Have you heard about Tote Tuesday? This is a fabulous fund raiser geared toward fiber art and those who love it. Organized by Virginia Spiegel, 100% of the proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.

Starting February 2nd, awesome tote bags will be auctioned online. Each one has a theme, which might be a technique such as rusting fabric, or a visual motif, such as hearts. The totes include everything from DVDs, to beads, and even completed small art pieces!

Each week, a different tote bag will be offered. You'll find lots of information on Virginia's blog. Be sure to check it often to make sure you get your favorite bag! (I've got my eye on several.)

I made a small collage called Emerging Hope. I thought this title would be appropriate for the image, as well as elude to the hope a cancer patient so desperately needs. Do you see the subtle heart?

The collage size is only 10" x 8", so it will fit in the tote. I envision it being mounted on a white mat, and framed with a skinny black frame, as shown.

As it turns out, this little quilt presented some technical challenges. You can read about that on my blog, (January 8th and forward.) You'll also see my progress and detail shots.

Thanks to the generosity of many donors, there will be several "Have a Heart" totes. My collage will go up for auction on Tuesday, February 9th, along with a beautiful one-of-a-kind fabric, and several large spools of pink and red thread.

Are you considering shipping a quilt to a show, but wondering how to do it? A friend recently asked me about this, I responded like this:

I generally pack my quilts in long boxes, 48 x 6 x 6.  I order these from www.uline.com, and generally use them several times. Alternatively, FedEx has a long skinny box that works when shipping shorter pieces by air. 

This is my how I typically prepare a quilt for shipping:
- Roll the quilt around a swimming noodle or a taped-together cylinder of bubble wrap.
- Roll it with the right side out, and starting from the bottom edge.
- Roll a piece of muslin, etc. around the quilt, so you can pin it in place without having to pin into the quilt.
- I have big long skinny quilt bags I've made, each with my contact information.  I put the whole assembly into one of those.  I've never bothered with trying to waterproof the whole thing, but it's a good idea, if you can engineer it. Options include buying commercial bags or rigging one with trash bags and packing tape.
- Pack the tube/quilt assembly into the box so it stays in the center, rather than banging into the sides.  (Just wedge newspaper, etc. around the noodle at each end.)

I've used USPS, UPS, and FedEx for shipping.  They all have their pros and cons.  USPS is by far the cheapest, but it's also the least secure.  And their insurance is sorta pricey.  UPS and FedEx are very similar.  I generally use UPS out of habit, but many quilters prefer FedEx.  Declare the contents as linens!  (Apparently the risk of theft is higher if the shipping label says quilt.)

Insurance is a toss up.  You can buy it, but that doesn't mean you'll be compensated for the full amount purchased. The shipper will require you to prove the value, so unless you have an appraisal, you'll probably be out of luck. 

I've added this information to my Directory of Free Articles, with additional links and a photo of my packing supplies.

Several years ago, my website had a different name and address. Since changing, I've been SLOWLY moving content from the old one to this one. One "new" addition this month is an article about my visit to the Paris Fabric District. I think you'll enjoy it. Just follow this link.

There are several other new things on the website and blog. Be sure to check the sidebar on the right for the latest updates.

- New Smyrna Beach, FL, February 2, Pelican Piecemakers' Quilt Guild
- Hudson, FL, March 18-20, West Pasco Quilt Guild
- Stuart, FL, April 8 & 11, Martin County Quilters

Use the button below to subscribe to the newsletter, sign up for advance notice about classes, or manage your subscription.