calling International Members for do. Good Stitches!
Since summer of 2010, do. Good Stitches {a charity bee} has been making quilts for all sorts of worthy causes from disadvantaged children to seriously ill children, hospice, women's shelters, foster children, cancer patients, you name it. It's a bee run through Flickr, connecting quilters young and old, experienced and new from all over the world, who enjoy working in a modern quilting style. In circles of 10, each little do. Good group makes one quilt per month for their dedicated charity.
Through the years we've had lots and lots of members come and go. While changes can be challenging to orchestrate, I welcome that fluidity. Many folks can't commit to sewing month after month, as life is always changing, with demands ebbing and flowing. I love that you can join us at do. Good Stitches, stitching or quilting for several months or years and years.
But sometimes things do go awry. We've had a few quilts that don't seem to get finished. We've had members disappear without any warning, leaving the rest of the circle in the lurch. It's tough, but I'm committed to not giving up. Always just pick up the pieces, keep moving forward and know that every bit counts, even the bits that are lost. If nothing else, they change us. They keep us thinking of others.
And besides, I hang on to the hope that every quilt will find it's finish someday, sometime. For anyone who finds themself in a tough spot in do. Good (or any bee, really) just reach out and ask for help. People will help. They will understand! Sometimes you might need to let other hands do the last work. And, that's ok.
The quilts in this post were finished by various do. Good Stitches circles just within the last 7 days! How awesome is that?
Pretty awesome.
So, all this is on my mind because this week a change is coming for many international members of do. Good Stitches. With postage increases everyone is feeling sensitive about mailing packages overseas. We have members from different continents sharing the same circle. And that's exciting, but possibly a bit impractical.
When a long-time member of do. Good Stitches contacted me this week to share an idea on her heart - to start a Dutch circle - I realized it was probably time to take a step back and evaluate. I talked to another long-time member from the UK, who shared she'd been wanting to start a UK circle as well. At the moment, I'm juggling a lot of moving pieces to attempt to puzzle together purely local circles in Australia, Netherlands/Western Europe, the UK and Canada. Each change is sensitive, as I don't want to force anyone to leave a circle of friends, but so far everyone feels drawn to going local. Sometimes practical wins out!
That said, at this moment we are in need of a few more international members to finish out our local circles. If you are in Australia, Western Europe, the UK or Canada and have considered joining do. Good Stitches, now is the time! Our bee members work from their own stash and communicate through Flickr, so we need members who are active on Flickr and whose fabric choices will mix easily with others who have "modern" taste in fabrics. You can register to join via this form. For more details, see how this bee works.
Those in the States are welcome to register as well! We have a wait list and always need new quilters to be able to launch new circles in the States.
I know that many of my readers are already active in do. Good Stitches or in other charitable quilting efforts. Thank-you for giving of yourself through this art we all love. It's inspiring to sew among you!
xo, Rachel
 |
| by Cheer Circle, quilted by Claire Jane |
Through the years we've had lots and lots of members come and go. While changes can be challenging to orchestrate, I welcome that fluidity. Many folks can't commit to sewing month after month, as life is always changing, with demands ebbing and flowing. I love that you can join us at do. Good Stitches, stitching or quilting for several months or years and years.
 |
| by Faith Circle, quilted by Debbie of A Quilter's Table |
But sometimes things do go awry. We've had a few quilts that don't seem to get finished. We've had members disappear without any warning, leaving the rest of the circle in the lurch. It's tough, but I'm committed to not giving up. Always just pick up the pieces, keep moving forward and know that every bit counts, even the bits that are lost. If nothing else, they change us. They keep us thinking of others.
 |
| by Haven Circle, quilted by Sara aka KnottyGnome |
And besides, I hang on to the hope that every quilt will find it's finish someday, sometime. For anyone who finds themself in a tough spot in do. Good (or any bee, really) just reach out and ask for help. People will help. They will understand! Sometimes you might need to let other hands do the last work. And, that's ok.
 |
| by Dream Circle, quilted by Sacridote |
The quilts in this post were finished by various do. Good Stitches circles just within the last 7 days! How awesome is that?
Pretty awesome.
 |
| by Happiness Circle, in process with Marika of Live, Laugh, Love... Sew |
So, all this is on my mind because this week a change is coming for many international members of do. Good Stitches. With postage increases everyone is feeling sensitive about mailing packages overseas. We have members from different continents sharing the same circle. And that's exciting, but possibly a bit impractical.
 |
| by Inspire Circle, quilted by Kelly aka ScrapStudio |
When a long-time member of do. Good Stitches contacted me this week to share an idea on her heart - to start a Dutch circle - I realized it was probably time to take a step back and evaluate. I talked to another long-time member from the UK, who shared she'd been wanting to start a UK circle as well. At the moment, I'm juggling a lot of moving pieces to attempt to puzzle together purely local circles in Australia, Netherlands/Western Europe, the UK and Canada. Each change is sensitive, as I don't want to force anyone to leave a circle of friends, but so far everyone feels drawn to going local. Sometimes practical wins out!
 |
| block by one of our UK members - BearpawandBearpaw for Cherish Circle |
That said, at this moment we are in need of a few more international members to finish out our local circles. If you are in Australia, Western Europe, the UK or Canada and have considered joining do. Good Stitches, now is the time! Our bee members work from their own stash and communicate through Flickr, so we need members who are active on Flickr and whose fabric choices will mix easily with others who have "modern" taste in fabrics. You can register to join via this form. For more details, see how this bee works.
Those in the States are welcome to register as well! We have a wait list and always need new quilters to be able to launch new circles in the States.
I know that many of my readers are already active in do. Good Stitches or in other charitable quilting efforts. Thank-you for giving of yourself through this art we all love. It's inspiring to sew among you!
xo, Rachel