Thursday, September 22, 2011

It's been a week

It feels more like a month. I've had one of those weeks that makes your head spin. OK. It doesn't take much to make my head spin. I hear ya, don't be unkind. We will start with my next sewing project. Remember all these little 1.5 inch squares? Well I have a plan. It might take me until the end of the year to finish, but I have a plan.

I started sewing these little boogers together and chain piecing, but I can only do that for like an hour before I go brain numb and need to do something else.



But I have a cute stack of 5.5 inch blocks with an alternating block to come.


OK now on to life stuff.

It is so different here than Northern Virginia. DUH! No kidding, right?

I joined the girls PTA at the school. We just finished one of those brain numbing fundraiser - you know the one- door to door- selling magazines, wrapping paper etc. The one that very few people like to do. One of the biggest differences I see here is the amount of money or lack thereof that the schools/ PTA has for the school run programs. The last fundraiser didn't do very well for the reasons previously stated so it is time for something new.

This week I have been setting up " Dinner Nights Out" at local restraurants for the school. These are fundraisers where the families of the school go to a restraurant on a certain night during certain hours and a percentage of sales goes to the school.

The other thing on my radar has been getting a spirit wear proogram set up for the school/PTA.

Hoping to launch that in November.

I went to the Humane Society to see about volunteering to walk dogs. That is a process. First a interview, than a background check, then 3 - 4hr classes before I can even touch a dog. Next orientation is when my parents will be here so we will see.
Mom and Dad come in just a few weeks and the balloon fiesta will be going on then. Each morning there is at least one balloon in the sky. I can't wait to see all of them. Don't worry - I'll take pictures.

If you have any ideas on fundraising or community events for the school please let me know. I kind of feel like this is a calling. I would love to see more of a community feel and bonding within the students , teachers and families.

have a great weekend.


Dena




4 comments:

  1. The blocks are adorable! I really love the colors, but I don't know if I could bring myself to sew all those little pieces. Hats off to you!

    and sorry about all your frustrations. It sounds like a lot of work, but I can imagine that you'll be a blessing to the school after all is said and done.

    As to walking dogs...a background check? that's interesting.... =) I hope you're not a serial dog nabber!

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  2. Could you sew the little squares together as "starters & enders" while you're sewing on something else? The blocks are cute. :D
    Fundraising...hmmmm...
    If you could get someone/place to donate, maybe have a hot dogs or hamburger dinner night? We do that at my mobile home park to raise money for the holiday dinner that's free to all the residents in December. Have the PTA folks make the side dishes to go with. May be more of a warm weather kind of thing, but for future reference then.
    Kelly Gallagher-Abbott at Jukebox Quilts has a book about quilt fundraising with children (http://www.jukeboxquilts.com/store/books.php).
    I know she was pretty successful with them when she lived in SoCal.
    A community cookbook? Maybe a local printer would give you a break on making copies/binding them. We've had some fundraisers here at my work, and I know that a lot of the businesses in town will donate items - fast food gift certs, hair salon gift certs, movie tickets, etc. Do you have a good size PTA? At my guild, we have a basket every month that we can buy tickets on, and it seems like we make at least $50/month, even in the low attendance months.
    Good luck!

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  3. Your new quilt is going to be killer - love those colors!

    Your fundraising ideas sound good. Seems like a neverending battle, no??

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  4. Deen, something one of our local schools do is a movie night. They get the "rights" to a new movie and show it in the gym. The movie is either free or 2.00 per kid. They make the most $ at a snack shack - potato bar, hot dogs, etc.
    love ya - good luck

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