Pink Blankets

These are two blankets that I recently completed for Marine Corps Kids.

Sweet Dream Weaver

This is a woven receiving blanket that I made for Marine Corps Kids.

I'm new to the art of weaving, but I hope one of the new mom's and her baby will enjoy this.

Lots of Love from Iowa

A large box came in the mail today from a group of women from the United Methodist Church in Marcus, Iowa. Inside was the following note:

Enclosed are 4 baby blankets and 37 baby hats for your Marine Corps Kids program. The items were made by women at Grace United Methodist Church in Marcus, IA.

Earlier this year several boxes of yarn were donated to the church to use for projects such as yours. We've been in stitches ever since!

Many thanks to all the ladies who worked on these colorful and delightful hats and blankets. I was just informed of 11 new Marine Corps babies that we will be sending gifts to, and your beautiful work will be included in the upcoming shipment!

Here's Looking at You, Lynn!

Lynn from Tucson, AZ is one of Marine Corps Kids post prolific crafters. Over the years, Lynn has sent well over 2,000 hats for the babies. In addition to her adorable hats, Lynn has donated other gift items.

I recently asked Lynn a few questions about her crafting:

What brought you to Marine Corps Kids?
Surfing the web trying to find someone who wanted my hats where I was sending them didn't want them anymore. So it was amazing that I found you considering I'm not a big computer user. I am honored to be able to send what I can.

How long have you been crocheting, and how did you learn?
I learned when I was in High School, so let's say too many years to count.

I have affectionately referred to you as "Marine Corps Kids' Mad Hatter". Over the years you have probably donated well over 2,000 baby hats. How quickly can you crochet a cap? What is the most you have crocheted in a day?
The simple hats take about an hour. The girl hats take about two hours. I think the most [I made in a day] was 20.


When you aren't crocheting, how do you enjoy to spend your free time?
I don't have free time I'm chasing Grandbabies. (Lynn has adorable twin granddaughters)


How big is your yarn stash? Are you a SABLE* crafter? (*Stash Accumulated Beyond Life Expectancy)
Right now about 4 large rubbermaid boxes full. You don't want to know how many boxes of fabric I have.


If you had $100 for a shopping spree at your favorite craft store, what would be in your shopping basket?
Yarn of course.


No waffling on this one: Coffee or Tea?
Tea


Finish the sentence: In the kitchen I make a great fried chicken


Have you or any of your family served in the armed forces?
Dad was in the Army and my baby brother was in the Navy



Thank you, Lynn, for all you do to support Marine Corps Kids and for giving us this opportunity to get to know you a little better!

Pink Blanket Set

This is a receiving blanket, hat and headband that I made for Marine Corps Kids.

It's already packed up and ready to send to the babies.

Thank you, Doris

These darling hats and booties were made by Doris from Minnesota and sent to Marine Corps Kids through Dana with Loves Many Cloths.

Thank you so much, Doris! These sets are darling and will be on their way to the babies soon!!

More goodies from Gailya!

After reading in her profile interview how many quilts Gailya has donated in the past year and a half, I shouldn't be surprised to have received another box of donations so quickly! This box contained two cute and cuddly quilts, 2 sweaters, 4 reversible tote bags, knit booties, hats and bottle cozies and a sewn sun cap and bag.

Click our photo album link to see all of Gailya's projects.

Thank you Gailya!!! As always, everything is gorgeous!!

Here's Looking at You, Gailya!

If you’ve followed the Marine Corps Kids Blog, you’ve certainly seen the beautiful quilts and sewing projects that Gailya from Lillington, NC has donated! Gailya continues to amaze me with her talent and generosity. She is truly gifted with her craft!

What brought you to Marine Corps Kids?

I started out sewing Christmas stockings. Someone asked me to, but I don't remember who it was. I'd much rather sew for the babies.

How long have you been quilting, and how did you learn?

I made my first quilt from hideous 1960s blends left over from sewing dresses for my daughter and shirts for my husband and sons. I just played it by ear. I think I got the bug when I needed kitchen curtains that I couldn't afford to buy. So I pieced together enough squares of scraps to make them. I remember one of my brothers saying they were ugly curtains. I kind of liked them. Then, after a 20 year break I made a log cabin quilt that was machine pieced and quilted at the same time. My grandson still has it although some of the fabrics have disintegrated.

Your quilts are just gorgeous! Have you ever sold your work or worked as part of a quilting guild or club?

I've never belonged to a guild or club but have belonged to online groups and done block swaps and such. I've only sold a handful of quilts and they were made to order. I mostly give them away and have donated well over 225 since March of 2008. [WOW!!]

When you aren't sewing, how do you enjoy to spend your free time?

I'm addicted to Pogo games. But I also love watching the birds that come to my many feeders. I occasionally build birdhouses and grow and decorate gourd birdhouses. I knit, crochet, garden, make jewelry, and do other general crafts but sewing is my number one love. It's a rare day that I don't sew something.

How big is your fabric stash? Are you a SABLE* crafter? (*Stash Accumulated Beyond Life Expectancy)

By most quilter's standard my stash isn't really large. It's hard to keep a huge stash when you sew as much as I do.

If you had $100 for a shopping spree at your favorite craft store, what would be in your shopping basket?

At the moment it would be as much Warm & Natural batting as $100.00 would buy. I usually buy it by the bolt but I'm completely out right now.

OOPS! Have you ever suffered a crafting-related injury or mishap?

I did roll my rotary cutter over my left index finger once. OUCH!!!

No waffling on this one: Milk Chocolate or Dark Chocolate?

Milk chocolate if I eat chocolate at all. I'm not a big fan. [This I do not understand! ;-)]

Finish the sentence:In the kitchen I make a great:

Baked Potato Soup.

Have you or any of your family served in the armed forces?

My second son spent 9 years in the Navy.

How do you have so much time to sew?

I live all by myself with my two dogs. I'm 70 years old so I don't have a job and no one to tell me what to do. LOL! Sometimes I sleep only 4 or 5 hours, play Pogo while I have my coffee and then head into the sewing room. I love to listen to audio books while I sew. And...I detest talking on the telephone so almost no time is spent in that activity.

Gailya, thank you again for all you do for Marine Corps Kids, and for sharing a little bit about yourself with us. You have done so much to support our military families, and your work is very appreciated!

New Feature - Here's Looking at You!

Over the years you have donated so many delightful hand-crafted items to Marine Corps Kids. Your generosity has allowed us to send care packages to hundreds of newborn babies.

I'm always delighted to see the beautiful projects that you all make, and have enjoyed corresponding with many of you online. I think that all of our donors and all of the readers of our blog would be delighted to learn a bit more about our crafters, so I'm starting a new blog feature called "Here's Looking at You".

My plan is to post short interviews about our donors to share a bit about them, their crafting and their involvement with Marine Corps Kids. I hope to feature all of our donors over the coming months!

Goodies from Gailya, Part 2

In addition to the magnificent quilts that Gailya sent (see previous post), her most recent package included an adorable sundress set, sleeper set, adorable knit/crochet bottle cozies and some booties.

Everything is gorgeous, and most of it is already packed up and ready to mail to the families.

Thank you again, Gailya!

Goodies from Gailya

Gailya sent Marine Corps Kids more of her wonderful needlework. Pictured here are 4 new quilts and a small sampling of the wonderful ribbon clothes she made. See my next post for the rest of her goodies!

Thank you so much, Gailya, for continuing to share your beautiful work with our military families!!

Please be sure to check out the Marine Corps Kids photo album (link on the right of the screen) to see all of the beautiful donations sent in over the years by Gailya and all of our other generous donors!