Well, after doing much intense homework yesterday, I finally get to reward myself with time in the sewing studio today – yay! First some community and friend interaction at the Jitterbug Coffee Shop in Heber Springs. Then I’ll get to work on the very few remaining lap quilt tops, finishing them off in the next two weeks.
On Sat. 12/12 we’ll have a “wrap” party and several friends will come help us do a simple gift wrap for each quilt. Hey, I have an idea -- if you'll be around this area, come have fun with us!! Can I bribe you with snacks? Snacks always work for me - LOL! It’s so much more fun to have something to open, rather than just be handed a quilt — I can’t wait to join their fun party on the 22nd!
Peace, love and joy!
Donna
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
One Million Pillowcases -- Challenge
So, the Nicholas Project gang is always looking for projects to add to our list -- you know, for all that free time we have in between our other projects! We recently heard about this great and worthy cause to provide pillowcases to a variety of recipients: shelters, hospice, nursing homes, hospitals, chemo patients, etc.
American Patchwork and Quilting - part of Better Homes and Gardens - has challenged the sewing world to join the effort to make 1,000,000 (yep, that's one million) pillowcases by the end of 2010! They have some cute pattern ideas at their website, as well as a basic pattern with no frills. Pillowcases are so easy you almost HAVE to do it. Their project is promoted through local quilt shops, but there's no reason you can't do it on your own too.
If you just love making pillowcases and don't know where to send them, email me and I'll give you our address. We would be happy to find worthy homes for the work of your hands and hearts!
Peace, Donna
American Patchwork and Quilting - part of Better Homes and Gardens - has challenged the sewing world to join the effort to make 1,000,000 (yep, that's one million) pillowcases by the end of 2010! They have some cute pattern ideas at their website, as well as a basic pattern with no frills. Pillowcases are so easy you almost HAVE to do it. Their project is promoted through local quilt shops, but there's no reason you can't do it on your own too.
If you just love making pillowcases and don't know where to send them, email me and I'll give you our address. We would be happy to find worthy homes for the work of your hands and hearts!
Peace, Donna
Donna's Green Bean Casserole
I got the assignment to bring that good ole green bean casserole to a recent potluck at church, so I just couldn't resist making it my own. My variation is still very very easy. Here's what I did to gussy it up a bit -- and everyone loved it! I also have a link to the original recipe and another variation for it. Let me know how you like it.
Donna's Twist on the Green Bean Casserole
Frozen green beans (about a 16oz pkg.) (or fresh, last choice would be canned)
1 jar of alfredo sauce with mushrooms (or make your own)
Bacon, about 4 pieces crumbled (or bacon bits) (little chunks of ham are great in this too!)
Onions (raw or sauteed or those traditional French's french-fried onions)
1-3 teaspons of your favorite seasoning mix (such as Emeril's, or herbs de provence, or cajun, or whatever flavor you like. I know it sounds weird to be so general about this, but the idea is just to spice it up a little bit, but not overpoweringly)
(I put some inside the casserole and save some for garnish)
Mix all together and put in a casserole dish (I used a 9x13 rectangular pan, but a casserole dish would work fine). Bake at 350 degrees for about half an hour. Garnish the top around the perimeter, in a ring, with more of those french-fried onions. (See the website referenced above for another variation, including a different way to do the garnish)
Delish!
Donna's Twist on the Green Bean Casserole
Frozen green beans (about a 16oz pkg.) (or fresh, last choice would be canned)
1 jar of alfredo sauce with mushrooms (or make your own)
Bacon, about 4 pieces crumbled (or bacon bits) (little chunks of ham are great in this too!)
Onions (raw or sauteed or those traditional French's french-fried onions)
1-3 teaspons of your favorite seasoning mix (such as Emeril's, or herbs de provence, or cajun, or whatever flavor you like. I know it sounds weird to be so general about this, but the idea is just to spice it up a little bit, but not overpoweringly)
(I put some inside the casserole and save some for garnish)
Mix all together and put in a casserole dish (I used a 9x13 rectangular pan, but a casserole dish would work fine). Bake at 350 degrees for about half an hour. Garnish the top around the perimeter, in a ring, with more of those french-fried onions. (See the website referenced above for another variation, including a different way to do the garnish)
Delish!
Crockpot Lasagna
This easy meal can be thrown into the crockpot at lunchtime, and will be ready by dinnertime! The cooking time is only five hours -- hooray! As usual for me, I can't leave well enough alone, so have combined and modified some other recipes I use.
Crockpot Lasagna
1 pkg. uncooked lasagna noodles
1 lb. ground beef, sausage, turkey or veggie crumbles (and/or sliced veggies, spinach, etc.)
1 Tablespoon Italian Seasoning
1 teaspoon garlic powder (if you use fresh garlic, then include 1-2 cloves minced, into the pan when you’re browning the ground beef or turkey, then also add some to the sauce)
28 oz jar spaghetti sauce (or homemade!)
1/4 cup water or broth
1/4 cup canned or fresh sliced mushrooms (optional)
15 oz. ricotta cheese (or 2% cottage cheese)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Cream cheese, softened (optional, 3-4 oz)
To make this vegetarian: use cut veggies in place of the meats, such as zucchini and/or yellow crookneck squash, eggplant. If you use veggies, be sure they are uniformly cut into slices or diced first. If you use spinach, frozen works well. If you prefer fresh spinach, then it's helpful to blanch it first. Also, it's nice to see the colorful veggies, so although I mix any meats in with the sauce, if I use veggies I layer them, but do not mix them in with the sauce. It’s also delicious to add some chopped or diced onions to the mix.
For the basic recipe, first brown the meat, drain. Then you want to have the meat, seasonings, sauce, water, and any veggies all mixed together, in preparation for layering. Set aside in a bowl or pan.
Mix the cheeses together, in preparation for layering, then set aside in a bowl.
Ladle just a little bit of the meat-veggie-sauce mixture into the bottom of the crockpot. Then break the noodles into manageable sizes and place half of them on that first little foundation of sauce in the crockpot. Then layer half of the rest of the sauce, half of the cheeses, then repeat with rest of broken lasagna noodles, sauce, cheeses. Save a little sauce for the top of the pot.
Put the lid on and cook on LOW for 5 hours. ENJOY! It's great and healthy to have something green to eat on the side, perhaps a healthy big salad.
Crockpot Lasagna
1 pkg. uncooked lasagna noodles
1 lb. ground beef, sausage, turkey or veggie crumbles (and/or sliced veggies, spinach, etc.)
1 Tablespoon Italian Seasoning
1 teaspoon garlic powder (if you use fresh garlic, then include 1-2 cloves minced, into the pan when you’re browning the ground beef or turkey, then also add some to the sauce)
28 oz jar spaghetti sauce (or homemade!)
1/4 cup water or broth
1/4 cup canned or fresh sliced mushrooms (optional)
15 oz. ricotta cheese (or 2% cottage cheese)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Cream cheese, softened (optional, 3-4 oz)
To make this vegetarian: use cut veggies in place of the meats, such as zucchini and/or yellow crookneck squash, eggplant. If you use veggies, be sure they are uniformly cut into slices or diced first. If you use spinach, frozen works well. If you prefer fresh spinach, then it's helpful to blanch it first. Also, it's nice to see the colorful veggies, so although I mix any meats in with the sauce, if I use veggies I layer them, but do not mix them in with the sauce. It’s also delicious to add some chopped or diced onions to the mix.
For the basic recipe, first brown the meat, drain. Then you want to have the meat, seasonings, sauce, water, and any veggies all mixed together, in preparation for layering. Set aside in a bowl or pan.
Mix the cheeses together, in preparation for layering, then set aside in a bowl.
Ladle just a little bit of the meat-veggie-sauce mixture into the bottom of the crockpot. Then break the noodles into manageable sizes and place half of them on that first little foundation of sauce in the crockpot. Then layer half of the rest of the sauce, half of the cheeses, then repeat with rest of broken lasagna noodles, sauce, cheeses. Save a little sauce for the top of the pot.
Put the lid on and cook on LOW for 5 hours. ENJOY! It's great and healthy to have something green to eat on the side, perhaps a healthy big salad.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Thanksgiving Cyber Sewing Retreat!
Susan, from the yahoogroup known as Stashbusters, had a great idea! How about a cyber-sewing retreat for Thanksgiving weekend? Here's part of Susan's inviting note. To see her blog, go to http://www.susanround.com
"The pumpkin pies just came out of the oven. The turkey is almost thawed and ready for an early roasting for dinner at 1pm. We’re having a dinner tonight (Wednesday) and another tomorrow. Then, it’s time for SEWING!
If you don’t have any plans for this long weekend, or if you want to join in once your meals are over, please sign in and lets see what we can finish in the next 4 days. Me? I’m handstitching binding on 2 Christmas quilts, and polishing up a few other projects.
Thanks to all of my cyber friends and supporters who continue to make my holidays much more fun with having these cyber sew-ins. I truly appreciate your companionship more than you’ll ever realize! I hope your Thanksgiving is full of love, humor, and lots of calories!"
I'll join in -- I still have some finishing touches on our quilt project for the Southridge Nursing and Rehab facility, so this might just be the nudge I needed to get going! (especially after the lethargy of eating too much today.)
Peace, Donna
Giving Thanks
For God, Who so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that all who believe on Him would be saved.
For inlaws I love, and Thanksgiving day is always such a good time of fellowship, fun and games with them!
For kids and grandchildren around the world today, missing them yet loving the sound of their voices on the phone.
For a patient and quietly loving husband.
For the humble honor to serve others through the work of our hands.
Peace to all as we enter this special time of year, honoring our Lord's earthly birth!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Fun Workshop Day
Yesterday (11/19) we had our final workshop for the year. Next we'll go to the Southridge Nursing and Rehab Facility for their Christmas party on 12/22 and present all the residents with their new lap quilts. We hope to have the newspaper there, and we'll take more pics and upload those too. This pic shows our table with 107 lap quilts folded nicely, awaiting delivery. (oh yeah, Donna holding one of them that she really wanted to keep at home, but her hubby said nope, it goes to the Nicholas Project, sorry!)
I was able to get our regular lunch place (Spunky Pig/H&F, in Heber Springs, Arkansas) to provide free lunch for the Nicholas Project ladies today! We had BBQ pork sandwiches (the best!), potato salad, coleslaw, awesome baked beans, and iced tea. Wasn't that nice of them? And because of our nonprofit status, I was able to give them a receipt for the value of the meal for the six of us, for their taxes.
And now back to work. Here's Eloise, stitching away!
I have to share a funny story that you all will love. One of our ladies is new to all this sewing stuff, so we've been teaching her some simple things and she's been a good sport about it all. She mostly loves the fellowship of it all, as we all do. Well by the end of today we were wrapping it up and came across a bag of oddball scraps. Well, we got so excited and silly over that bag! We dumped it out on the table and all just dove into it, claiming our favorites, imaging what we would to with them -- just a fun, silly free-for-all. So during all this, Cindy (the novice) was watching like we were from another planet. She exclaimed, "I can't believe how you all are acting over a bag of leftover junk!" We just laughed at her and said, "You just wait, once the bug bites you, it will all become clear and you'll be just like us silly girl!" Her (Cindy) mother recently gave her an old sewing machine in a cabinet. We promised to teach her how to sew after January, and after she gets that old machine tuned up. She has no idea how addicting this can get - LOL.
Here's Cindy at the ironing board:
Janet and Velma:
Ellen joined us, her first venture after recovery from a massive stroke, from which God saved her, having arranged everything perfectly in place for a skilled doctor who just "happened" to be near her when it happened! Here's sweet Ellen:
I was able to get our regular lunch place (Spunky Pig/H&F, in Heber Springs, Arkansas) to provide free lunch for the Nicholas Project ladies today! We had BBQ pork sandwiches (the best!), potato salad, coleslaw, awesome baked beans, and iced tea. Wasn't that nice of them? And because of our nonprofit status, I was able to give them a receipt for the value of the meal for the six of us, for their taxes.
And now back to work. Here's Eloise, stitching away!
I have to share a funny story that you all will love. One of our ladies is new to all this sewing stuff, so we've been teaching her some simple things and she's been a good sport about it all. She mostly loves the fellowship of it all, as we all do. Well by the end of today we were wrapping it up and came across a bag of oddball scraps. Well, we got so excited and silly over that bag! We dumped it out on the table and all just dove into it, claiming our favorites, imaging what we would to with them -- just a fun, silly free-for-all. So during all this, Cindy (the novice) was watching like we were from another planet. She exclaimed, "I can't believe how you all are acting over a bag of leftover junk!" We just laughed at her and said, "You just wait, once the bug bites you, it will all become clear and you'll be just like us silly girl!" Her (Cindy) mother recently gave her an old sewing machine in a cabinet. We promised to teach her how to sew after January, and after she gets that old machine tuned up. She has no idea how addicting this can get - LOL.
Here's Cindy at the ironing board:
Janet and Velma:
Ellen joined us, her first venture after recovery from a massive stroke, from which God saved her, having arranged everything perfectly in place for a skilled doctor who just "happened" to be near her when it happened! Here's sweet Ellen:
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Almost at Goal!
Just so you know our Colorado friend, Miss Jackie, is superwoman! Not only does she sacrifice her body (and maybe sanity some days) for the sake of her high calling to help raise and guide her grandchildren, somewhere in there she sews for charity! (and other stuff too like wifey stuff, etc.)
Today the postal carrier brought a wonderful surprise -- a package from Jackie for the Nicholas Project! She sent a beautiful quilt, with gorgeous embroidery on some of the squares, PLUS some extra squares already cut out!
...and a little birdie just emailed me that another package is on the way from another Colorado friend!
Today the Nicholas Project ladies worked hard all day again, with a fun lunch break to celebrate a member's birthday. She has been our quilt queen (Janet K.) and we were so happy to get to celebrate her birthday and thank her for all she's done. She has a gifted eye for color combinations and placements. With the help of our internet friends, we are pretty sure we'll be at our goal within two weeks! We will meet next Thursday for the last time this year and then take time off until January. Of course we will ALL go together to the Southridge Nursing and Rehab Center to present the quilts to the residents, just before Christmas. I plan to request the little local newspaper to cover the presentation and I'll upload the article and pics if it happens. Either way, I'll upload pics because we'll have our own cameras there. I believe there'll be restrictions on photos due to HIIPA Laws, but we should be able to take pics of staff and ourselves and the holiday-decorated facility at least.
We decided that if we actually end up with more quilts than patients (not likely, but possibly), then we'll have a little inventory for those situations that arise where someone will be in need and we could respond quickly. We have a closet at the church and my house and our goal is to have a few of each type of item on hand, such as burial outfits, preemie outfits, lap quilts, prayer shawls, etc. -- just a little bit of each.
Today we heard of a residential place that houses 8 teen boys who have no family, and are cared for by a house-parent. We may try to do something quickly for them for Christmas, perhaps shoeboxes with stuff like socks, toiletries, gift certificates, etc. We'd like to just do something quick and inexpensive if we can.
We'll meet in December just as a planning meeting, so we start 2010 with an organized plan for the first six months, and then also be flexible in case something critical comes up where we can help.
Love and peace, Donna
Today the postal carrier brought a wonderful surprise -- a package from Jackie for the Nicholas Project! She sent a beautiful quilt, with gorgeous embroidery on some of the squares, PLUS some extra squares already cut out!
...and a little birdie just emailed me that another package is on the way from another Colorado friend!
Today the Nicholas Project ladies worked hard all day again, with a fun lunch break to celebrate a member's birthday. She has been our quilt queen (Janet K.) and we were so happy to get to celebrate her birthday and thank her for all she's done. She has a gifted eye for color combinations and placements. With the help of our internet friends, we are pretty sure we'll be at our goal within two weeks! We will meet next Thursday for the last time this year and then take time off until January. Of course we will ALL go together to the Southridge Nursing and Rehab Center to present the quilts to the residents, just before Christmas. I plan to request the little local newspaper to cover the presentation and I'll upload the article and pics if it happens. Either way, I'll upload pics because we'll have our own cameras there. I believe there'll be restrictions on photos due to HIIPA Laws, but we should be able to take pics of staff and ourselves and the holiday-decorated facility at least.
We decided that if we actually end up with more quilts than patients (not likely, but possibly), then we'll have a little inventory for those situations that arise where someone will be in need and we could respond quickly. We have a closet at the church and my house and our goal is to have a few of each type of item on hand, such as burial outfits, preemie outfits, lap quilts, prayer shawls, etc. -- just a little bit of each.
Today we heard of a residential place that houses 8 teen boys who have no family, and are cared for by a house-parent. We may try to do something quickly for them for Christmas, perhaps shoeboxes with stuff like socks, toiletries, gift certificates, etc. We'd like to just do something quick and inexpensive if we can.
We'll meet in December just as a planning meeting, so we start 2010 with an organized plan for the first six months, and then also be flexible in case something critical comes up where we can help.
Love and peace, Donna
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Community Outreach
Last Saturday (11/7) the Nicholas Project participated in a local craft faire and we had so much fun! So many things converged and made it the perfect event for us. The spaces were pre-assigned and we got a great one -- very near the entrance, so everyone who entered had to pass by our spot. We were directly across the aisle from the food ladies, so you know what that meant -- I just had to have a chili dog by 10:15 am. My excuse was that I got up at 5:30am and had no breakfast. Besides, it's fun to eat lunch for breakfast. My mother used to give us breakfast for dinner once in awhile.
Many people stopped to talk with us, asking good questions about our mission and workshops. We had the most adorable display setup, if I may say so. We draped our two tables with lots of colorful lap quilts (our current nursing home project for Christmas), then we placed teddy bears all around, with preemie hats on them, and some small knitted/crocheted blankets spread around. We had a basketfull of knitted caps on one corner, and our financial binder book standing up on the other corner -- we want to always be transparent and accountable with our finances. I also displayed some pictures of preemies. Behind our chairs was an easel, draped with a few more lap quilts and topped with a hanging antique christening gown. One of our members makes beautiful beaded jewelry, so she donated some to our cause and they generated donations to help us purchase more supplies.
We were invited to come speak at a couple of groups' meetings and also received some unexpected donations! What a great and blessed day!
Many people stopped to talk with us, asking good questions about our mission and workshops. We had the most adorable display setup, if I may say so. We draped our two tables with lots of colorful lap quilts (our current nursing home project for Christmas), then we placed teddy bears all around, with preemie hats on them, and some small knitted/crocheted blankets spread around. We had a basketfull of knitted caps on one corner, and our financial binder book standing up on the other corner -- we want to always be transparent and accountable with our finances. I also displayed some pictures of preemies. Behind our chairs was an easel, draped with a few more lap quilts and topped with a hanging antique christening gown. One of our members makes beautiful beaded jewelry, so she donated some to our cause and they generated donations to help us purchase more supplies.
We were invited to come speak at a couple of groups' meetings and also received some unexpected donations! What a great and blessed day!
Monday, November 09, 2009
NonProfit Status
We have been blessed by people desiring to help defray the costs of materials for the things we make. Consequently, we completed the Arkansas State filing process and are now approved and incorporated as a Religious Charitable Organization, effective October 13, 2008.
Additionally, we have sent in the IRS form 1023 -- which is an application to become recognized as exempt under section 501(c)3 of their tax codes. The application fee was a shocking (to us) $300! So now we wait for a decision on that request. We feel hopeful and prayerfully confident that our application will be approved, and will enable those who have donated money or items to us to include those donations when calculating their annual tax returns.
I will post updates to that process here, as they develop. I was able to speak by phone with a very helpful IRS employee and he assured me that regardless of when our application is processed, it will be retroactive to the date of our incorporation -- nice work IRS! Thank you.
Additionally, we have sent in the IRS form 1023 -- which is an application to become recognized as exempt under section 501(c)3 of their tax codes. The application fee was a shocking (to us) $300! So now we wait for a decision on that request. We feel hopeful and prayerfully confident that our application will be approved, and will enable those who have donated money or items to us to include those donations when calculating their annual tax returns.
I will post updates to that process here, as they develop. I was able to speak by phone with a very helpful IRS employee and he assured me that regardless of when our application is processed, it will be retroactive to the date of our incorporation -- nice work IRS! Thank you.
About Us
A few years ago, sweet Nicholas was stillborn -- straight into the arms of Jesus, when my son and his wife were in Italy. As grandparents, we never got to be involved in the pregnancy or meet little Nicholas, until his very sad funeral back home in California.
Our whole family was devastated by this long-awaited child's passing. I started the Nicholas Project as a way of keeping his memory alive, while also finding ways to help others. Our efforts have grown and now we sew, knit, crochet items for multiple charitable causes.
We hold workshops twice a month: once to make items for preemies and stillborn babies, and the other time to make items for other special causes. Right now we're finishing up a huge undertaking -- making 125 (it was 150 until we got a better count) lap quilts for the local nursing home/rehab center. Several of our online Martha Pullen friends have sent some quilts, quilt tops, squares, fabric and even money to help purchase supplies.
Thank you all for prayer support and practical contributions!
Our whole family was devastated by this long-awaited child's passing. I started the Nicholas Project as a way of keeping his memory alive, while also finding ways to help others. Our efforts have grown and now we sew, knit, crochet items for multiple charitable causes.
We hold workshops twice a month: once to make items for preemies and stillborn babies, and the other time to make items for other special causes. Right now we're finishing up a huge undertaking -- making 125 (it was 150 until we got a better count) lap quilts for the local nursing home/rehab center. Several of our online Martha Pullen friends have sent some quilts, quilt tops, squares, fabric and even money to help purchase supplies.
Thank you all for prayer support and practical contributions!
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