July 15, 2011

Black Rock Stitchery call for Quilt Blocks!

Hello to my favorite quilters! Today is the day I ask a favor of you and I hope you say YES!

Many of you know my husband and I are planning to lug a treadle sewing machine out to the middle of the desert for the Burning Man Festival in August. We're calling this project the Black Rock Stitchery and, naturally, it now has its own blog.

The Black Rock Stitchery is providing a working sewing machine for the inhabitants of Black Rock City, as well as quilting supplies to anyone who wants to use them. Those who start a patchwork project can take it with them or leave it for someone else to finish. It will be a fun experiment in collaborative art, and I'm inviting you to be part of the collaboration.

We need quilt blocks. Lots of em. ANY fabrics, ANY style, ANY pattern, ANY skill level. Size: 12.5" square (for 12 inch finished blocks). If you have a block that's not big enough, slap some borders on it! If you have some little leftover bits from a former project, mash em together. Have a block that got a bit too wonky? We don't mind. A project stalled? Experiments abandoned? We can adopt them. It's my hope that by welcoming the misfits and the leftovers, we won't be taking away from any charity projects that run on donated blocks.

Burning Man is a "leave no trace" event, so we are structuring our project to involve minimal cutting and no small pieces of fabric. Because of this, we cannot accept fabric or incomplete blocks. But making a block is so easy. I spent just two hours in my sewing room and I made 15, just by using random stuff that was partially pieced together. That's less than 10 minutes a block, and I got to put my stash of leftovers to good use!

(magically the right size, or cut down from larger pieces)

I'd love it if you'd help. I know it's not your typical charity. But Burning Man is a powerful experiment in art and community, and the magic that participants experience there comes back out with them into the world for them to pass on. I really do believe it's for a greater good.

So... are you in? It can't happen without a big bunch of quilters saying YES!

Just email me at afewscraps {at} gmail {dot} com and I will send you my mailing address. We will be packing up the Stitchery August 21st, so please send blocks to arrive by then. If you can help spread the word and link to this post from your blogs or message lists I'd be so grateful. Thank you in advance for any contribution you make to this project. It's so fun to be quilting with you all!

22 comments:

Paulette said...

Cool! I'll send you some. I've made some (and will probably make more) for the kaleidoscope QAL that might not be quite right in "value" for that quilt, but they're still awesome. If you can reply with your address, that'd be great, otherwise I'll email you separately.

Stray Stitches (Linda G) said...

I've sent you an email. I have quite a few blocks to send your way :)

lindaroo said...

I have a few orphans I'd love to send your way!

Jan Maree said...

Send me your address. Sounds like fun and I am sure I can find something to send you!

Leah said...

I actually just did an "inventory" of all my unfinished projects in the studio. Lol. It was ridiculous! I definitely have some blocks to send your way once I slap some borders on them!

Cheers to Burning Man!

Leah

Joy Manoleros said...

OMG! If I can FIND my wayward blocks, I'm in! I'm still unpacking, though...

VivJM said...

I've got a bunch of orphan 8 inch blocks - will slap on some borders and send to you if you could mail me your address!

d sawtelle said...

could you tell me who will benifit from this project? as I think I missed something. I understand leave no trace and the treddle but. Who is getting What?

Annieofbluegables said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Annieofbluegables said...

I have a few blocks too

The Vegetarian Hunter said...

OK, I am in too. Please send me your snail mail and I will make a couple of blocks this weekend to send you on Monday.
Cheers from your Canadian friend,
Carolyn

Viv said...

Nice to have a place for my very beginner blocks to go. Sending an email now. Also passing this on to a few friends.

Eileen said...

I've link to your post. I'll email you...I've got a block or two to send to you!

tisha @ quiltytherapy said...

I have a stack of some that I can send to you. I need to remove them from my sewing room. Please email me a quiltytherapy at gmail dot com. Thanks

Barb in Mi said...

Have 12 blocks that will need to get spruced up to size - and they are yours! My very first ones, some BOM from Hancocks in BRIGHT colors...
Please email me your address.

Christina said...

Hi d sawtelle! I am responding here because your email address is set to private. The people who will benefit from this project are the attendees at the festival. I can't say for certain what they will do with the quilt blocks, and I think that is part of the fun!

Pat said...

I have a few blocks if you'd like them.

Angie said...

I have a few random blocks that you can have.

VeeBee said...

I also would like a little more info about what the project actually is. If local residents are making quilt blocks, then why do you need already made ones? Are participants sewing the ready-made blocks together? Can you share a bit more about your vision?

tijerasycuchara said...

Your work are beautiful. I congratulate
have a good day
Josefina
tijerasycuchara.wordpress.com

Anonymous said...

Well, it's March 2012 and I've just seem
your info on the quilt blocks....if you ever
need more I have many blocks from previous
Projects....I'm at. mamabear76jan@yahoo

Marbee said...

What a great idea. My daughter has been to two Burning Man's (all the way from Israel) and she sent me the link to your site. I will dig out some orphans and send them for your project. You won't burn them in the end, will you??? Please email me your snail mail address. Mine is marlynb@orange.net.il

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