Saturday, January 25, 2014

Grow Your Blog!

Hi, all!

How exciting! It's finally time for the Grow Your Blog blog party! If this is your first time here, thank you for coming - I hope you'll stick around and check out some of the other posts before you go.  This is a fairly new blog so it wouldn't take much time at all to get all caught up.

So, a bit about me and this blog.  My name is Sarah, and I live near Nashville, TN.  I started blogging and quilting back in January of 2010 at Confessions Of A Fabric Addict to chronicle my efforts to reduce my stash.  Of course, it didn't work, AND I ended up with a serious quilting addiction.  Our church's quilt ministry sprang up right about that time, and we shared the quilts we were making through Confessions.  


But as 2014 rolled around, I decided that it was time for the quilt ministry to have its own blog, so that we could share some of the stories that went along with the quilts.  I still talk about the ministry quilting on Confessions, but this blog is where we go into more detail about some of the quilts.

Some of our ladies working on that first quilt!


Our ministry started in November 2009 when we made a quilt for a young woman in our church diagnosed with cervical cancer.  Fifteen women who had never made a quilt before got together and in a day made a quilt that should never have worked.  From that day on, our feet were set on a path that has led to a thriving quilt ministry called Piece*Love*Quilt.  In slightly over four years, we've given away 690 quilts, and we hope to give away our 1000th quilt this year.  You can read more about how it all started here!

A quilt for a young man in Louisiana with a serious brain injury.
He is a huge LSU fan, hence the purple and gold blocks!
Our quilts are usually requested by our church members and go to people who are going through serious physical, medical, or emotional issues.  They have become a tool for our church to use to minister to the community around us.  Last year more than two thirds of the quilts we made went to people outside of our church body!  Our quilts have gone as far away as Singapore, and as close as next door.  We have also sent quilts with our middle school and high school mission teams to New Orleans, LA and a very poor rural community in Rogersville, TN to be given to residents in need.  It is so rewarding to use the talents God has given us to create quilts that will comfort people for generations!

He calls it his "smell-good" quilt!

And so many people in the blogging community have joined in our efforts!  It has been truly humbling and overwhelming to see the outpouring of support for this ministry through gifts of fabric, quilt blocks, unfinished projects, quilt tops,and finished quilts!  If you are also burdened down with too much stash, or projects that make you feel guilty because you will probably never complete them, this could be your answer!   We are very good at relieving UFO guilt and clearing shelves to make room for pretty new fabric, and you'll have the pleasure of seeing your donations become quilts that will help someone going through a difficult time.  Feel free to email me at salliesue (at) clearwire (dot) net if you want more information!

This mother of a fallen soldier wraps herself in her quilt to feel 
the comfort and love of others.
So thank you for stopping by!  I hope you'll check out some of the earlier posts so that you, too, can be amazed by what God can do when His people follow His lead.   The past four years have been an amazing journey and I can't wait to see what comes next.  Click the follow button or sign up to receive future posts by e-mail so you can find out, too!

Hugs!

Sarah

37 comments:

  1. hi there, i'm Beth from "E. Lizard Breath Speaks" & a "Grow Your Blog" party volunteer, i'm helping Vicki out by visiting several of the blogs from the link up. so many folks to see & we volunteers are all working together to check you guys out. i want to welcome to the party!!! i sure hope you are having a great day. be sure to go check out some great blogs. there are so many to see. ( :

    what a beautiful ministry to continue with - i love it. it not only touches the ones who are working on the quilt but the ones who get to enjoy the beautiful & warmth of the quilt. that's just perfect. i hope it continues for many many years. so nice to meet you & i just love seeing inside your blog. have a blessed weekend.

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  2. Those are beautiful quilts that you share with others! I'm so glad I found your blog today. :O)

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  3. Hi Sarah...nice to meet you. Lovely quilts.....lovely blog.

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  4. Hi Sarah,

    I'm visiting from the Grow Your Blog party. It is nice ot meet you. You are very talented! There have been so many quilt blogs throughout the party. I plan to look around a bit more and then be on my way to visit the others. I do hope you will stop by for a visit and enter my giveaway. Have a wonderful weekend! Hugs – Donna

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  5. What a wonderful thing you are doing with gifting those quilts. I am part of a small group of quilters and our teacher has a grandson who is out on a Mission in Africa - last year we made blocks which were then quilted up and sent out. The feeling of true love goes with them

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  6. I am a follower. I enjoy your blog about the quilt ministry. Your quilts beautiful and comfort many people. This ministry is an inspiration to me.

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  7. What a wonderful ministry , I know the recipients of your work will be deeply blessed .

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  8. You and your blog are simply wonderful! Beautiful quilts. I am a new follower! I look forward to seeing your creations and reading your stories about each quilt. :)

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  9. So nice to visit you via the GYB party. Wonderful -- about a quilt ministry! Look forward to reading more about you and your works!
    ~Tanya

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  10. Here from GYB. Sarah, you know I love 'Confessions..", but I didn't realize you had two blogs. Beautiful work...as always.

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  11. Beautiful quilts...lovely words. Thank you so for sharing!

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  12. What a wonderful organization! Wish I had fabric to donate ~

    Popped by from the GYBH. Stop on by and visit some time.
    thriftshopcommando.blogspot.com

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  13. Thank you for sharing these touching and inspiring stories. What a wonderful ministry you stumbled upon 4 years ago.

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  14. Women share their power in many comforting ways. The warmth of a quilt is a great example.

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  15. Dropping by on the GYB hop, from snowy cold eastern Canada. You are doing great work, so many lovely quilts going out to those who need them!

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  16. Sarah- Your ministry is such an inspiration. I love how you use your gifts to bless others! I'm going to follow you to see where God leads you.:) Do stop by my blog and enter my giveaway. I'd love for you to follow me, too, if you like.:) Lori

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  17. What a wonderful job you do! Thank you for sharing the journey with us.

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  18. Wonderful! My mom is working on making a quilt for a young boy with an undiagnosed illness. Thank you for doing this!

    Thanks for sharing your blog! I'm still trying to work through the list... Please feel free to visit my embroidery blog (in the 1st part of the list).

    aprilsongstress

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  19. Wow, look what many hands can do! Great work!

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  20. Your quilts are beautiful, God bless you for blessing others, in His name. Visiting via Vicki's GYBP and enjoyed my time here.

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  21. Glad to meet you on the GYB circuit, Sarah! Thanks for sharing - what a wonderful ministry - thank you all! I'm looking forward to following your posts. deborah I'm at: http://deborahstanleyinspirations.blogspot.com/

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  22. Hello from Yukon! I hope you're enjoying this party as much as I do :)
    Evalina, This and that...

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  23. Hi Sarah, I already follow you, but I loved reading about your project. It's a great ministry.

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  24. What a wonderful ministry and lovely stories also. I belong to a church group like yours. Our emphasis is for baby quilts for low income mothers. Bless you.

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  25. What a great project. You are very generous. Thank you for sharing your story here. It is nice to meet you. Happy hopping!

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  26. Normally I pass by the quilting blogs as it is not my interest, but your project has caught my eye and it's a wonderful achievement in so little time. Well done!

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  27. Welcome to the GYB party Sarah. What wonderful work you are doing. To think so many people are receiving and can use those beautiful quilts. Coming from a crazy quilting background I can really appreciate the efforts you are putting into this project.
    I wish I lived closer as I could donate some fabrics.
    I've made a note of your blog and will come and visit again after the party.
    Wishing you much success in your work and blog!'Suzy

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  28. What a wonderful blog post for the blog party! And I am very happy to read about the work you all do for others. I am not a quilter, but I collect many. Keep up the good work. God bless...aloha

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  29. blessings to you and your ministry. . following

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  30. Sarah,
    Wonderful story and love reading about happy stories serving God. I will follow this new blog, pretty sure I've been to your other site too, but will check it out again. Love to quilt and am currently working/learning on Celtic Solstice by Bonnie Hunter. Lots of work to go. Anyway, Thank you for taking part in the blog hop.
    Lyn

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  31. Hermosos acolchados. Yo no logro aprender todavia. Lindo blog.
    Saludos desde Chile
    Maru
    http://lulurulitos.blogspot.com

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  32. I have to come back to read more and be inspired! Visiting from GYB

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  33. The quilts you post about on this blog are so very beautiful! I have really enjoyed the time I spent here this evening.

    I am signing up to follow and hope you will take a moment to check in on me at my humble and eclectic blog! Blessings to you and your quilt ministry!

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  34. What a lovely blog and a beautiful thing you do with your quilt ministry. Looking forward to returning to read more.
    Love and best
    RedSetter
    Craft blog http://gonebeading.blogspot.co.uk/
    Cat blog http://pepsimaxaddict.blogspot.co.uk/

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  35. Thanks for sharing about your quilt ministry! I'm just visiting around from GYB Party... Nice to meet you. Your group has made some very nice quilts.
    I'll be back to visit again soon.

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