books or patterns I really love but had forgotten about...any one of these could spin me off over the cutting table and away from cleaning.  Grrrr...must resist!  Amazing the stuff you find though...I mean how many easy angles does one quilter need?  I wonder if I could date them by the different graphics on each...maybe I have the history of easy angle right here!  Sad when I realize it was easier for me to go buy a new one rather than dig through my stuff and find one...I also admit to having 6 6-1/2 inch square templates.  Maybe I need to include a pegboard in my reorganization plans....