A New Life for Maggie Mae

I've been neglecting this blog lately; it's so much faster and easier to post on Facebook. But this post is longer than a FB status update, and is about something I care deeply about- the fate of dogs in puppy mills.

Many of you know I have two "second-hand" dogs; prior to that we had ferrets from a ferret rescue. I am a firm believer in "adopt, not shop", and I put my money where my mouth is. Most rescues run on a shoestring budget. Sometimes there is simply no money to take in another animal, but there are animals they cannot turn their back on. I'm hoping some of you will be touched by the plight of Maggie May and will contribute to her care. She is not the only one; today four dogs began their new lives in loving foster homes thanks to Just a Touch Rescue.

The following is from an unbelievably dedicated foster mom named Eileen. She opens her home to those dogs needing the most care.

Today begins a new chapter in your sad life Maggie Mae. You are a 10 year old Bichon that was a slave to the mass breeding facilities. You gave your all and received nothing in return. We picked you up today. You looked worn and tired and scared. You reminded me of this song by Rod Stewart, Maggie Mae. The morning sun when it's in your eyes really shows your age. But that don't worry me none, in my eyes you are everything. And you are. You are the best and the bravest and the most loving mother and little white doll of a dog. You see folks, in the puppymill Maggie Mae lived in a cage with wire for the floor. Her foot slipped through the wires and the dogs in the crate below her chewed off her trapped little foot. We believe that was years ago. I can't even imagine the horror and pain she went through. Yet the "breeders" kept her in that cage and continued to breed her, heat after heat. She must have been a good and kind and caring mother in spite of her pain and lack of a front paw. Or she would not have been kept in that prison. They would have disposed of her:(( Today marks a new and happier chapter for Mother Maggie Mae. She will learn that her needs will be met. That she will be warm and fed and loved. That she will NEVER be screamed at or handled roughly. She will have soft beds to sleep on and doggie and people friends to live out her life with. She will not ever be bred again. She is officially retired from working for a living. If life in a hellhole can be called living. Maggie Mae has dental issues, mammary tumors and needs to be spay. She has a stump for a front leg where the paw was chewed off. If you can contribute a small amt toward her care it would be greatly appreciated. Just A Touch Rescue has taken her under their wing and will be caring for all her needs. Please pass this info along to your friends..if only to alert them to the horrors of the mass breeding facilities.Sadly there are thousands of other "Maggie Maes" waiting on the wires for rescue to come... www.justatouchrescue.com Thank you from all of us at Just A Touch Rescue and Mother Maggie Mae

I guess I'm now officially a ruler inventor

Details on Quilt-a-thon

The Great Northeastern Quilt-a-thon

To benefit Quilts of Valor (www.QOVF.org).

You can make a difference! Help us celebrate the 20th anniversary of Make a Difference Day.

Make A Difference Day, the largest national day of helping others, is sponsored annually by USA WEEKEND Magazine and its 700 carrier newspapers. Make A Difference Day takes place on the 4th Saturday in October each year.

I’m throwing down the gauntlet. I’m issuing a challenge to the quilters of New York and New England: I think we can make 1,000 Quilts of Valor between today, August 14 and Make a Difference Day, October 23, 2010. I need you all to help me get the word out. Forward this to your local quilt shops, to your quilt guild, to your sewing buddies. Post on Facebook, tweet on Twitter, call your Grandma. Not from New York or New England? So what? You can still participate.

Rev up those sewing machines and put the pedal to the metal!

Here’s what you can do:

Stitchers: Piece quilt tops, alone or with friends.

Longarmers: Volunteer to quilt QOV’s. You can sign up to be a longarmer on the QOV website

Quilt guilds and quilting groups: At your next meeting make QOV’s. Or ask members to bring in blocks and put the blocks together.

Quilt shops: Have a QOV class/workshop day or days. PIck a simple pattern so all levels of stitchers can participate. Or invite customers to work on their own QOV’s. Keep it free and easy- drop in for an hour or stay all day.

Ask participants to bring in their own fabrics- stick to red, white and blue, or go across the color spectrum (just a note from personal experience, be specific - people tend to bring in more medium and dark fabrics than very light ones). Ask for larger quantities for quilt backs.

Don’t forget to make a presentation case for each quilt.

Don’t forget to make a label.

Do refer to the QOV web site for specifics on how to make a QOV (sizes, materials, etc.).

Do email me if you have any questions. Barbara@QOVF.org

Have fun with this.

Barbara Chojnacki

Quilts of Valor Regional Coordinator,

Region 10 (NY and New England)

Great Northeastern Quilt-a-thon

I'm inviting quilters from New York and New England (and anywhere else, for that matter) to make a difference. Let's celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Make a Difference Day by making at least 1,000 Quilts of Valor between today and October 23, 2010.

Do you like seahorses?

I do. And so do most people. Seahorses are right up there with dragonflies at the top of the list of "Very Cool Creatures". And seahorses are the subject of my friend Linda M. Poole's new line of fabrics (following close on the heels of her first line, "Iridescence", which features dragonflies). You've got to check these out- the seahorses are wonderful, the colors are simply stunning, and the whole line of fabrics is irresistible!

Coming out of hibernation...

Not really. This soon to be past winter has been a creative time for me, and I'm excited about all the things that had been going on in my life that are now coming to fruition.

Four new quilts have been born, and I'm "pregnant" with a fifth. Also on the quilting front, one of my quilts, "The Mystery of the Missing Root Children" (pictured) has been chosen for an exhibit at MQX next month. And there will be other news, but all in due time.

I have also had the immense pleasure (and time, and effort) of putting together a fund-raising cookbook that is almost ready for the printer. This will benefit Just a Touch Rescue. Please let me know if you would like to be notified when the book is out.