Thursday, March 1, 2018

March Cross Plus Non-Profit Spotlight and Block Construction

It's March and time to introduce our second non-profit that benefits the needs of impoverished or minority kids and teens.  If you want to know the catalyst behind this project, check out the original Cross Plus Charity Drive post. My goal with this endeavor is to help minority teens and young adults get the help they need to set them up for long-term success. I'm hoping this endeavor will help a wide variety of organizations that meet the needs of these teens/young adults. There are so many who strive to help a specific population and my goal is to reach a variety of groups. I do not get any sort of compensation for supporting these organizations. I just do the research and find the organizations to help. If you have an idea or suggestion for an organization to support, please email me at simplypurplepoppy@gmail.com

On the first of each month, I'll post the details about the organization/charity we'll be donating to. I'll also include the block instructions at the bottom of the post.  I'll post reminders on instagram, so make sure you're following me there (@purplepoppyquilts) for updates on this undertaking. You can send blocks any time of any month, the monthly reminder posts will just be...reminders. The last week of the month will be the raffle ticket purchase/drawing. Raffle Tickets are $1 and there's no limit to how many you can purchase.

**If you'd like to donate to the construction of quilts (i.e., batting, backing, quilting, binding, shipping, or the money to purchase these items), please contact me via Instagram or email (Simplypurplepoppy@gmail.com).

Raffle Details:


During the last week of the month, you can purchase raffle tickets and/or donate via the "DONATE" button on this blog. If you'd like your donation to go to the construction of the quilts, instead of to the specific organization, please email me/message me on Instagram and we'll make other arrangements for you to donate.

On the last day of the month, I will draw a winner from the raffle ticket purchases and send this quilt to you! I will also publish how much money was raised and make the donation to this month's organization.


MARCH NON-PROFIT SPOTLIGHT: BLACK COMMUNITY CRUSADE FOR CHILDREN (BCCC)

The Black Community Crusade for Children (BCCC) was organized to confront a deepening crisis facing far too many of our children. Poor children and children of color are particularly at risk for poor outcomes in all developmental and societal areas, and we are calling on all Americans to take action. A toxic cocktail of poverty, illiteracy, racial disparity, violence and massive incarceration is sentencing millions of children of color to dead end, powerless, and hopeless lives and threatens to undermine the past half century of racial and social progress. The BCCC offers an intergenerational approach to inform the community about the potential harm to our children should we do nothing, and engage and encourage them to advocate for, address, and support our children’s issues with urgency and persistence.

The BCCC has several initiatives to help with their mission of helping kids. They organize school and after school programs to remedy the educational disparity. "Through nationwide initiatives and community-based programs, we plant the seeds to develop the next generation of servant-leaders who will continue to reweave the fabric of community for children and youth. Our vision is to create a successor generation of servant-leaders who will drive community and national transformations and inspire and make long-term improvements for children."

In addition to the local initiatives, BCCC has a national research and action institute dedicated to advancing economic and social equity. Please feel free to explore their website and see if there are ways you can help in your local community. There are so many kids who need help in so many ways. 

Cross Plus Block Construction: 
I chose this block and resized it so that you can hopefully use up some scraps! Change the world and use up scraps! It's a win/win! You can use a jelly roll strip or charm squares for almost every part of this block. For this block drive, we're using the instructions on Bad Skirt's blog, with a couple changes. 

1. Your cutting instructions will be slightly bigger because our block will be 10.5" unfinished, instead of the 8" in her tutorial. You'll need one print for the center +, one black print for the outer edges, a variety of low volume prints, and 4 bright, happy squares, as pictured in the diagram below. Because we want bright, saturated fabrics, please stay away from NAVY, GRAY, AND BROWN for any part of this block. 

2. The tutorial has you cut the larger squares on the bias. You don't need to do that for this block. Just cut your 4.5" squares as normal. 


Make the outer "spokes" first, pressing towards the middle (aka, the darker fabric). Then assemble the center + and black prints, pressing towards the center + fabric. Then assemble the rows. 


You can see in this photo the pressing directions. When you assemble your rows, press towards the middle. Same when you finish the block. If you feel strongly about it, you can also press all seams open. 

When you finish your block(s), please consider doing a 1/8" staystitch around the edge. I promise, the person assembling the quilt and the quilter will love you for it.


When your blocks are ready, just message me on Instagram or email me at simplypurplepoppy@gmail.com and I'll send you my shipping address. Please make sure your blocks are sent in a waterproof bag. I'd hate for all your hard work to be ruined by the postal system!


I want to take a brief moment to thank you in advance. First, for reading through this entire post (phew!). And second, for your good, kind hearts. In working with at-risk kids in schools and communities, it's so easy to get discouraged and feel helpless. I know it may not feel like you're changing the world by making a few quilt blocks and using up scraps, but I've seen so much good come from small acts of love. So, thank you for being so wonderful and good in a world that often only sees the negative. I feel lucky to be a part of this amazing creative community. 

JUNE Cross Plus Charity Spotlight & Block Construction

UPDATE: This month we raised $557 for RAICES Texas. Our quilt winner is Linda Costello!! It's June. Yes, I skipped May. It was a non-s...