Sew Oregon Shop Hop Starts Tomorrow!

Sew Oregon, Oregon's State-wide quilt shop hop begins July 24, 2010. In its fourth year, this hop just keeps getting better and better. The theme this year is "Shades of Fall." Featured fabric was designed by Jo Morton. It is from her Ravenwood Collection by Andover.

The way the hop works is simple. Visit any participating quilt shop (including us!) to pick up a Sew Oregon passport. Each store you visit during the hop will stamp that passport to help you become eligible to win fabulous merchandise prizes. The more shops you visit, the more chances you have to win a prize!

In addition to stamping your passport, each shop will give you a quilt block kit for a 9" quilt block. (That's the pattern AND the fabric!) The block kit for Grandma's Attic is the Milky Way. We chose this block so you can remember what good friends you have at Grandma's Attic. (Can you see the friendship star in the block?) Putting nine of these blocks together and adding a small border gives you a nice little wall quilt measuring 30" square. You can also purchase a Sew Oregon shop hop bag for carrying your blocks as you collect them, and a shop hop pin to commemorate the occasion.

Grand prize is a Koala Treasure Chest Plus IV with Outback Leaf Extension and a Sew Comfort Adjustable Height Chair. There are also three sewing machines as prizes plus 12 additional gift baskets. These are absolutely wonderful prizes--and to think that you are eligible to win them simply by doing a little "shopping therapy" at your favorite quilt shops!

Flag Day - June 14

On August 3, 1949, President Harry S. Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day. This was the culmination of efforts dating as far back as 1861 to have an annual day dedicated to celebrating the American Flag.

Over the years, there have been 27 official variations of the American Flag. Each modification occurred when additional states were added to the Union. The Flag as it flies today was adopted in 1959 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. It includes 50 stars for the 50 states, with the last one added for Hawaii.

Although the colors on the American flag were not given any meanings at the time the flag was created, meanings were given for the colors of the Seal of the United States, which is also red, white and blue. Red stands for hardiness and valor. Blue stands for purity and innocence. Blue is for vigilance, perseverance and justice. The House of Representatives issued a book in 1977 which stated that the stars and stripes had further meaning. According to this book, the stars represent the heavens and the divine goal to which man has aspired from time immortal, and the stripes are symbolic of the rays of light that emanate from the sun.

Each star on the flag has five points. Legend has it that Betsy Ross showed George Washington how to make a five pointed star with one snip of her scissors. Whether this is true or not, it's an enchanting story, and one that I discussed in our blog post about Betsy Ross on July 1, 2007.

You can make a five-pointed star just like the one Betsy Ross did. Click on the words five pointed star above and it will take you right to a page of instructions for making these stars.

If you are inspired to make your own patriotic project this summer, you'll find some fun patterns by clicking the link for Patriotic Patterns. You can also find American fabrics by clicking this link for Americana Fabric.

To learn more about flag etiquette and the proper way to fly a flag, go to the website of the U.S. Flag.

I just went to the official website and added our donations to the total for the One Million Pillowcase Challenge!

I am very pleased to report that we have had a total of 365 pillowcases donated as of June 6, 2010. This week I will be taking them to our three non-profits that we've chosen to receive them. I will post photos as soon as I have them. Thank you very very much for making this project possible. I know that it brings a ton of joy to the recipients!

The three area non-profits chosen to receive pillowcases returned to Grandma's Attic are Sable House, the local domestic violence shelter, the Ron Wilson Center for Effective Living and Partnerships in Community Living (PCL). We will definitely be adding to the list of non-profits that we donate pillowcases to, based on your generosity and willingness to participate.

I noticed when I went to the website that there have been a total of 93,078 pillowcases donated nationwide. Click here to see the current national pillowcase count. Thank you, thank you, thank you to the donors who are helping us give pillowcases to the non-profit organizations in Polk County.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with our Pillowcase Challenge, throughout 2010, Grandma's Attic is asking you to make pillowcases and bring them to the shop where they will be donated to Polk County Area non-profit organizations. Each pillowcase is counted; then sent to the agencies. I'll put photos of the pillowcases donated to date on the blog this weekend--just as soon as I can get Stephen or Kyle to stop in with a camera to take photos.

If you'd like to get ideas for pillowcases that you can make, American Patchwork & Quilting has free pillowcase patterns available. Patterns are updated quarterly so there's bound to be something that catches your interest. You can make your pillowcases from any 100% cotton fabrics that you have or purchase. I think the only requirement is that they be standard size, clean, and something that you yourself would be proud to use!