H2H Sign-ups-- start your machines!

 Hello everyone, and welcome back to the Hands2Help Challenge for 2022! Happy first day of spring! It's time to get this party started, and I can't think of a better day for it.

 

 

The day is here! It's time to sign up for the Challenge. You can do that by filling out this easy-peasy form. You already know all the answers! Just click below and follow the link:

Hands2Help signup form

 

 

Frequently asked questions:

 

Mari, why do I have to sign up? Can't I just make a quilt?

Yes, you could just make a quilt, but signing up saves me time and trouble. I'll use the signup emails to communicate with you, including sending coupons and discounts offered by vendors and sending you the shipping addresses for our charities. I'll also already have your address when it's time for the prizes, so you'll get a happy surprise in the mail without fuss.

Do I have to have a blog or IG to participate?

No, not at all! Anyone can participate. I do ask you to sign up, though, for the reasons above. 

How is my information handled or shared? 

The only one who will see your address is me, with the possible inclusion of someone who helps with mailing out packages. I'm not selling the list, and the form is public but the responses are not. When the Challenge is over, I will delete the form and all your information.

 

Is there any way to get reimbursed for postage or shipping?

Sadly, no, though Little Lambs offers a way to send quilts to them with less financial outlay. Information will be in an email sent to those who sign up.

 

Can I get a tax receipt?

I do not provide tax receipts or advice, but Little Lambs will send a receipt on request. Important disclaimer: consult your own tax advisor for tax questions!

I'm not in this for prizes. What if I just want to make quilts?

I understand! Please sign up and check the box that says "no prizes, please." You will get a thank you note from me, and any coupons or offers that everyone else gets, but not be in the prize drawings.  

 

Do you have hashtags and other social media stuff?

Thanks for asking! I am on Instagram (@academicquilter), so you can tag me if you'd like. I've been using the hashtags #hands2help2022 and #handstohelp2022, but others are welcome. I don't have a Facebook account for the blog, but you can feel free to share your pretty quilts there and direct people back to the H2H tab on this blog for more information. The sharing code for our button is also on the tab and at the bottom of THIS post.

What if I think of another question?

Email me and I'll be happy to answer! academicquilter AT gmail DOT com

I think that's it for now. Please take a look at the updated prize list-- we've had a number of things come in since last week, and be sure to let the sponsors know how glad you are for their participation. Maybe put a little note of thanks in the message box with your next online order to say thanks? It never hurts!

 

Schedule reminders

Next week, March 27, is our first linky party! This is an opportunity for you to link up your own very easy quilt pattern, your favorite free donation quilt pattern, and/or your best tips for donation quilts. It doesn't have to be a new post, but if you want to write a new one, please do, and link it up so that we can all see it and learn from it.

Guest bloggers share their own ideas for quick blocks or quilts starting on April 3 with Wendy from Pieceful Thoughts of My Quilting Life.

 

On April 10, Sandra from mmm quilts is our guest blogger. On April 17, we have a linky party to show off your progress on your donation quilts.

Alycia from Alycia Quilts is our guest blogger on April 24, and Cathy from Crazy By Design takes over on May 1. Preeti from Sew Preeti Quilts wraps up the guest bloggers for us on May 8. 

On May 15 and May 22, I'll have a parade of quilty pictures from any of you who don't have blogs but would like to show off your beautiful creations. Send me your pictures when you finish your quilt, and I'll post them over those two days.

May 29 is our linky party to show off finished quilts! The Challenge ends on June 5, with prizes shipped out that week.

Thanks again to everyone for their support! And now that we're "officially" open: ready? set? stitch!

Hands2Help Guest Blogger Cathy!

 Hi everyone, and welcome back to the Hands2Help Comfort Quilt Challenge!

 

 

Today we are lucky to have Cathy from Crazy by Design as our guest blogger. Here is her project:

 

 

Super cute and way easy! You may know Cathy from her really cute blog, and if you don't recognize the name, I know you will recognize the projects. She makes lots of quilts for donation, many of them through Quilts For Kids, and they are always darling. Hop on over to her post, right HERE, and be sure to leave a nice note of thanks on her post!

It's time to count the quilts!

So, it's now May, and our challenge ends Memorial Day weekend with our final linkup for everyone to show off their quilts. Just so everyone can be ready, I've made up the "count the quilts" form for you to fill out once you send your quilts off. I've asked for your name, but you can just use your first name or your nickname, whatever you are comfortable with. I just want to know about the quilts and be able to keep everything straight!

Find the form HERE. There is also a link on the H2H tab at the top of the page, and I'll keep posting it each week until we finish.

No hurry to fill this out! I'll close the form and get the final count on June 4, so you still have plenty of time! 

Also, a REMINDER: today is the last day to sign up. I'm closing the form in the morning, and then I'll be organizing our prizes.

 

One more REMINDER: if you don't have a blog or IG and want to show off your quilt, send me a picture and I'll include it in the quilt parade on May 15 and May 22. Final linkup party for everyone to show off begins May 29.

Thanks again to Cathy, and thanks everyone! Happy stitching!

Hands2Help Guest Blogger Alycia!

 Hi everyone, and welcome back to another exciting episode of Hands2Help, the Guest Blogger Edition!

 

Today we are lucky to have Alycia, of Alycia Quilts, as our guest blogger.  Here is a quick look at her project:

Classic and cute! Hop on over to her post, right HERE, to get more fun pictures and a tutorial for this easy project. Be sure to leave her a nice note while you are there!

Announcements, reminders, and questions

 

Okay, a small announcement: I am closing the sign-ups for this year on May 1. This will let me have a good count for allocating prizes and make my life much easier. Thanks for understanding!

Also on May 1, I'll open up the form for counting the quilts from this year. You don't need to be done by then, of course! But when you do finish, you'll have the form all ready to be filled out. This is only for counting how many quilts we've donated through the Challenge. No hard questions!

Reminder: the quilt sizes requested by our primary organizations are all found on the tab at the top of the blog, along with tons of other information and links to all the H2H posts. Click right HERE or look for the Hands2Help tab at the top. 

Another reminder: I am happy to answer your questions, but please, please leave an email address so I can get in touch with you. I feel awful when people have questions and I have no way to contact them.

A couple of questions:

Can I just send my quilts to you? Oh, no. Not only would I have to send them out again to our organizations, but here's what would likely happen: my hubby would open the box, think one of the donation quilts looked cozy, and curl up on the sofa with it for a nice nap. And then what would we do? Poke the sleeping bear? So save us all the trouble and send it directly to one of our very deserving organizations.

Can I get a tax receipt? A very common question! No, I don't give those receipts. Some organizations will do it upon request, but your best bet is to ask a tax advisor how to document your charitable donations. Having just finished my own taxes a few weeks ago, I can promise that you'll want to talk to someone other than me about it!

Can I have some fabric so I can make a donation quilt? Sorry, any fabric I would send would have to come from my own stash, and you know I have plans for every bit, right? 😊 The fabrics donated for prizes will be distributed randomly, and I'm committed to fairness in this, so I can't send them to people who just request them. Thanks for understanding.

That's all for now! Hope you are all having fun making your donations, and that you will give some of the patterns from our guest bloggers a try. Happy spring, and happy stitching!