Almost There!! Jump in NOW!!

Hi Friends!

Tomorrow is the big day. 
EASTER and the Living Water Quilt drawing. 

Bonnie Hunter really helped stir things up earlier this week. 
Thanks Bonnie---You're a dear.

I've got lots more to chat with you about and many assorted updates brewing, but for now I need to push on with this primary mission.  WATER FOR AFRICA!!

We are less than $1,300 away from hitting our $7,000 goal!! 

Why $7,000? 
When I was doing research on building a well, I found the cost of providing water to a community to range from $1,000 to $16,000 depending on what type of system would work for the situation and if there was already an infrastructure in place that just needed repairs. 

Somehow $7,000 kept popping into my head, so I went with it....even though my doubting Thomas side said it wasn't possible.  My faithful side (always in some sort of conflict with the doubting Thomas in me) knew that if this goal was accomplished it would most definitely be by God's Mighty Hand and not of my own doing.  It gives me chills just writing that. 

God is good all the time even when life deals us a rough hand.  He is mighty to save. 

May God do miraculous things in your life and in the life of your family this weekend.

Please take a moment and donate towards the well. 
Don't miss this opportunity to be a part of something wonderful.

many blessings,
pam

Just a Prop

That's right.

The quilt give-away is just a prop.
It's purpose is to get your attention.
But the quilt is not what really matters in this story.

The real story is loving our neighbors, our fellow man, enough to help them. 
To share some of what we have to help bless them with a basic necessity of life...clean water.

Please donate $10 towards bringing clean water to a village in Africa.

If not You, then Who?

many blessings,
pam

Let us not become weary in doing good....     Galatians 6:9

Clean Water and a Give-Away!

The Living Water Quilt
(previously known as Dad's Quilt)

The Living Water Quilt drawing is rapidly approaching!  Easter, March 31, is the big day!!

I've not mentioned it in a while because I really don't like asking for money.  Of course the money isn't for me, but I would much prefer to just give the money myself and not ask for your help. 
Admittedly our house is a bit cluttered and dirty at the moment, but even so, I haven't noticed any big piles of money lying around!  So here I am, asking....

First, I want to share some more about how all this started.

Has a book ever insisted that you read it?

That's what happened to me with the book "7" by Jen Hatmaker.  I was Christmas shopping at Lifeway, wandering the aisles, minding my own business.  This pushy book JUMPED into my basket.  I kept trying to reshelve it, knowing that I had plenty of reading material at home and that I was shopping for others, not myself. 

The book was determined. 

I  finally realized that I was supposed to read this book (I'm slow like that) and begrudgingly purchased it. 

As soon as I started reading, I knew the truth.  God was behind all this.  He wanted to stretch my  heart and my thinking.  He was using this book to make me a little uncomfortable with my own comfort.  Please know that Jen Hatmaker does not make you feel guilty in this book at all.  Her writing is fun and engaging.  But, that being said, God may step in and convict your heart of great sufferings in the world.  He may even want you to offer to help.  You'll most likely feel completely inadequate for the job.  I did.  I still do.  But God can take our humble, feeble attempts and use them for great good. 

Jen talks a little about the sufferings in Africa and some of the choices her family's church is making....like not paving the church parking lot and sending the money to help others instead.  Seven made the little wheels in my head start spinning. 

About the same time, my husband and I completed an Experiencing God class.  One segment of the class really touched me.  The question was something like,
"What is dear to you that you can put on the altar for God...for Him to use as He pleases?"
On the way home I knew the answer.  My quilting and handwork and crafty stuff.  I quietly told God that He could use my hobbies and love of stitching for anything that He chose...to please just let me know.

Days later, Project 40 developed.

THEN, As I finished the last hand stitches on Dad's Quilt, I sensed God's desire for this quilt to be used for a greater good--to raise awareness and funds to build a well and provide clean water for a community in Africa.

My Dad in 2011 having fun with grandchildren

A few other interesting tidbits that God has woven into this quilt story:

1. I would never have taken on this big of a hand quilting project except for a dear loved one.  I especially wanted to finish it this way for my Dad because he was a carpenter and did beautiful woodworking.  He would sand his special projects by hand until they felt soft and silky to the touch. 

2. The timing of finishing this quilt and the surprising twist that my Dad could not use a quilt this big.  And get this....when I was about 3/4 done with the quilting on this project, he told me that he didn't really care if it was hand quilted.  He suggested that I just send it to someone with one "of those big machines"! (he's lucky I didn't kill him right then!)

3. My Dad seems to have no memory of this king-size quilt project at all.  I wrestled long and hard about giving away his quilt, thinking it was like saying he would never possibly come home.  Mercifully, God gave me sweet clarity on this, too.  First, please know that my Dad has other quilts at the nursing home with him....It's not as if there he is deficient in Vitamin Q. 
And now that I know that the hand quilting part is not an issue with him, if he should be discharged, I will zip together a king-size quilt top so fast that my machine will start to sizzle with sparks of lightning!!  Then I will promptly drive it to a long-arm quilter!  :)



Oh my....I've been babbling on and on.  Grab some chocolate and a cup of tea if you're growing weary, I'm almost done!

So here is my plea.  Please donate $10 (or more) to Blood Water Mission and join this effort.  Together with God's help, mighty things can be accomplished!  We can share our resources with others and provide clean water to those in need. 

Each $10 donation puts your name in the drawing for the Living Water Quilt (previously known as Dad's Quilt).  Each $25 donation = 3 entries in the drawing. 

Please make your donation today!


One last thing.  I would like to give my copy of Seven to one of you.  Please leave a comment if you would like to be in that drawing. 


many blessings,
pam


May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us;
establish the work of our hands for us--
yes, establish the work of our hands.
                            Psalm 90: 17


fine print:  I have an affiliate account with Amazon, so if you make a purchase after clicking one of the Amazon links, I'll make a tiny commission. 

Valentines for Africa!

Hi Friends.
Happy Valentine's Day.
Just wanted to remind you of the Living Water Quilt project.
We are giving away a quilt to raise money for a well in Africa.

This is the Living Water Quilt during the quilting stage.
My sons are holding it up.  They are now 15 and 13...so this was quite
a while ago.  They might not even have to stand on chairs now!

Please take a moment to donate $10 (or more, of course!) to spread love, in the form of clean water, in Africa! 

Every $10 that you donate puts your name in the drawing for this quilt.  3 times in the drawing for each $25 donation.

Your donations go to Blood Water Mission and are tax deductible.

Please help give the gift of clean water to Africa.

You can learn lots more about this quilt here and here.  By the way....It's finished now!  I have plenty of unfinished projects that I can send along with it, BUT this mega-size quilt is really done!


May your day be filled with much love.
pam


You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted;
You encourage them, and You listen to their cry.     Psalm 10: 17

                                                       

Assorted Updates

First up, I have to thank all my Quilty Girls for the sweet response that you gave my email earlier this week.  Wow!  You are so precious.  I fretted for weeks about telling you that I had started a blog and about the effort to raise money for a well in Africa.  It sounds kind of silly now.  I was worried that I would be bothering you and tooting my own horn, or something like that.  Also, since it cost some $ to sign up with the newsletter provider, I had to wonder if it wouldn't just be better to donate that money directly to Blood Water Mission.  I was worried that you wouldn't want to give a donation towards building the well.  I was scared....the enemy was at work.


Once the newsletter was sent, I was filled with joy by your encouraging emails AND your generous donations to Blood Water Mission!!! 

I need to alert you to one more thing.  A number of you that posted comments have your contact info set up as a No-Reply Blogger.  That means that when you write a comment, I can't write back to you!  This is Dreadful!!  PLUS...I WON'T be able to contact you when you win the contest!! 

So here's what you do: 
Click on your blogger profile...(that's your name and little picture), click edit and then make sure "show my email" is checked.  Please get this changed ASAP!


************
Update on the animals. 

The hen got her splint off last week.  She's walking good as new.  I still don't know what was wrong and she's not telling.  I'm pretty sure she would have done most anything to get that splint off!

Bob, the bottle calf, has been adopted by Bambi.  She nurses right out in the pasture!  It's a beautiful thing to see an orphan be adopted and loved.  Unfortunately the calf keeps having infections in her umbilical stump.  I'm awaiting a call from the vet. I'm guessing he will need to open the area up and peek inside.  I'm sure she will love that. 


************
Project 40

Strips for this one came from assorted donors.  Thanks!

These strips all came from Val.  I tried to mix these in with other strips, but they were quite
insistent on living together!  The strips were right!  It turned out warm and lovely.

2 more finishes!!  Hooray!!  The "ready to give" pile is growing.  I'll be making a delivery soon.  These are so warm and cozy-feeling in my lap as I stitch them together. 
Thanks to all the "Strippers" that keep sending in 40 inch strips!! 


************
Quilting

I am so easily amused.  I have been sewing scrappy 9 patch blocks for months and months.  Lately I've grown weary of them. 

I see this picture:

in this book:

and I'm off and running again.....basically with just a wee little twist on the basic 9 patch block.  Don't ask me why this slightly altered 9 patch makes my heart sing....it just does.

**********
Blood Water Mission Update

We are rocking!!  We just crossed the 25% mark on donations to build a well in Africa!!
What? You haven't donated yet??? 

No time like the present.  Donations made today enter you in 2 drawings!!
You might win the Living Water Quilt AND the "Big" give-a-way! (Big give-a-way ends Wednesday, February 6)


**********

This is the last day to enter the Big Give-a-Way! 
Drawing for the fabulous prize package happens February 6!


Much love to all of you!
May your day be blessed.
pam


Linked to:  Cat Patches NewFO

Big Give-A-Way!!

Ok.  I can't believe I'm giving away one of my new favorite books, BUT this morning I am driven to earn more donations for Blood Water Mission!! 

So what, you ask, is my new favorite book??? 
Sunday Morning Quilts
 by Amanda Jean Nyberg and Cheryl Arkison!
This book shares patterns, techniques, and TONS of inspiration! 
On this gray January morning, I'm happy to say that this book is full of COLOR.  (In the winter, my heart craves color!)

And is there fabric with the book, too?!  (and perhaps a ginsu knife!)
YES--Hooray!! (sorry, no ginsu)

The Super Fantabulous PRIZE Package!!

Included in the Prize Package is the Sunday Morning Quilts book and 3 cuts of fabric (complete with color to brighten your day!)

For those that haven't heard, I'm giving away a quilt to raise money to build a well in Africa.  The quilt has a long story involving my Dad, his failing health, and hand quilting (quite a combo, huh?!)


There are 4 ways to enter this giveaway:
1.  Leave a comment and share your favorite quilting book or fabrics to play with on a gloomy day. (worth 1 entry in giveaway)

2.  Visit the Blood Water Mission website and leave a comment here telling something that you learned. (worth 1 entry in giveaway)

3.  Make a $10 donation (or more!) to Blood Water Mission and also be in the drawing for the Living Water Quilt.  (each $10 donation is worth 2 entries in this giveaway!)

4.  Write about this give-a-way on YOUR blog.  Then leave a comment here with a link over to yours. (worth 1 entry in giveaway)


Sorry that this seems so complicated.  But I guess using a quilt in America to raise donations to build a well filled with clean water in Africa is a little complicated!

This drawing will take place Wednesday, February 6.  Hurry and enter!
Thanks for joining me in the effort.

blessings,
pam

(fine print--I am an Amazon affiliate, so if you make a purchase on Amazon after clicking on one of the book links above, this blog will earn a wee bit of affiliate income.)

sorrows

I've had a deep sorrowful feeling brewing in me all day.  The kind where you probably just need a great big, blubbering cry.  I just couldn't pinpoint what was the matter. 

Then I stopped by my sweet local fabric shop.  I was telling the owner about the Living Water Quilt and picking her brain for ideas to increase donations.  I told her that I felt sort of dead about the whole thing and sluffed it off with a "probably just January" mumble.  To which she replied, "Or your Dad."

(silence)

My heart felt like it would burst open.  She's sooooo lucky that the tears didn't start to flow. 

Even though I've been keeping myself busy with good things, my heart is still sad about my Dad being in a nursing home.  I wish I could care for him here and feel guilty that I can't.  I wish I could make him happy.  I wish we could go back in time to the days when he lived independently. 

Lord, please help me to love my Dad well and be at peace. 

May Dad also be filled with Your peace and love.

If you haven't already done so, please make a donation towards building a well in Africa.  Each $10 that you donate to Blood Water Mission gives you a chance to win this quilt.  3 chances for each $25 donation!! 

Please make the donation now.  A village in Africa needs our help. 

blessings,
pam

Bottle Calf Update

Our little New Year's bottle calf has had a rough time getting a foothold in this world. 

At one week of age, her umbilical stump was obviously infected.  She was exhausted and puny.  The vet gave me an arsenal of shots to give her including antibiotics, an anti-inflammatory, and Vit B. She perked right up!  Hooray!

Then about 5 days later, she tanked again.  This time with a respiratory infection.  She became fairly lifeless and I thought she might die.  Our vet (Thank God for vets!) said that she needed a different antibiotic to knock this out. 

The vet explained that cows have bacteria that live in their trachea.  The bacteria never cause a problem until the cow gets stressed and her resistance goes down.  The good news is that this too was promptly eradicated with antibiotics!  (Thank God for antibiotics!)

My sweet dairy cow, Bambi, has not officially adopted the calf, but does allow the calf to nurse just before I milk her. 

The calf doesn't seem offended that Bambi has to be restrained in a steel head gate before she will allow her to nurse!  I believe she is thinking, "Rich, creamy milk...Who cares how you get it!!"

It's no wonder that she loves it so much...Look at that cream line!  Can you see it just below the "Ball" logo on the front jar?!  Yum!  We are rolling in cream and milk...so today my daughter and I will be culturing some cream cheese (to have later this week with homemade bagels), making butter, and also making some mozzarella cheese if we have time.  Can you tell that I LOVE having a milk cow?!!

And here is a picture of the Living Water Quilt all folded up and ready to one lucky person! 
All you need to do is make a donation to Blood Water Mission and your name goes in the drawing for this quilt.  (one entry for each $10 donated)  You can learn lots more about it here.

Many blessing to You,
pam

Living Water Quilt Raffle

Ok Friends,
I just set things up to raffle this quilt for Blood Water Missions.
ALL proceeds will go to Blood Water Missions. 
I will pay to ship the quilt to the winner.

My dream is for this quilt to raise enough money to build a well in Africa. 

How can you help?  I'm so glad you asked!
1.  Go here and donate money!  Your name will go in the hat once for each $10 that you donate to this ministry. 
Please send me an email after you donate and I'll add you to the drawing.
livingwaterquilt@gmail.com

2.  Mail a check with your donation. 
Please make check payable to Blood Water Mission.
Then mail to me at:  Pam Stahl, P.O. Box 1875, Mt. Juliet TN 37121.

3.  Help spread the news!! Please share the story of this quilt and send this link to all your friends. 
http://www.crowdrise.com/livingwaterquiltraffle

4.  Add Living Water Quilt fundraiser widget to your blog. 
Grab this html:  <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.crowdrise.com/widgets/project/LivingWaterQuiltRaffle/pamstahl/"></script>

Many blessings to you,
pam

UPDATE:  You can read LOTS more of the story behind the quilt here!!

DONE!!

THE Quilt is officially done! 

It measures 102" x 102".  I took this picture leaning off the top of the staircase. 
King size with wool blend batting.  Hand quilted over an eternity.  I think I started this quilt in 2006 (but don't hold me to that...I'm really not sure!)

A bit closer.  Just standing on a chair to get this picture.  The big print setting blocks were inspired by some Kaffe Fassett quilts.

Without a flash trying to show quilting detail. 
Washed and dried it this morning while holding my breath.  I tend to get a little nervous when a big project goes in for a dunk.  Batting pulled up just a bit giving some definition to the quilting. 

This quilt was made for my Dad to fit his king size bed and satisfy his long-standing love for the color orange.  After much prayer and soul-searching I know that this quilt is no longer for Dad.  It is destined for another mission.

My heart has been breaking lately for communities around the world that do not have access to clean drinking water.  It's hard for my brain to even wrap around this concept having lived my entire life with clean running water available in my home.  I've never even had to walk outside to get it!  There are places where people walk miles each day with jugs to get water for their family.  Guess what?--many times the water that they are gathering isn't even clean. 

So with all that in mind, this quilt will be raffled in an attempt to raise money for a well in Africa.  I'm working on the details of that and will share them soon.  If you would like to stay abreast of this project please sign up for the email notification in the sidebar.

I'd like to give this quilt a catchy name.  Any ideas??  Please share them.

Many blessings to You.
pam


"Love your neighbor as yourself."  Luke 10: 27