Love Pockets for Japan
March 22nd, 2011
In a time of need, in a time of happiness, in a time of tragedy - the first response by a quilter is to make a quilt. Loving and nurturing others through bits and pieces of beautiful cotton that have been pieced together with loving hands. Quilts allow us to wrap our arms around others and let them know we care. To warm someone who’s cold. To reach across the world and be a loving neighbor.
As much as my heart was ready to jump in and make quilts and send them off to Japan, my head knew that what we need to send to Japan right now is money through relief organizations like the Red Cross and MercyCorps. There are a lot of great quilty and crafty fundraisers in Internetlandia right now (Susan and Alicia each have a great list here and here), but I couldn’t put my needles down. I wanted to help raise money as well as I had to make a quilt. I had to do something, and do it now - so Love Pockets for Japan was born. A little 8″ x 12″ quilt with a pocket for collecting money.
So I’m thinking… what if we all make two - one for yourself/your family and one for you to sell/fundraise. If you do make one to sell, please give 100% of your sales to go to Japan’s earthquake and tsunami recovery and relief efforts. Sell on you blog, your etsy, to your family, neighbors and co-workers. Make four. Make eight. Sell, sell, sell… donate, donate, donate, donate, donate!
I’m treating my Love Pocket like a swear jar, and I should have it consistently filled and refilled. Every time I reach $10.00 - I’ll alternate donating here and here.
I have a PDF template here. To make the pocket I traced a 5″ circle for the stitch line. I folded my template into quarters to find my center. 
After I traced and stitched on the line, I trimmed my pocket to a ¼” from the seam, snipped my curved edges and cut a small slice in the pocket’s liner (at the bottom of the pocket) for turning.
I pressed the pocket and embroidered with a blanket stitch (can be top-stitched, fielder’s choice) to the quilt top from stop and start markings on the PDF.
So my hope is that a quilter will get their fix to make something and also to be able to sell something to generate funds for their donation(s). I hope this is a way to be able to encourage your kids to share their allowance, family members and co-workers to skip the latte and drop some cash into the Pocket of Love (that’s strategically pinned at the entrance of your cubicle/office) instead.
My Love Pocket is made entirely of fabrics from Japan. Another way to support the people of Japan is through purchases of goods that come from Japan. My favorite places to shop for Japanese fabrics is at Sew, Mama, Sew! and SuperBuzzy - and both shops are currently supporting Japan earthquake and tsunami relief organizations.
Practicing what I preach, I’m going to sell the Love Pocket that I made, and I will donate that entire sale to the Red Cross. Starting at $10.00, who ever leaves me the highest offer for it (mention it in your comment if you’re interested) by 5pm PST on Friday, March 25, 2011 - that’s who I’ll sell it to.
Edited in:
Highest offering has now ended. Congratulations to Diane P! This is such a thrill for me to send her this Love Pocket! Thank you to everyone for your generous offers. I wish I could show what my inbox looks like and show off all the kindness and generosity of others who have privately pledged donations. Look to the left. Look to the right. There’s a really, really, really good chance you’re looking at someone generous, giving and kind. When awful things happen… the stronger that goodness shines!
Posted in Do Something |
Farting around with needle & thread and then blogging about it.
monica, what a fabulous idea! i hope to make at least one to raffle on my blog.
i’ll make a humble start and am bidding 20 $.
March 22nd, 2011I’ll go $25
March 22nd, 2011Monica………………you are just a little dream come true.
Thanks for being you!
Oh how I wish I could sew right now. You’ve inspired me though… I’ll be working on something similar in yarn over the next couple days!
And I’m in for $40!
March 23rd, 2011Oh my gosh! Are you going to autograph it too? :o) $50.00!! You are awesome, Monica!! xoxo
March 23rd, 2011Thanks Monica! I will go $60.00
March 23rd, 2011Thank you! Monica
March 23rd, 2011We have really tough and hard time.
I will make a love pocket .
Sakiko from Japan
I”ll go $100.00. Thanks for the idea and pattern Monica.
March 23rd, 2011What an inspired idea to help raise money for the people in Japan! The flag of Japan with a pocket in the circle to collect the money.
Wish I was still working so I could hang this in my cubile, but I will make one too.
Please add my bid of $125 for your efforts.
March 23rd, 2011Very very nice McMonica!!!!
March 23rd, 2011I bow deeply before your big heart, and sweet skills. Because of you, the world feels like a better place. ))hugs((
March 23rd, 2011This little lovey pocket is exactly why I love reading your blog so much. What a sweet idea. Here’s hoping you swear all day long!
March 23rd, 2011Oh how I wish I could top those offers, this generosity is wonderful!
My girlfriend and I are working on our own fabric creations to auction off to donate money as well…
March 23rd, 2011A Sweet loving thing to do from a sweet loving, classy lady!
March 23rd, 2011What a wonderful idea!
Over at Mom Wald’s Place we are creating an Embroidered Fruit & Veggie Quilt as a group to be auctioned for Japan relief. There are ways for everybody to join in! Come on over and see.
March 23rd, 2011Inspired and inspiring! Thank you so much for being you and encouraging us all to do what’s needed and be better human beings on this planet.
March 23rd, 2011so beautiful. love the idea and the tutorial and the auction and everything about it.
March 23rd, 2011Thank you very much for your sympathy,support, and wonderful idea.
March 23rd, 2011I will make it, sell it, and donate to The Japanese Red Cross Society.
Ohhh Monica, you are so sweet. xo
March 23rd, 2011I adore this - I’m auctioning a quilt on my own blog right now, but I’d love to make one like this too. What a BRILLIANT idea!
March 23rd, 2011Monica, you are awesome!
March 24th, 2011I already donated cash since I figured they needed it more than quilts, but I wanted to make a baby quilt to auction and add a flag. Perfect technique. Thanks for the inspiration Monica.
Did I mention my brother lives in Walnut Creek?
March 25th, 2011Very sweet. Having no time to sew for the last 2 weeks, I would be delighted to send you a check for $150. Please, let it be me!!
March 25th, 2011Your little quilt is an inspiration. Please make my bid $200 - I’d really love to have an original Monica quilt. Thank you for your kind heart.
March 25th, 2011Thank you Monica! My check is already in the mail to the American Red Cross - I hope it helps them help the people of Japan.
I look forward to receiving your cute quilt! It’ll hang proudly on my door! Hope my neighbors stuff it with donations.
March 26th, 2011Monica, it’s wonderful idea! Quilters can support Japan in quilters’ way!
I’m organizing the craft/bake sale at Prairie Queens Quilt Shop on Mother’s day to raise money for Japan. Please check out their blog! You can find the link from their website…
March 27th, 2011So cute and such a great idea!
March 31st, 2011So so super cute. It is such a great idea. And beautiful.
March 31st, 2011What a beautiful idea. It breaks my heart to see the aftermath of the earthquake. It is wonderful to craft aid.
April 2nd, 2011Wow Monica! What a wonderful idea and I am thrilled that you are sharing it with the world so we can all make a difference through our passion for craft, Amanda
April 3rd, 2011Your blog is amazingly inspiring! I love the Love Pockets for Japan, what a great idea!!
Thanks for having such an awesome blog for readers!
April 4th, 2011It wonderful to see so many people reaching out and helping!
April 6th, 2011Gosh that’s a pretty quilt. Were you thinking of the Japanese flag when you made the center circle red?
August 19th, 2011