Traveling Pillowcase Donors

What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family.

- Mother Teresa

Pillowcase Program Featured in Better Homes and Gardens American Patchwork and Quilting

Sharon L. Borko—South Amboy, NJ

Terry,

I worked on the traveling pillowcase project with my daughters second-grade class. We had so much fun, and it was inspiring to watch these kids wanting to help. Enclosed are two pillowcases filled with letters of hope and inspiration.

Thank you for a wonderful project,
Jennifer Cameron
CarolineAlexander.net
Make Mine Pink Member
Fredonia, NY

Ladies of Grace Bible Church
Riverview, MI

The Rochester Women's Shelter

Jackie Smith, Community Coordinator of The Rochester Women’s Shelter accepts pillowcases and cards.

Jackie Smith (MN)

The women were very appreciative and sent these notes:

“What an awesome gift when someone you don’t even know just cares. I got the chocolate pillowcase and the God’s little gift book. What a treasure. Thanks for caring. When you live in the spirit you walk in the spirit.” — Karen

“Thank you for your sweet kindness. What a surprise. You will be rewarded for your concern. God Bless.” — Bobbie

“No words can express how much we appreciate the handmade pillowcases, notes of inspiration and journals. Thank You.”

Winfield, IA: Jan Walter

Saturday, March 14th, 21 women from St. Alphonsus Church in Mt. Pleasant, IA, gathered to the “Come to the Quiet” retreat. Their ages spanned from 41–91 (so much wisdom in one room and moments of silence as well). Can you even imagine a room full of 21 women with moments of quiet?

At the end of the day, they wrote a personal note of inspiration which will be placed in the pillowcase. Each card was embellished with a vintage button, compliments of Grandma Hochstein. Jan had the large tin of buttons for several years and had never looked through them. Little treasures were found.

Iowa: Jan Walter and Kim Lampe Minnesota

Fabric

California: Michelle DeAngelis

Hi Terry!

I am so excited!!! Before we moved from Mass. to Cali. I gave my sewing machine to a friend who was way more of a seamstress than I'll ever be... and it was way more machine than I needed. But, because I wanted to make some of these bags for you, I went shopping at Salvation Army and a few other thrift shops... the Salvation Army had one for $175, that must've been a good one too! I couldn't find one, so I headed over to Walmart thinking I would get one of those hand held ones for 20 bucks... but they had a Brother for $79... it's perfect, no fancy stitches, but it has zigzag! haha! I got some material and I'm making them today... I will send you pictures and blog info when I'm done. Don't be surprised if you get several shipments from me, I'm going to get my daughter involved in this... and hopefully it will grow to be your vision that more women will get involved and make bags to give to a local shelter in San Diego!

I can't thank you enough for emailing me! I feel like a kid with a new toy and purpose!!! teehee!

—Michelle

Sewing machine

Minnesota: Kim Lampe

Red Wing, MN – United Lutheran Confirmation Class

As young girls prepare for their upcoming confirmation at United Lutheran Church they participate in service projects, typically within their own community. Traveling Pillowcase Project gives the girls an opportunity to connect with girls at the Vista Maria in Dearborn Heights, MI, which is Enchanted Makeovers 2009 project.

Paige enjoyed sewing and had fun spending time with mom choosing the materials for the project. Paige said, “I really like flowers, and I hope the girls like these patterns as much as I do. Maybe I will be a master gardener some day.”

The group of girls will gather together to assemble the pillow cases make cards, write letters and fill each pillow case with a personal gift.

Paige cutting fabric Paige working with fabric Fabric

Kim Lampe
Founder, Modern B*A*G Ladies

Riverview, Michigan: Ruth Winkler

pillowcases

Virginia: Christy Cox

“Terry,

Thanks again for calling. I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to be apart of your amazing organization! I've already put in a call to the local shelter for battered women.

Blessings!”
—Christy

Pennsylvania: Judith Morris

The Journey Begins

After speaking to Terry from Enchanted Makeovers, I am so excited to begin my journey to help in any small way I can to bring a bit of home to the young women and girls who are currently living at Vista Maria.

Vista Maria is the largest private not-for-profit child welfare agency for girls and their families and has operated for over 125 years in Southeast Michigan.

Currenty Enchanted Makeovers is undertaking the task of transforming eleven bedrooms in Myriam House one of the buildings of the Vista Maria Facility.

I got some fabric today to get started on my journey to pay-it-forward and hopefully my small effort will bring smiles to the faces of some of the girls living at Vista Maria.

There have been several woman across the country who have also contacted Terry and are also joining the journey to help in whatever ways they can. The power of women uniting can have an enormous impact and I urge anyone who can do even the smallest part to join the journey.

Fabric
The fabric I will be using to begin my project...

Having The Right Tools... always makes the job easier, and I have to say a Burnina sewing machine is the right tool for sewing.

After reading through the instruction manual and learning a little about the machine, I decided to try some stitching on some scrap fabric. I always pick up fabrics and sewing things to re-sell, and, to my surprise, I had some really nice fabrics that would also be great for making pillowcases. So I put all the fabric in the wash and began to do some sample work on the scraps. Wow, I was so surprised how smooth the fabric goes through and then how cute some of the embroidery work looked, and I was getting excited to start sewing.

I searched the Internet for additional pillowcase patterns and found one that required three different fabrics and me being the type who always wants to do that little something extra, I decided upon the three-fabric pattern.

So I got the fabric from the dryer and began to iron and also got some inspiration for pillowcases. And here are the first ones I have completed. They are not perfect, and each has a little flaw like a pucker of fabric or not being lined up quite perfectly, but I am so pleased with the initial attempt and feel I can only improve!

The thought that these might bring a smile to someone's face is certainly a big motivation, and I am already trying to find a pattern for some small little something and matching fabric to go with them.

It is amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it, when you are determined, and when you have such great motivation.

Fabric
The first one I made was the green floral with pink embroidered bows ...

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Then I decided to try one with a ruffle and it came out quite well. Wow, did I really make that ruffle?

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And the last of the three has embroidered little starbursts along the edge ...

They actually look so much nicer in person and I can't wait to continue to create more of them. It's worth repeating: “blessed are those that can give without remembering and receive without forgetting.” —Author unknown

Great minds think alike! I was fussing yesterday over one of the next group of cases, and I told my hubby, “Well, they many not be perfect, but each pillowcase is overflowing with LOVE!”

—Judi

It's A Funny Thing

Monday, March 23, 2009

When walking down the path of new adventures, here are some of the things you learn along the way. This weekend I learned about the seam ripper! And “thread”, oh my goodness, it is everywhere. You must waste an entire spool in clippings. And speaking of thread, I have never seen the end of a spool of thread until now, and I think I have used four spools already and I LOVE every minute.

While working on my pillowcase project for Enchanted Makeovers and the girls at Vista Maria, in error, I sewed a piece of fabric with a right and wrong side together, and thanks to that wonderful little tool, the seam ripper, the pillowcase was saved from being used as scrap, and what a shame it would have been. Here it is sewn together correctly.

Fabric

After reading several different instructions on the Internet, I decided to give bias tape a try, and, although I am not sure it is done the right way, it really turned out nicely and gave this pillowcase a great, finished edge. I also tried a little bit of sewing small squares and made this little lined envelope bag with snap closure.

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I thought it would be a nice touch to make a little matching bag to go along with the pillowcases, and when I folded the two pieces together, it seemed appropriate to add a little vintage brooch for some added sparkle and a finishing touch.

I know the feeling of living in a shelter, and it fills my heart with happiness to be able to provide a small token that may help them feel a little better as they rest their head each night.

Fabric

So I better get busy; I have more work to do. I have made eight pillowcases and still have plenty of fabric to make more, and I still have these pillowcases without any bags yet!

Fabric

“Give generously, for your gifts will return to you later. (Ecclesiastes 11:1)”

Ohio: Angela Current

“Hello!

It just so happens that I think I may have a couple vintage stitched pillowcases. I'll have to look in the abyss that is my craft closet, but will send them out this week if I can find them. I just got my postage software on this new computer. I've been in a holding pattern for the last couple weeks with shipping since I was still figuring it all out. So, watch for a package next week, I'll put something together for the cause, one way or the other (understand that I'm terribly undomestic).

Hugs,
Angela Current”

Utah: Gabrielle Krake

“This is a fantastic idea. Our church just renovated and opened a home for women trying to escape Meth addiction. This project would be a wonderful way to welcome them into their new home. I host a couple of craft times at my house we could do this together as a gift for the home. Thank you!!!”