Recent Batch of Aprons Sent

THIS is the coolest apron ever--made by Stacey!

Another batch of aprons has arrived in Afghanistan!

Apron Fabric Received!

Catherine Eith in Washington sent me a wonderful box of fabric for aprons last week--THANKS, Apron Angel! I'm getting ready to cut into most of it for my goal of 25 aprons by October 30th. Perfect timing!

Also finally making it to the cutting table are fabrics donated by Evelyn P., Susan D-S, Debbie B., and Michelle. So friends, I'll have photos of your donated blessings very, very soon.

Many thanks again to everyone for helping me stay busy and productive by sharing your fabric stash with me. Wait until you see what we make next!

New Apron Goal:

I just gathered apron fabric to cut out 22 more aprons. I haven't been able to send my 4th batch yet, but I need to very soon. Tammy is deploying back to the states in November (yeah!) and we don't know if and who will take over our donations to the Women's Center.

My goal is to start cutting out 44 apron panels and start sewing. My self-imposed deadline is October 30th. The following day, Halloween. will be the next holiday online retreat. My goal is to get another 25 aprons (my batch #4, big grin) to Afghanistan. I accept all cheerleaders, prayers, and "attagirls."

Cool Tie Helper

He graduated from testing the unfilled ties, to turning them right-side-out all by himself. Now I can't keep enough stitched up! These are the ties that are filled with crystals that expand when wet. They are worn around soldier's necks to keep them cool. Plus, I just learned that if they are put in the microwave, the ties stay warmer 3 times longer than they do when they're cool.

3rd Shura Gathering

Tammy's shura (meeting) yesterday with about 120 women and kids (Mostly young girls). She handed out lots of blankets that were sent from America.

Video of Tammy at Women's Center

I just added a youtube link to the right. If you click on the 4th (last) photo, you can see a video of Cpt. Tammy in Wardak talking about the Women's Center (who receives these aprons).

My Little Soldier

While I was making "cool ties" for our soldiers, my little man decided not only does he want to be a soldier, but Snoopy (on his head) joined the ranks with him!

Full Speed Ahead on Aprons!

I just heard from Cpt. Tammy regarding the aprons. The cooking classes are quite a success, and they will start scheduling them about every 2-3 weeks. Each class has around 20 students, and I have asked for the women to keep their apron after their class has finished.

I'm working on Christmas quilts and have some cool ties to make at the same time working on batches of aprons. The word is: more aprons are needed! Let me know if you would like to make any, or if you have an extra yard and a half of fabric to donate. The Afghan women are totally thrilled with what we're doing here.

Another Batch of Aprons Heading for Afghanistan!

This is the next batch of aprons heading overseas! Several of these were made from fabrics donated by Michelle, Evelyn, Debbie, and Susan. The second apron that ties on the side was made by Freda P. in California. Thanks so much to ALL who are donating fabric AND postage to keep this project going!



This was the last group sent along with a few baby blankets and some pillowcases for Tammy and whatever Soldiers she wants to give them to.
We must take care of the care takers, too!

Look at These Faces!

This is Cpt. Tammy Lanning with some of the children about to receive lots of blankets and clothes during yesterday's shura (that's a village meeting). Doesn't Tammy's smile just warm your heart?

More Aprons Made It!

More aprons have reached the Women's Center in Afghanistan! OK, they're a bit wrinkled, but when I pack a box, there's no room for air left! The apron Tammy is holding is one of the first sent--it's the one to the far right of the main photo above. Amazing!

Apron Labels

This is the label that I'm attaching to the aprons I make. I hesitated because some regions are so strict the word "women" cannot even be written.

Another Apron Angel

Today I received a check from Ally in Tennessee. With her gracious donation to this cause, I can go ahead and pack more boxes to send overseas. I'm totally in awe and humbled by the support that continues to come my way--in all forms.
This is proof that when you're heading down the right path the road is wide open ahead. Thanks, Ally! I'll get more photos posted of the latest batch of aprons and blankets soon.

First Aprons Arrive!

This is Captain Tammy Lanning giving the first batch of aprons to the woman in charge of the cooking classes! Evelyn jumped right in and got hers mailed off. The cooking teacher was thrilled! Within a few days they should be receiving many more! Great job, everyone, and thanks so much for your help!

Almost to My Original Goal!

I received a package of fabric today from Michelle W. in Iowa with enough pieces to make 6-7 aprons! That should take me right up to the original goal of 50 aprons! That's what Tammy predicted they would need right away.

I WILL still be making aprons along with baby blanket and the latest request for scarves. So if you still have a yard or two of extra fabric laying around, I'd love to turn it into an apron! Who knows how many they will really need until the classes get going and the vocational center opens the end of this summer.

I had no idea I would be able to reach this goal so quickly, and I could not have done it without everyone listed to the right. Even have the postage money to ship off the last of those aprons. I'll be working on Michelle's fabric over the next few days and should (hopefully) get a picture posted this weekend.

I'm overwhelmed and in awe of the generosity of all of you. I can't thank you enough for helping me to pull this off!

Update from Afghanistan

I received a few emails from Cpt. Tammy this morning. The main thing I wanted to let you know is not to be concerned with what design is on the aprons or blankets, if it's farm animals, cars, bears with angel wings, fairies, etc. She said they aren't that strict in the area they're in, and will be so grateful to receive anything. She said to use whatever we have access to.

I'll be posting more of this information on http://www.susanround.com/

Also, Tammy suggested the idea of making scarves for the Afghani women and young girls. Of course! I'll let you all know when I get the answers on "What size?" and "Knitted and crocheted, too?" I'm looking through the donated fabrics with a whole new eye. Whatever is the same on both sides is going through my serger with the rolled hem foot on! Anything from sheer, flannel, silk, wool, cotton, polyester can be used.

UPDATE: I just received word from Tammy that the scarf given to her measures 36" X 72" and can be made from lace, silk, all colors (even though darker ones launder better). You can use white, black, plaids, paisleys and any color you want. She didn't mention the size scarves for the young girls. I'll let you know when I hear more.

Basically we're talking about two yards of fabric with about 5-6" cut off along the selvedge and hemmed. Hmm. I guess I was expecting smaller. I did check out a few sites regarding Afghani womens clothing and there were several different sizes of scarves ranging from 3-4" wide to 22" wide by 72".

Unused Craft & Sewing Kits for our Women Troops

As I have been receiving donated fabric, sometimes I get printed fabric panels, or small sewing projects. I am forwarding them to a fellow online quilter and she will put together kits for our crafty women soldiers.

I've asked her if she minded that I post her information here so if anyone has any unused sewing/craft kits you can send them directly to her. I've collected several new preprinted panels for wallhangings, dolls, vests, and a few felt & sequin Christmas stocking kits opened, but all materials still untouched.

Fran also belongs to the HeartStrings Quilt Project and StashBuster group, as I am. She is volunteering her time with a wonderful organization called Operation Care Packages. Her email is: fbenson59@yahoo.com

I also have Fran's mailing address if you want to contact me privately for it. She lives in Illinois. She will need Christmas kits mailed in July so the women have time to finish them before the holidays.

http://www.operationcarepackages.org

A BIG THANKS

No worries about how I'm going to mail the aprons and blankets! I just received a very generous check from Naomi C. in Graham, Washington. This should be enough to mail three separate boxes. I am so humbled and now very, very anxious to get my first box filled to the top and in the mail.

Bless you, Naomi, for helping in this way. You have guaranteed delivery of many aprons and blankets. I'll never forget your kindness and support for this project.

Fabric Angels

I have received very generous boxes of fabric from Susan, Evelyn, Pat and Debbie. The fun was as I pulled each yardage of fabric out, each one looked just like a pretty apron. The various colors and prints are going to be absolutely perfect. I can't wait to get them cut out and going!

Thanks, friends, for your kindness and support for this project.

Mary Jane and Her Apron Angels

I just heard from Mary Jane in Michigan after the ladies at her church made aprons last week. 13 aprons, and 8 more to be finished this week! We're more than halfway to the original goal, and I've got happy tears. Bless you, Michigan angels, for joining me with this effort.

Aprons #20 - #25 by Evelyn in CA

The Apron Goal for Now

I just received an email from Cpt. Lanning. She has seen the apron photograph and is so excited to show the woman who heads up the Women's Center. She thinks the first goal of 50 aprons will be a wonderful start. If any more aprons are received, they will be stored at the center ready for the next group of "students" when the vocational school opens later this year. Of course, there can't be enough baby blankets and small quilts for their next winter season.

I have also included her direct mailing address so you may send your items directly to her, thus avoiding a double mailing to me then overseas. She wanted me to be sure to let all of you know how grateful she is, and how excited she is to be able to present these to the Afghani women. I will send you her exact words on a post shortly. Tammy said that "anything" will be so appreciated as many of these women still live in mud houses.

How This Project Is Starting

Being on the Soldier's Angels Letter Writing Team, I was informed that the women of Afghanistan are wanting to learn how to can food. The Women's Center is being formed and they are in need of canning equipment and aprons. These women don't have the luxury of laundering their clothes as we in America do, and if you've ever canned you know how messy it can be.

I contacted Captain Tammy Lanning who is working with the women there and told her I would make some aprons and send. I started cutting out whatever fabric I had on hand, some of which has been given to me for various charitable quilting projects. I first experimented with a few patterns and came up with an super easy way to construct the aprons. I was able to use up those pieces of fabric that I knew I would need someday.

In the next ten days I put together 14 aprons, and had fabric set aside for the cutting table. I have no idea how I'm going to pay the postage to do this: I only know that it feels like the right thing to be doing. I decided to let a few other people know what I'm doing including the Letter Writing Team. I also posted a message with a new group of quilters called Stashbusters Fling-it-all to request their excess and extra fabric scraps and pieces to be flung my way for this.

I explained the project and how I'm attaching labels that read: "Made by women in the USA for the women of Afghanistan." Immediately I heard from Mary Jane in Michigan requesting my address to send fabric. She also asked what pattern I'm using so she could make some aprons to send me for this project. I could just attach the labels before shipping them off. Within a few short hours, Mary Jane sent me an email to inform me the ladies at her church will be making aprons 2 days next week for this effort!!

Evelyn from California also promptly joined in, quickly followed by Debbie in Pennsylvania. Both are sending me fabric for aprons and are taking care of the postage bless their hearts.

That is when I decided I needed to make a blogspot for this project. So here we are: four women pioneering these gifts of colorful and necessary aprons to the Women's Center in Afghanistan. I will have photos posted very soon of the first batch of aprons.

I've also contacted the local Walmart asking for fabric donations and am still waiting to hear back. I've been told that their usual donation is worth $25. I'll keep you posted, of course.

I am so grateful to those who are helping me, and very excited to be starting this new project for women who desperately deserve it. They just want and need to be given a chance to learn.