Back in The Saddle......

I am back....again.  Let's just pretend that I wrote blog posts for the past 7 months shall we?  I feel like a stranger to this space.  I hardly know where to begin but I guess it is time for us to get reacquainted because the work of Margaret's Hope Chest has not stopped even though my blogging has.
Hi, my name is Carin and together with my mom (Carol) we run Margaret's Hope Chest--a quilting non-profit that strives to give HOPE and comfort to hurting people through the gift of a homemade quilt. 
Outside of quilting, I have a busy family life.  My husband and I have 6 amazing children.  We adopted our two youngest daughters from China--Pearl in 2013, and Molly just last month! 
Here is the most updated picture of our family, taken about 2 weeks ago:

 And here I am with Pearl and Molly--also known as Double Trouble. (they are 4 months apart in age--Pearl will be 5 in October and Molly with be 5 in February)

Within weeks of writing the past post in January, I decided to start making custom quilts for people to help pay for some of our adoption costs.  I have never really sold quilts before so this was a new arena for me. Here is my take on making custom quilts--a fun challenge but you will never be able to charge as much as they are worth.  See this panda quilt?

I designed the whole thing.  Fun, but a bit time consuming.  It was for another adoptive family that  met their daughter a few months before we met Molly. 

I also made about 5 more between Februaury and May. Phew. It was exhausting but we paid all of the adoption fees and the goal was met.

It is now time to move back into VOLUNTEER quilting--my favorite kind! 

So here is where we stand:
We have given away 2,310 quilts over the past 8 years!!!!  I would estimate that since January we given away around 50 quilts.  We will be giving away another 30 at a prison in late October.  We have 24 quilts ready to be given to the mother's postpartum depression program----but we still need help!

We are looking for volunteers to make a quilt for the postpartum depression program at Pine Rest (Click underlined sentence for more information).  I am described before what this program means to me personally-but since we are getting reaquinted here, I will share again briefly my own struggles with PPD. 
After my 3rd and 4th pregnancies I experienced PPD and anxiety. It was not a great place to be. Without my husband staying home with me for 6 weeks, I am not sure I would have made it.  Many of the ladies who attend this program do not have a husband or any other support person who can stay home and take care of them--and so this program is literally saving their lives and possibly the lives of their babies.  We have heard over and over again that these quilts are a HUGE comfort to these moms---and a HUGE symbol of HOPE!  If you are able--could you please sign up to make a quilt for a mom?  Email me with the month that you can help and I will reply with the directions.
Basically---any size, bright cheerful colors and designs--something that shouts "You are going to make it---don't give up HOPE!"
*You can make the quilt and send it to us at any time before the assigned month*

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A New Year, A New Life

Good Evening faithful friends of Margaret's Hope Chest!
It's a new year.  I am living in a new country. Yes, our family moved once more and now we are just across the Texas border in good old Mexico.  We lived in Mexico (different city) about 10 years ago.  It's good to be back. Although being this close to the border, we slip over to Texas for most of our needs and wants.
I have a new home situation too--one that I hope will be more conducive to quilting.  I am no longer homeschooling my kids--the four oldest leave the house around 7am and don't return until 4pm.  That leaves me with one child.  I haven't had one child in the house for 11 years.  It takes a little getting used to but I can already feel my creative 'sinuses', if you will, opening back up.

So, I have a new life of sorts.  I hope to spend more time here sharing and encouraging others to help us spread HOPE and comfort.

I actually have done quite a bit of quilting over the past few months--but not for Margaret's Hope Chest.  I made and sold several quilts to help fund raise for our upcoming adoption.  I thought I would share those with you today.