Quilts from The Bluffs Kickoff

I went to the Quilts from the Bluffs kickoff last Saturday. The group's mission statement is:

Quilts from the Bluffs is a ministry of First Christian Church of Council Bluffs, Iowa, designed to show love and support to sick, traumatized, or otherwise hurting individuals in the area with a gift of a new, handmade quilt created by volunteer quilters. We also teach and encourage the art of quilting to interested individuals in the community free of charge.

Jeanine started my second Saturday charity quilting group, Quilts from Cornerstone, nearly 8 years ago in Lee's Summit, Missouri. She moved to Council Bluffs last year and comes back every month to run the group. Now she is starting a group in Council Bluffs. Most of us aren't ambitious enough to start one charity group, much less two!

A few of us from my second Saturday group went up to help Jeanine get her new group started. Jessie and her daughters, Summer and Allyn went up in their van. I rode with Jodie, who volunteered to drive. Jeanine and her husband graciously provided sleeping accomodations in their new house for all of us.

The photo above is the first 2 quilt tops made by Quilts from the Bluffs. Allyn made the "Love Quilt" top on the left. Jodie made the H-Block top on the right. With 8 quilters attending, a lot was accomplished. I don't have exact numbers, but I know Allyn made at least 3 "Love Quilt" tops. Jeanine said about 10 or 12 of the H-Block tops were made and three fleece blankets were made by cutting and tying fringe. A good time was had by all and those of us that came up from metro Kansas City were glad we made the trip.