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As of August 10, 2010, BBQG has 166 members. Volunteer hours in July totaled 575.5, and so far in August, there have been 545 volunteer hours reported.
On September 14, we had 80 members in attendance with 331 volunteer hours reported.
Above is a picture of Ying Z. with the lap quilt which Theresa M. made her. She graduated from Texas A&M University with her PhD and was moving to Canada, so Theresa thought this would be something she could use.
She was very excited.
5/12/2010 - Above, Sue C. stands with A&M Consolidated's 2010 BBQG Scholarship winner, Ellen B. Ellen will attend with UT or Austin CC. She is our first applicant with a website of her photographs and video work.
The other scholarship winner for 2010 was Mr. Rene L. from Bryan High. He will be the first in his family to attend college and will go to Sam Houston State or Blinn. He is a very talented artist!
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5/12/2010 - Above is the quilt donated to the recent KAMU Auction. It was pieced by Shirley W. and quilted by Linda B. The quilt sold for $310 during the auction, and Linda reported that KAMU personnel were very excited about that.
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Laverne O. was BBQG's nomination to the Brazos Valley Arts Council for Volunteer of the Year. She has been a pillar of community involvement for years!
From the Sept. 09 BBQG Newsletter: Congratulations to Laverne!
"Laverne O., leader of the Happy Scrappers Sewing Bee has won the prestigious Arts Council of the Brazos Valley Volunteer of the Year Award. She will be honored during the annual Celebrating the Arts 2009, A Renaissance of the Arts, on September 15, 2009, at Miramont Country Club. All Guild members are invited to attend. Tickets can be purchased for $100 by calling the ACBV at 979-696-2787 by September 7, 2009.
"The purpose of Celebrating the Arts is to honor the arts community and present awards to five leaders in the arts. All 59 affiliate regional nonprofit arts, culture and heritage organizations are asked to submit a nomination for the Volunteer of the Year Award. The Brazos Bluebonnet Quilt Guild nominated Laverne. Thank you for your support and votes.
"Not only is Laverne the leader of the Happy Scrappers, she is a faithful donor of 50-75 “Care Quilts” each year. As a member of RSVP, she also makes lap robes and bibs that are given to elderly residents of nursing homes. Using her sewing talents, she makes and fills RSVP Christmas Bags that are distributed to participants of Meals on Wheels.
Mary Anne D.
Arts Council of the Brazos Valley Representative"
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May, 2011 - Marian D. is now in charge of distribution. Please contact her with names of soldiers to whom we may send the Soldiers' Squares.
We have a good amount of red/white/blue material and batting to make up new kits, but need high quality white/light-colored muslin and dark blue cotton fabric for backgrounds and borders. If you have any of these fabrics to spare, please contact Marian.
Travis sent his photo with Psalm 91 on the back. He had received one of the Soldier's Squares and sent some bookmarks for us to enjoy. God bless these young women and men who are protecting our freedom.
Received in July, 2011:
“BBQG Friends, I am writing to extend a big “Thank you” from a new friend.
“A recent Friday, I was on my way to Kerrville and stopped for my first visit at Valli and Kim in Dripping Springs. When I entered the shop I told the two women who greeted me that I just wanted to browse. They went about their work and I leisurely looked in every nook and cranny. I spotted more than a couple fabrics which I thought would compliment a fat quarter challenge I wanted to round-out.
“When I got serious about a couple of my options, I asked the opinion of one of the women. We chatted about the pros and cons of the options, the heat of the day, the lack of rain, etc., and in introducing ourselves, I came to learn she is the “Kim” of Valli and Kim. When I told her I was from the Bryan and College Station area, she asked me if I knew Terry at Lone Star QuiltWorks. My response was, “Yes, she is a great friend, I am a regular customer and both of my daughters have worked for her.”
“Her next question was about the Bluebonnet Quilt Guild. When I told her I am a member, she smiled very sweetly and told me she needed to thank the Guild.
For a few seconds I was in suspense. Then she told me her son, Taylor, had returned from Iraq on Tuesday (just three days prior) and when he pulled laundry from his bags he exclaimed, “Mom, you will love this.” as he tossed one of BBQG’s Prayer Squares to her.
“She said she is appreciative for him to have received our prayers and token of thanks. I am honored to be able to relate this story!
Becky H.
“P.S. Since that recent Friday, I received a message from Kim to share that Taylor said that, ‘ the box was addressed to him and FULL of little quilts. He took two of them and set the others out for anyone that wanted one. He said the box quickly emptied, so there are lots of appreciative soldiers with a little quilt.’”
Care Quilts Report -
Jan. 10, 2012 - The Care Quilt Committee delivered 168 quilts in Brazos County and 17 additional quilts to CPS in Robertson County in 2011. Sue Sprott and her sister created 84 of these quilts by themselves! Thank you to everyone who supports this effort.
August 10, 2010 - Luci S. reported that 28 individuals finished 38 Care Quilts today and one new member volunteered to take the remaining 2 quilts home to put the binding on them. Since 1996, Guild has handed out 2,775 Care Quilts!
5/28/09 - BBQG created 20 twin sized (65" x 90") quilts for the permanent residents and children of the new Twin City Mission. See photos of some of the tops already created.
Each year, the Care Quilt Committee coordinates donations of time and
resources and, with the generous help of the Guild members, produced
189 quilts and two pillows in 2008. 42 were "in inventory" as of Jan. 11, 2009. Luci reported that the Oakwood Quilters created 42 quilts in 2008. Also 551 bags were packed this year with donations to RSVP.
These quilts support local charities like Phoebe's Home (a shelter for abused
women), Texas Child Protective Services, and the St. Joseph Cancer Center.
In addition, Care Quilts go to the Prenatal Clinic where women
have to earn points in the program in order to earn a Care Quilt
for their baby. In the past, care quilts have also been used
to support Still Creek ranch (a home for troubled teens) and Go Texan
(a statewide program that raises funds to support college scholarships.
Most recently, the Guild has added the American Red Cross
to our list of recipients to support their local disaster relief program.
In 2009, quilters were asked to help in making 20 twin size (about 65" x 90") quilts for the permanent residents of Twin City Mission. On June 9, Ron Crozier, Director of Community Relations at Twin City Mission, gave a 30-minute presentation and question/answer session about their mission and needs. Currently, there is an opportunity to visit their registries at WalMart and similar stores to fill needs associated with moving into their home in July. Below are photos from the June 9 meeting:
The Care Quilt Committee accepts donations of anything from fabric to
finished quilts and everything in between. The optimum sizes are
36"x45", 45"x45" and 45"x60" but the committee will take any size;
larger quilts are needed to support some programs. Quilts may be tied
or quilted in any fashion you desire. They can be in any color
(cheater cloth is just fine); they can be designed for babies,
children, women or men. (See examples below.) All we ask is that you
do the best you can do; beginners are more than welcome, we will teach you.
The Committee hosts one or two workshops each year. This is a great
opportunity to meet other members of the Guild as well as learn new
techniques. Members may bring their sewing machines and supplies or
simply come and help with what the committee provides. Though the
workshop goes all day, members are welcome to come for any part of
that--you don't have to stay the entire time. Lunch is potluck so
bring a dish to share.
We lost track of the number of participants in the August 11 Care Quilt Workshop! Over 30 signed in, but there were more, and it was the largest community project workshop ever! Most stayed all day, too! Marian took the photo below of about half of the group with the 40+ quilts which were finished during the day.
Luci S. has chaired this committee since 1998; Laura N. joined
her as second chair in 2008. Feel free to contact either for more
information or give donations to them at the General Meetings.
Thank you for your support of this worthy effort.
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Brazos Seniors Need Your Help:
11/23/11 - Update: The Retired Seniors Volunteer Program (RSVP) is accepting donations for seniors in care facilities and receiving support from Meals on Wheels throughout the Brazos Valley. They need clean, gently used clothing (men and women, all sizes), slippers, socks, lap quilts, cologne & perfume, and toiletry items; cash donations are always appreciated so elves can buy what is not donated. RSVP will be stuffing over 300 gift bags from a long wish list; anything you can do to help make a lonely senior's holiday a little brighter would be appreciated by December 10. Please contact Luci S. to make a donation, volunteer some time, or for more information. Thank you!
10/10 -There are over 300 seniors in Brazos County Nursing Homes who have no family, no friends that visit. Each year, the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program (RSVP), under the direction of the Brazos Council of Governments, makes sure there is something under the tree for them on Christmas Day. “Shirley’s Christmas” is already underway; volunteers are in touch with facilities throughout the County to identify individuals and their needs. We are asking members of the Guild to consider donating gently used clothing, costume jewelry, and toilet items (cologne, soap, etc.). One facility has asked for a cassette player so that residents can share listening to religious music. Several women have asked for dresses they could wear to church (sizes large to 4XL). And of course, cash is always appreciated so that what isn’t donated can be purchased. See the letter of information about the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program, RSVP-Senior Corps AND needs lists as of 10/12 by clicking here. Please get these donations to Luci S. as soon as possible; they are asking for donations by October 31, but late donations will always be accepted. Thank you.
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Above, on January 10, 2012, several of those who attended the late 2011 Thanks for Blessings workshop had finished their Habitat for Humanity wall hanging quilts.
The 200th Habitat for Humanity house in B/CS was dedicated to the Hernandez family (photo) recently. Watch for all of the new Habitat for Humanity quilts to be shown at the January, 2012 "Show 'n Tell."
On September 14, 2010, Nancy S. reported that five Habitat for Humanity homes were dedicated on July 23. Our quilts were well received, and now there is a need for more. Another consideration is that we might contribute gently-used children's books, as each new home has a children's book library.
On June 10, 2008, Dawn M. reported that 11 houses have received Habitat for Humanity quilts so far this year. In 2009, Bunny D. is actively working with this committee and has asked for more quilts with houses. Call her for more information.
Sue C. actually participated in painting the interior of one of the 2009 Habitat houses, and she created the wall hanging which was presented to the family. Photos below include Bunny D. making the presentation from BBQG.
More Habitat quilts which were turned in on August 11, 2009 are displayed below by Nancy S. (left-her own quilt) and Laura N.
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Below is a photo of BBQG's 2010 Donation Quilt, "Texas Stars." A portion of the donation proceeds provides three scholarships to Bryan/College Station high school seniors each year.
