Even "Moore Love" WINNERS!!!

Before we announce the winner we want to say a HUGE GIGANTIC THANK YOU to everyone who donated to the United Way of Central Oklahoma and Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma!  We know your donations meant a lot to those organizations and the Oklahomans they will be assisting.  

You helped us raise a whopping:

$1,310!!!!!!!!

So a big pat on the back to everyone for being so generous!  

Now I know everyone is eager to know who won these gorgeous quilts.  :)

After giving everyone an entry for every ticket purchased, in the order they donated, into Random.org's free generator I was given the following numbers -

Which means that our winners are:

Diane Chambers & Suzanne Green

Congratulations ladies!!!  We will be e-mailing you later today to make sure we get the quilts off to the correct addresses.

Thank you again to everyone who helped this project come to fruition.  Your generosity will be felt by so many!!!!

And before we go, a reminder...if you are sending us quilts for our other Moore Love project those need to be shipped to us by June 30th.  :)

Now have a GREAT weekend!

Even Moore Love: Long Term Support

When members of OKCMQG met to plan our relief efforts for those in Moore, we knew we wanted to help people both immediately and in the long term.  The comfort of quilts is so emotionally healing, and we are simply amazed with the generosity of the quilting community whom has flooded us with quilt donations.  So, thank you for your continued support in that endeavor!

However, we are acutely aware that money is a big need for those who have lost their homes.  Oklahoma has seen two full weeks of just horrendous weather. Multiple tornadoes, 2 of which have been EF-5 ratings. We have seen the widest tornado on record, as well as the one with the highest wind speeds on record. Thousands of homes have been destroyed, lives lost, schools and businesses gone. On top of the tornadoes there has been flash flooding to contend with as well.  While quilts will wrap us in love and comfort, obviously a variety of needs exist.  

We also know that the initial response to disaster relief is great.  Many people are willing to donate to first responders, such as the Red Cross, but once the first responders leave there is still much to be done.   Recovery doesn't happen overnight. That is why OKC Modern Quilt Guild is holding a drawing for not one, but two quilts, for which your donations will support local charities aiding long term disaster relief in the Oklahoma City Metro Area! :)  

Each quilt is a very nice throw size, measuring approximately 57"x72".  Members contributed blocks using the pattern "Tulsa Town" by Villa Rosa Designs.  The color palette is orange, aqua/turquoise, and lime with a background of low volume prints. The backing is "Wide Aqua Circle Dots" by Robert Kauffman. The quilting consists of swirls in the background prints and a "blocky" zig zag in the saturated focal fabrics.

Before we get to the details on how you can donate and WIN one of these quilts, I want to extend our heartfelt thank yous to those who helped us bring these quilts to fruition.  Thank you to Villa Rosa Designs for donating her beautiful pattern "Tulsa Town" for our use, to Fat Quarter Shop for once again donating the backing fabric for both of these quilts, to members who created blocks out of their own stash, to Amanda and Candace for piecing together the tops, to Leslie for providing the batting and for binding one of the quilts, and to Agnes for her quilting and sewing the binding on the remaining quilt.  We would also like to thank Coles Garden in OKC for allowing us to use their stunning grounds for our photography and to Oklahoma Quiltworks for displaying both of these lovelies in their shop.

Now how can you win one of these beauties?  We're so glad you asked.  We want you to know that your money is going directly to the charities who are helping those in need.  Donations may be made directly to one (or both if you would like) of the following charities:

United Way of Central Oklahoma's "May Tornadoes Relief Fund"

Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma

Once you have made your donation(s) please e-mail your donation receipt to us at okcmqg@gmail.com.  By e-mailing us your receipt you are entering yourself in the drawing to win one of these gorgeous quilts.

For every $10 you donate you will receive 1 entry in the drawing. 
For every $50 you donate you will receive 6 entries in the drawing.

We will accept entries (receipts) at okcmqg@gmail.com from now until midnight CDT on Friday, June 21.  Two winners will be chosen and announced on Saturday, June 22.

And we just want to say, from the bottom of our hearts...

THANK YOU to all of you who are supporting our community in this time of need.

June Block-of-the-Month

June Block of the Month~~~Simply Squares by Elizabeth

I was inspired to make this block when I saw a scattering squares quilt on the Pippa Patchwork blog.  I also had the perfect solid fabrics on hand from our guilds solid swap! 

FOR EASY TO PRINT INSTRUCTIONS: CLICK HERE

Here's how to make your very own Simply Squares block:

Choose 8 different fabrics (solids if you want to make one like mine).

Cutting your fabric:
1.   Cut three 4.5 inch squares (Choose any three colors. I ended up 
       exchanging the pink for the lavender : )

2.   Cut fourteen 2.5 inch squares (Cut 2 squares out of six colors and 1 square 
       out of the two colors that were left.)

3.   Cut forty 1.5 inch squares (5 squares from each color)

Lay them out in a pleasing pattern as shown.  

Begin sewing in rows.  I made 4 patches when I got to the smaller squares
and then sewed them together. 

Some of you may not like what I am going to suggest....press your seams open!  It really helps when you have this many seams to deal with.  I also use a leader to keep my threads from tangling when I begin sewing a new piece.  For some reason I don't use and ender, but you go right ahead.

And no complaining about sewing the tiny squares because this is great practice and by the time you finish, you will have it down to perfection.  Trimming is your friend, so square up your four patches as you go.

Speaking of perfection, I ended up moving some of the colors around, and I ended up with two pinks touching (ouch).

Stained glass effect when held up to the light.

I still like the end result and I hope to see many of these blocks in the flickr group.