Project Neighborhood

These are my last 4 finishes of 2009, my color coordinated neighborhoods. Can quilts make a social or political statement? For me they can and sometimes they do. These little quilts represent the concept of neighborhood. You know, houses near each other, with people and families that we get to know. Neighbors we reach out to in good times and depend on in times of need.

I had my first experience with a gated community on a recent trip to visit family in California. Gates around the community, gates to each house, and to top it off walls around each home. Not welcoming gates, gates with spikes. Ominous, forboding gates. I know that there are evil people in the world, but I didn't feel comfortable surrounded by walls and 'protected' by gates.

These little houses are each on their own piece of land connected to the house next door. No barriers, no gates, just an opportunity to say hello and be a neighbor. That's how I choose to live.

The winner of the Joy in the New Year Challenge will get to pick their choice of these four quilts. I know which one I'd pick.




Some of my blog friends have donated some fabulous prizes for the challenge winners. Tomorrow I'll compile all the entries and post the winners as soon as I get it all done. Be sure to get your entry in by 8 a.m. Central Standard time.

I thought you might like to know what you could win.

1. I'm donating one of the Neighborhood quilts.

2. Kathy of Pink Chalk Studio is donating 5 $20 gift certificates to her fabric shop, Pink Chalk Fabrics.

3. Becca and Peg are donating a $25 gift certificate to their etsy fabric shop, Sew Fresh Fabrics.

4. Valerie is donating a set of silk fat quarters and matching thread from her shop. (a $40 value!)

5. Adrienne and Dominic are donating a gorgeous ring from Dominic's etsy shop. You need to go see these rings. Simply fabulous!

6. Krista of Poppyprints will make you a custom pin cushion/threadcatcher. Who doesn't need another pin cushion, especially cute ones!

7. Penny, of Sewtakeahike is donating a Summer in the City Tin Box Sampler and 3 fat quarters of coordinating prints.

8. Jodi, of Pleasant Home is donating a goodie box of fabric packs and templates.

9. Em, of Em's Scrapbag made this amazing journal cover. It's me and her, and you!
10. Anina, of Twiddletails is donating this set of Sent With Love fat quarters from her store, just in time of Valentine's Day projects.
11. Michele, of Calicodaisy machine embroidered and made this 14" pillow cover. (Do you recognize this...it's on the Joy in the New Year Challenge button.) I made a set of pillows from Michele's embroidery too.
12. Vicki, from Sew Inspired made this friendship bag for one of you. Cute, isn't it!
Tune in tomorrow for the winners!