alzheimer's art quilt initiative

The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative is one my favorite charities to support. The money they raise by selling mini quilts made by volunteers goes toward Alzheimer's research---a cause near and dear to my heart. I received my first AAQI quilt for Christmas two years ago---a beautiful hand-quilted piece by Yumi Tsuruta, titled "Japanese Goldfish."

Since then, I've been wanting to do more for the group, including donate a quilt and collect a few more to start my own collection. So when I heard that 2013 would be the group's last year of fundraising, I knew it was time to take action. I immediately purchased a quilt that's been on my wish list for a while: a wonky log cabin mini quilt titled "Cotton Candy and Apricot" by Michele Lancaster.

I'm hoping to add more quilts to my mini collection throughout the year (I have my eye on these two to start), as well as make one to donate (perhaps from hand-printed fabric?). To purchase your own quilt and support a great cause, please visit the AAQI's Quilts for Sale page.  

do. Good Stitches banner quilt

Way back in August, I was tasked with deciding on what quilt my circle of do. Good Stitches (the Wish Circle) would make. I eventually settled on making a variation of this quilt, by Ellen Luckett Baker. I asked my circle members to make the banner blocks in primary colors: red, blue and yellow. You can see the two blue blocks that I made here.

After receiving all of the blocks from my circle members, I pieced the top together, adding white sashing between each block. I kept the quilting simple, outlining each banner.

For the backing, I pieced together larger pieces from my stash that fit within the color scheme, including some Lizzy House and Heather Ross prints. I also added in an extra banner block.

I bound the quilt in blue and yellow scraps and added a do. Good Stitches label to the back.

I'll be donating this quilt to the Raleigh chapter of Project Linus this week, the charity that our circle supports. Hopefully the quilt will brighten the day of a child who needs it!