Monday, January 10, 2011

Creating for a Cure

PLEASE NOTE:  THIS POST HAS BEEN EDITED FROM ITS ORIGINAL

Don't you just love the feeling you get with the promise of a new year....new goals....new challenges...new possibilities...especially when you're off to a great start in reaching those goals? 

AAQI #6342 Color Play

A major goal I set for myself this year was recommitting to the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative by making Priority: Alzheimer's Quilts, and I am psyched to tell you that I completed two this weekend!

If you are not familiar with the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative, go right now to their page to learn how this amazing organization "raises awareness and funds research through art." Just make sure you come back because I have more to say on the subject ;-)

Go ahead....I'll wait.......

Color Play is going in the mail today!
....pretty amazing organization, am I right?!  

Did you bid or buy any quilts while you were there?  {grins}
I recently purchased this quilt made by my good buddy Michele, and I have my eye on this one and this one made by fellow members of the Liberated Quilters Blog!!!

AAQI #6343 The Blues
I love making these quilts because it gives me an opportunity to try new techniques, practice my FMQ, and use my scraps, all while helping a worthy cause!  They are super quick as well, because the maximum size is 9 by 12 inches.

Would you like to make a Priority: Alzheimer's Quilt?  Anyone and everyone is welcome and encouraged to make one.  You don't have to be part of a guild or the liberated quilter's group.  Just go to the Make a Priority: Alzheimer's quilt donation page to find out how.

I noticed that other bloggers had set a goal to make Priority: Alzheimer's Quilts too, so I thought it would be fun to challenge and motivate one another to keep that resolution.  

The Blues is also being mailed out today.

Thank you Michele and Susan for brainstorming with me!  Here's the scoop: 

2) Register your quilt with the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative 
3) Repeat #1 and #2 as many times as you'd like ;-)
4) Tell all your artsy quilty friends to do the same
5) Consider adding your blog post to the AAQI Update blog

Edited to add:
The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative has come up with a way for us all to encourage our readers. Find out how by visiting the AAQI Update blog. [link to http://aaqiupdate.wordpress.com/get-ideas/] The AAQI will also be creating a button for our blogs soon.

On the last day of each month, come back and share the registration number(s) of the quilt(s) you made.  From those, we will have drawings for fun giveaways.  Maybe, we'll even have a Show and Tell so others will be inspired to make, bid and/or buy!

Sound like fun? {Please say yes!} 
If you are interested in playing, leave me a comment so I know I'm not doing this alone ;-)  Don't forget to tell all your bloggy friends.  Check back soon for further details.

I hope you are as excited as I am about this challenge!!!!!

14 comments:

  1. Rene...I'm new to quilting, so this will be a challenge. I'll definitely consider participating with you. I may just be a bidder instead. :o)

    I'm not new to Alzheimer's. My grandfather passed away one year ago this month. I watched him rapidly decline from being a vibrant man, full of humor and zest for living. It's a debilitating disease. It's painful to watch someone you love not recognize you, or do things they normally wouldn't.

    I admire you for getting the word out. Thanks for that. Happy Monday! :o)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've got one on the go right now. I'll watch for your blog button.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love that mini color play quilt! Such a cool idea.

    I have two aunts with early Alzheimers, so I appreciate everyone and anyone who contributes to helping with this disease.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks again for organizing this great challenge, Rene'! You know you can count me in!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm on this!! My mother suffers from Alzheimer's so it is especially meaningful.

    Not that I need more projects....

    Alejandrina

    ReplyDelete
  6. You are doing a fabulous job, Rene!...love everything you did last year and you are on a roll in 2011.I so applaud you for taking Ami Simm's advice and 'getting the word out' by telling a 'few of your friends'...this is fantastic!

    As the organizer for the Liberated Challenge group (which Rene' is a member of) I maintain a database for AAQI and we have our own web page where our quilts get to be shown again, within our group, and not just on their individual linking pages!

    Last year, we donated 80 quilts and earned a lot of money for funding Alzheimer's research. One of AAQI's funded grants made the news as researchers at the University of Michigan made a wonderful new discovery that made national news and linked up to our group.

    We are continuing our group challenge in 2011 and hope that every one who signs up here will also be part of our Liberated Challenge, as well and make an even bigger splash in the pond for finding a cure!

    ReplyDelete
  7. nice blog post Rene' - and I especially like your Blues quilt, I predict it will do well at auction!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'll shoot for the end of the month. I've seen this before, but it's STILL a good idea--thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Rene - I'll watch for your button and definitely will post on my blog. As for a quilt, I'm still feeling a little too inexperienced to make them for anything other than family (they have to be nice....), but I'm certain to buy one in support. I admire what you are doing here for a great cause.

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a great idea...I will have to try to add this to my to do list, because it really is for a great cause! I will share the info with my quilt guild in February as well. Thanks for sharing this!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm also participating in the challenge. I've already made the $1,000 promise and just joined in on the Quilt a Month club. Just so you know, I'm going to attempt to make a miniature quilt a week for all of 2011. I just started my blog, and I will donate at least one of the quilts I make from it to the AAQUI every month.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Once again, you inspire me! Thanks for reminding me of this great cause. I'm off to make a quilt or two.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi, Rene'. Thanks for spreading the word in a big way. Inspiring. I support the AAQI, too.

    AAQI has a button. Here's the link to get it: http://www.alzquilts.org/logolink.html

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'm a little late letting you know, but I'm signing up, too. You'll see more about it on my blog later in the week! Cheers!

    ReplyDelete