Project Linus of Joplin/SW Missouri

2010-09-16T06:07:00.000-07:00

Rolland was asked to "speak" at our mini-institute in Kansas City this month. He agonized over what to say...! Any of you who know him, knows that he usually is not at a loss for words.

He did wonderfully!! He was also the only male there for almost all of the conference. But...he is the most vital part of my chapter, because if it was not for his support, I could not do what needs to be done.

We had a great time....

......................THIS WEEKEND---JUST PAST

2010-09-13T10:03:00.001-07:00

What a weekend! The Kansas City Chapter (Patty Gregory) and the Joplin Chapter (me) hosted a "mini" conference. We had ov er 80 there on Saturday, including Carol and Mary from our National office. For the first one of these that we have "put together", we did pretty good...if you believe what the ladies said as they were leaving. We made new friends, put faces on names, ate chocolate, learned a bit and just had a good time. The lightening/thunder storm and "possible tornado warning" didn't go over too well, but we didn't order that!

Everyone went home with goodies and new friends. At our next meeting, we will spend a few minutes discussing the events.

NEXT MEETING......Wednesday...9/22...BETHANY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 19TH AND VIRGINIA (1 BLOCK EAST OF MAIN ON 20TH STREET) We will be discussing a fund raiser planned for November. We probably won't sew, but we need to discuss the fund raiser and drop off blankets.

Keep in touch....Joyce

Summer is Here!!

2010-05-31T09:44:00.000-07:00

The long awaited summer is here and it is time for our "1st Saturday" in June. We have invited guests, but not sure who will attend. We will start at 9 AM and finish by 1 PM. There will be kits to assemble (cut and ready for sewing) which means, just show up with a machine and we will keep busy. There are 20 kits cut from the "Super-sized Nine Patch. We have used this pattern before so it will be familiar to several of you.

If any of you would like to bring cookies for "guests", please let me know. That will limit what I buy!.

I have some special stories for you at this meeting that have occurred in the last 4-6 weeks.

Bring a friend--or two!! We are going to have fun. Please forward this a friend..! Joyce 417-781-1871

Almost MAY!!!

2010-04-28T13:39:00.000-07:00

Aren't Bears the cutest things??? Thanks to Jean for this blanket.

It is almost May. "1st" Saturday is this weekend!! This will not be a long meeting. We will be bringing blankets, labeling blankets, packaging blankets for local delivery and have an "information" meeting. We will be ready to go by 9AM, so, "come on down" and join us. Coffee will be ready!!

If you have any new patterns, please bring them.

Oh...see if you notice any thing different in our meeting area. Questions...call me...417-781-1871 Jo

Report from Haiti

2010-03-11T11:39:00.000-08:00

You know, sometimes we really do something right...! The nurse that took our blankets to Haiti a couple of weeks ago, caught me when I delivered blankets to St. John's today. She told me this story.

There was a lady there from England who is a doctor or a nurse (I can't remember which) who had set up an OB/GYN tent. She saw the blankets in Valerie's suitcase and asked her about them. Valerie told them where they were from and who had made them and she was very excited. She asked if she could use some for the "clinic" because as she delivered babies, she had nothing to wrap the babies in. Valerie was excited and so was her new friend. I am excited because we had a tiny part in a tiny new person's life. We do make a difference. Did this give you a warm and fuzzy feeling??? The lady from England is supposed to be sending pictures of the babies and the blankets. When they arrive, I will post them. Jo

It was a very good day in Linusville...!

2010-03-08T05:54:00.000-08:00

"1st Saturday" in March was very good and fun. There were 50 blankets brought in and 24 dresses for Haiti were made. It was delightful to see everyone's creativity in the dresses. There will be pictures of the event tomorrow!

"1st Saturday" MARCH 6th

2010-03-03T06:33:00.000-08:00

These are dresses made from a pillowcase and yardage that is pillowcase width. These are so fun to make! This is what we will be doing on March 6th! Please come and have some fun!!!

Remember: double click on picture to make it bigger.

"1st Saturday" MARCH 6th

2010-02-26T13:15:00.000-08:00

It's time for "1st Saturday"...! ( 9 am - Noon or... later)

We will be doing something different this month. Please bring, (if you have one) an old pillow case that is still good, but you don't use it any more. We will be making something for Haiti out of that pillowcase. It will be fun, educational and something that we think will be useful in Haiti.

We will probably order pizza for lunch.

Supplies: 1 or 2 pillow cases; 1/2" elastic; wide bias tape to match the pillow case, trims (lace, etc that will match your pillow case. (Sewing machines and the usual "stuff"

This will be fun...! Questions...call me: 417-781-1871 (Joyce)

Blankets for Haiti

2010-02-15T07:22:00.000-08:00

150 Blankets for Haiti were delivered to Heart to Heart in Kansas City on Sunday afternoon. I was contacted over the weekend by 2 different nurses from St. John's Medical Center. They were asking about the possibility of taking Project Linus blankets on a medical trip to Haiti. This will be with the group that has been mentioned several times in the Joplin Globe. We have some (close to 100) but if you have more of the single or double layer (no batting) blankets, we will take them and get them ready to send with them.

Isn't it wonderful that in Southwest Missouri, we can reach clear to Haiti to help children. The amazing thing is this: Even with sending all of these blankets, we will have more blankets coming in for our local agencies than we usually have. Your generosity is fantastic.

WHAT A GREAT DAY !!

2010-02-10T17:24:00.000-08:00

Our "1st Saturday" quarterly meeting was fantastic. There were 34 there and the results were wonderful. We started off with 195 blankets and afghans that were brought in. We ended with a total of 341!!!! Give yourselves a pat on the back!

It was a good day and a tremendous amount was accomplished...and the soup was good too!

The blankets that we promised for Haiti will be on the way next week.

We have a good volunteer that has offered to take them to Kansas City.

I want to thank all of you who helped make this a really good day!

"1st Saturday" February 6th

2009-12-30T11:47:00.000-08:00

February 6th will be NATIONAL MAKE A BLANKET DAY in Joplin---9 AM

We will be working on a specific pattern...the Kansas City Quick Quilt. This is a fun, easy pattern and can utilize smaller pieces of fabric.

Please bring the following pre-cut pieces:
2 each: 6 1/2 x 20 (top/bottom borders
2 each: 6 1/2 x 45 (side border
2 each: 12x20 ("kid" print
1 each: 12x20 (center

1 each: 45x37 (backing

This will make a 35x43 quilt

Batting will be provided.

PLEASE BE READY TO SEW....!

Crocheters and knitters....We will have the fireplace room warmed up and ready for you!!

If you have any valentine print blankets made, please bring them to that meeting to be distributed in February

Since it looks like it might be cold, we will be doing vegetable soup. Please bring a can of veggies to contribute to the soup-pot. Coffee and tea will be available.

Please let me know if you plan to come or if you have questions

joplinprojectlinus@yahoo.com or 417-781-18871

An Invitation:

2009-11-28T06:34:00.000-08:00

We have received the following invitation from Connections Case Management. This is the organization that received the double fleece blankets for children in wheelchairs, along with other blankets. This is a great opportunity to see children receive our blankets.

Connections Case Managment

2000 Maiden Lane, Suite 2

Joplin, Mo

OPEN HOUSE

Monday, December 7th, 2009

4 pm - 6 pm

Come and help us celebrate!

Enjoy good food and great people!

Email received from McCune Brooks Hospital..Carthage

2009-11-18T09:21:00.000-08:00

We can't begin to tell you how much our young emergency room patients love your blankets! They bring a smile to their faces every time. We want to thank you so much for your time and effort into making these blankets. Please know that the love you put into making them is felt by everyone!

The staff at MBRH Emergency Room, Carthage, Missouri

Nov 17...

2009-11-17T16:34:00.000-08:00

THANK YOU to all of you who helped to make our first "1st Saturday Quarterly" meeting. We worked on fleece, met to women who are with Jasper County Sheltered Services and Connections Case Management. They will be the recipients of our labors from this work day. They have many children who are in wheelchairs. Their Christmas wish for these children is for each of these children to have a heavy fleece blanket to use with their wheelchairs. I think we have accomplished that. Not only have we made enough blankets for all of their children, we have also given them stuffed animals and books. Each of these blankets and books will be wrapped for the children's Christmas party. Isn't it great that we can help others?

Quarterly Meeting

2009-10-29T15:53:00.000-07:00

NOVEMBER 7TH, 9 AM...OUR FIRST "Quarterly Project Meeting".

We will be working on fleece blankets for a couple of agencies. Bring your machine and cutting tools, any fleece scraps you have. Bring a friend and introduce her to the world of Project Linus.

Soup is on the menu, so, bring a can of vegetables to contribute and the rest will be provided.

Let's have a good showing from all of the groups...Neosho, Lowell (Ks), Forest Park, Newtonia, "1st Saturday-Joplin"...Did I forget anyone???? See you there.

PUT IT ON YOUR CALENDAR...!

2009-10-18T12:15:00.000-07:00

NOVEMBER 7th---Quarterly Meeting --- Bethany Presbyterian Church 9 AM...

This will be our 1st Quarterly Meeting. We will be working on Fleece Blankets for the Jasper Sheltered Services. The blankets that they have requested are for children of various ages that are in wheelchairs. These children can use the blankets on the buses that take them to school or therapy and will given to them at Christmas time. If you have any stuffed animals (no buttons or attachments that could come off) or books or crayolas and color books, we can use those for the Quillows. We will do all the various types of edges that we do, crochet, fringe, braided, Quillows.

We will have some fleece available but we don't have enough. We will need 1 1/2 yards of fleece for each blanket, either plain or a print. Please bring your machines (and accessories), cutting mats and templates.

There will be soup for lunch, so, bring a can of veggies to go in the pot. Crackers or biscuits and drinks will be furnished.

This is for ALL OF THE PROJECT LINUS GROUPS in the area. Bring a friend...!

Questions...call 417-781-1871...See you then...Joyce

"1st Saturday"

2009-10-01T08:22:00.000-07:00

October 3rd is our first "1st Saturday Sewing" day. Please be there between 10 and 10:15 to set up and grab a cup of coffee, and be ready to sew by 10:30. Bring any project that you are working on for Project Linus. If you want to bring material (3-4 coordinating pieces) and use one of the simple Project Linus patterns and cut material while you are there, that is great.

There will be some "kid friendly" material there for you to use, so if you bring primary colors you can coordinate with what is there.

Bring a lunch and we will sew and eat and eat and sew until 1:30.

Please come and have fun on our "1st Saturday"...!

2009-09-22T16:40:00.000-07:00

We have new meeting times for Project Linus in Joplin. Starting in October, we will no longer have a Wednesday meeting at Bethany Presbyterian. We will in place of that have a sewing day on the 1st Saturday of each month.

Quarterly, starting with November 7th, we will have a Project Linus Roundup. On these quarterly days, we will bring machines, pre-cut fabric and learn a new pattern; have a guest speaker; work on blankets for a specific agency and just have a really good time.

This has become almost a necessity for me. As all of you know, you are free to come by my house at almost any time. I think that this is a good decision for the Joplin groups. We will have two groups in Joplin, both of which will be more of a Quilt Guild format. Project Linus at Forest Park Baptist Church is still in the formation stage. The 1st Saturday of each month will be at Bethany. Then, of course, we have the Foxy Friends in Lowell, Kansas and the Newtonia Battlefield Quilters in Newtonia, Missouri, and the group in Neosho, Missouri. Watch for names of the groups!

How fun is this!! We are at the beginning of growth for Project Linus in Joplin.

Happy Sewing....
Joyce Gentzler, Area Coordinator, Project Linus, joplinprojectlinus@yahoo.com
417-781-1871

SEPTEMBER AND FALL IS IN THE AIR...!

2009-09-12T18:11:00.000-07:00

September 16th..Project Linus in Joplin at Bethany Presbyterian. Please bring whatever you would like to work on. Sewing...crocheting...knitting...fabric to cut and design..! This is a "do it yourself" day.

Set up and coffee time: 9-9:30 Down to business 9:30-11:30 Clean up and leave by noon!

There is a new Project Linus group starting and you will want to hear when and where!!

REMEMBER...9/16/09 9AM

2 DAYS TO REGISTER...

2009-08-13T04:58:00.001-07:00

There is still time to register for the SCRAP EXTRAVAGANZA. Space is limited so don't delay!! So cut your scrap fabric into 102 pieces 3 1/2 by 5 1/2.

Also, come and see the meaning of the SABLE CLUB..! Coffee and goodies at 9:30...!

New Class at Scrap Extravaganza...

2009-07-30T06:34:00.001-07:00

There will be a second class on August 15th for those who don't sew. This will be at the same time as the scrap event, but in a separate room. We will be having a seminar on fleece. There are several different ways to work with fleece...some with no-sew and some with minimal or straight stitching involved. The crocheted edge method will also be available. PLEASE let us know if you will be there. August 15th 10-1pm -- Bethany Presbyterian Church 20th and Main, across from WalGreen's. RSVP: joplinprojectlinus@yahoo.com Looking forward to seeing you.

2009-07-22T11:12:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of the blanket we will be making at our SCRAP EXTRAVAGANZA!

SCRAP EXTRAVAGANZA AND TRUNK SHOW

2009-07-22T10:59:00.000-07:00

Project Linus of Joplin is pleased to present professional quilt instructor, Mrs. Patty Gregory on August 15, 2009. Patty will be presenting “A Scrap Extravaganza and Trunk Show” at Bethany Presbyterian Church, 20th and Virginia in Joplin from 10 am to 1pm. Mrs. Gregory has taught in several quilt shops, various quilt guilds and community centers in the Kansas City Metro Area. This class is free and open to the public. Please arrive between 9:30 and 10 a.m. to get set up. Call 417-781-1871 today to sign up.

Everyone who attends will receive “Cutting with a Plan! which includes instructions for 6 different quilt tops.. One of these quilt tops will be completed during this class.

Please bring your sewing machine, basic sewing supplies (scissors, thread etc.), 102 3½ x 5½ rectangles of various prints and solids and one yard of fabric for border cut into 5½" strips by width of fabric. You must have your fabric cut prior to class.

DOOR PRIZES from these participating area fabric and quilt shops:
Country Store Quilt Shop – I-44 exit 18 A (south of Carthage)
Bittersweet Quilts – 8133 Hwy P, South of Joplin on Main
Block by Block Quilt Shop- 530 W. Fir Rd, Carthage (across from Lowe’s)
SewNeat – 1603 East 20th, Joplin
And JoAnn’s of Joplin, 20th and Range Line, Joplin

Space is limited -- RSVP required
joplinprojectlinus@yahoo.com or 417-781-1871

Project Linus in Joplin !!

2009-07-15T10:57:00.000-07:00

What a great day. New people (1st Christian Church ladies were there), Bobbie (Friend of a friend from South Joplin Christian Church), and of course, many of the regular members were there.

The hit of the day was a very large PINK ELEPHANT knitted blanket. It is so cute! Some child is going to feel so very special.

The Blanket challenge was a huge success. Meda Gregory won 1st place, Judi Meehan 2nd place, Patty Law 3rd place and Marcia Bunch 4th place. A total of $33.38 came in. Shall we do this again?

Everyone went home with fabric, maybe a few new ideas, and ready to work....?

Good day. Good Friends. Thanks for being there.

BLANKET CHALLENGE

2009-07-11T14:17:00.000-07:00

REMINDER..

Joplin blanket challenge, July 15th, 9am -12 pm, Bethany Presbyterian, 19th and Virginia. Elevator on the parking lot and steps and parking in the alley.

Prizes, lessons, fun, fabric, food..What more could you want ???

Didn't pick up a challeng quilt...Come anyway!!

Women's Fellowship at First Christian, Joplin

2009-07-11T13:48:00.000-07:00

To the Women's Fellowship of First Christian Church of Joplin, THANK YOU for a wonderful morning. It was so good to hear from LaTonya Ruth and her daughter, Jilli. Jilli quietly explained to us how it feels to have Aspergers (the highest form of Autism) and to know you are going to have a "meltdown", how it feels to not be able to go to sleep...and many other things. She is now off of sleep medication since using the weighted blanket. The group was receptive and welcoming, the brunch was great, the laughter was wonderful....just a great time.

Thank you again, Ladies.

SUMMER CHALLENGE

2009-07-04T17:26:00.000-07:00

SUMMER BLANKET CHALLENGE

July 15th 9am - 12 pm Prizes--fun--food!!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!!

NEOSHO MEETING

2009-07-03T20:31:00.000-07:00

Project Linus-Neosho, will meet next Friday, July 10th.

My plan at this time is to be there and share ideas from our national conference last week.. Please bring a friend and check out what's in my tote bag! Ya' never know what's in there!!

We won't be doing a lot of sewing, so just come and enjoy the morning. See ya' there....Jo

A Time to Speak About Autism and Project Linus

2009-07-03T17:21:00.000-07:00

Project Linus has been asked to speak at the Christian Women's Meeting at 1st Chrisitan Church on Saturday, July 11th. I have invited two people who are very new to Project Linus but have a powerful message about the weighted blanket to attend with me.

LaTonya Ruth and her daughter, Jilli, will be speaking about how they have used the weighted blanket . LaTonya is a special ed teacher in the Joplin Public School Systen and her daughter is 13 and has Aspergers as well as some other health issues. LaTonya contacted me about weighted blankets for her school room next year where she will have a total autism spectrum room of 10 children. So, when she came to discuss those blankets she told me about Jilli and now, Jilli has one of her own. Her words, when asked if it helped were, "Yes. It used to take me two and a half to three hours to go to sleep, with medication, and now it takes me ten to fifteen minutes." How about that! She gets to sleep at night!!

I think all three of us are looking forward to that event.

Keep watching this blog...Ya' never know what you might see!!!

BLANKET CHALLENGE !!!!!!!!

2009-06-30T11:02:00.000-07:00

OUR BLANKET CHALLENGE IS HERE!!

July 15th....JOPLIN MEETING...9 AM till Noon. Please bring your challenge blanket, in a dark bag (paper or Blue Wal-mart Bag) with no name on it. We have some great prizes for the top three winners. We will vote with "loose change" (this is a standard Project Linus practice). There will be styrofoam cups in front of each blanket and you vote with your loose change...pennies, nickles, dimes, quarters...! The "change" will go to the Chapter fund, specifically for labels that we all use.

****There will be fleece available at this meeting.***
It's time to get back together!!!

PROJECT LINUS INSTITUTE (conference)

2009-06-30T10:57:00.000-07:00

WOW!! The Project Linus Institute (formerly conference) was great. I met so many great coordinators and blanketeers! There were so many ideas to bring home and use with our chapter and the individual groups. Patterns, fabrics, gift ideas...SO MANY THINGS!

I will be bringing some of these ideas to the Joplin meeting on the 15th. Some of these ideas are things that you can use in other groups that you are in.

See you then.

Summer Blanket Challenge

2009-04-27T06:35:00.000-07:00

July 15th is the Summer Blanket Challenge in Joplin. If you want to be a part of the event, and haven't picked up your "surprise fabric", call and come pick one up. There are 5 packages left and you have over 2 months to finish them. This material is waiting!

To those of you who crochet and knit...you are next. We will be having a "Yarn Challenge" next!

What a great group of women!

2009-04-26T18:58:00.000-07:00

Project Linus of Joplin/SWMissouri has some of the most creative women in our corner of Missouri. Quilts, afghans, fleece blankets...all made for children who are in distress of some kind. In the first quarter of 2009, 375 blankets/afghans were distributed to children in our area. You all are great!