One you give yourself.  A new quilt book.  You're not just buying it for yourself, you're doing it to help others.

This is In Bloom by Susan Ache from Scraps Made Simple.

Scraps Made Simple is the second Moda All-Star book, an idea that came about when two good friends got to talking about ways that they could "give back" to their communities, to use what they do to help others.

Getting their friends to help by contributing quilts and designs was easier than they expected - folks were climbing over each other to volunteer.  Pick me! Pick me!  (That's the reason why there are three books out and more on the way - they've got lots of friends.)

Each book has a theme, at least a dozen contributors and benefits a different charity.  In less than a year, more than $12,000 has been donated to the first two charities

The first book was All In A Row - published in December 2015.

I love the dedication - To standing with other quilters, all in a row, and making sure no child begins or ends the day hungry.  Let's make the world a more beautiful place together.

All royalties are donated to No Kid Hungry.

Contributors included Sandy Klop, Sandy Gervais, Pat Sloan, Karla Eisenach, Anne Sutton, Barbara Groves, Mary Jacobson, Edyta Sitar, Lynne Hagmeier, Lisa Bongean, Laurie Simpson, Corey Yoder, Janet Clare, Brenda Riddle, Kathy Schmitz, Kate Spain, Jen Kingwell, Camille Roskelley, Betsy Chutchian, Barbara Brackman, Alma Allen, Kaari Meng and Joanna Figueroa.

My favorite quilt in the book - I love the scrappy Red & White fabrics.  From the top, the rows are - We Are Family by Joanna Figueroa - Wash Day by Pat Sloan - Nine-Patch Filler - Rail Fence Filler - Nine-Patch Filler - Twinkle by Camille Roskelley - Row Houses - Four-Patch Filler.

The second book is Scraps Made Simple - published in May 2016.

Fifteen scrappy quilts made with pre-cuts - does it get any better?  The royalties are being donated to the Alzheimer's Association, a non-profit health organization dedicated to accelerating the progress of treating, preventing and curing Alzheimer's disease.

Contributors included - Amy Smart, Laura Boehnke, Amy Ellis, Edyta Sitar, Sherri McConnell, Lisa Bongean, Corey Yoder, Jan Ragaller, Susan Ache, Jenny Doan - yes, that Jenny!, Lissa Alexander - yes, that Lissa!, Lisa Calle, Lynne Hagmeier and Sherri Falls.

My Favorite Color - that's the name of Lissa's quilt.  As wonderful as the other fourteen quilts in the book are, this one is my favorite.  Call me biased - it's true and I don't care.

And now we have Mini Marvels - it started shipping on October 4th.

Benefitting the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, a leader in the treatment of pediatric orthopedic conditions, the work done by the doctors, nurses, volunteers and staff at TSRHC is extraordinary and their patients are the real mini marvels.

Contributors to Mini Marvels include: Sherri McConnell, Sandy Gervais, Edyta Sitar, Lynne Hagmeier, Pat Sloan, Brigitte Heitland, Vanessa Christenson, Anne Sutton, Barbara Groves & Mary Jacobson, Laurie Simpson, Camille Roskelley, Jen Kingwell, Lisa Bongean and Betsy Chutchian.

From easy to intricate, pieced to applique, embroidered to hand-quilted, there is something for everyone.  Each mini projects offers an opportunity to try something new - and something quick to finish.

This is Fly Away Home by Jen Kingwell - a little raw-edge piecing, some applique, hand-quilting and it's perfect.

One of my favorite things about each book is the little Q&A given to each contributor.  In the All In a Row book - it was "Here's The Skinny" and these were some of the questions:

• I'm currently obsessed with...
• If I'm not quilting, I'm...
• The best piece of advice regarding quilting I've received was...
• My go-to snack food for a full day - or night - of quilting is...
• My go-to color combination is...
• I can't begin a new quilting project unless...
• On my playlist while quilting is...

The Scraps Made Simple contributors were asked for their Scraps of Wisdom...

• A scrap that is _______________ is not too small to save.
• In my dreams, the ideal scrappy quilt as at least _______________ different fabrics in it.
• Let me tell you a little something about how I sort my scraps...
• When I start pulling fabrics for a scrappy quilt, I begin with...

In Mini Marvels, it's all about how to Make it Marvelous!

• My latest marvelous binge is...
• If I had a three-word mantra, it would be:
• If I were a quilting superhero, my superpower in the sewing room would be...
• One reason mini-quilts are so much fun to make...

And then there is Opposites are fun!  Five questions - either/or.  Salty or Sweet. Steam or No Steam.  Pre-washing or No Pre-washing. Streamlined Stash or Super-sized Stash. Press Seam Allowances Open or Press to One Side.

Simple questions, right?  One or the other.  Page 17.  That's all I'll say.

So in addition to treating yourself to a book filled with wonderful projects in a variety of styles, buying these books will help benefit others.

We're going to have a bit of blog fun with our friends at Martingale in early November - right after Market.  There will be a few giveaways, including a couple of these adorable little bags put together by Chelair - the official Keeper of the Cool Fabric Stuff at Moda.

A cute little Moda Zipper Bag filled with...

Oops.  Wrong picture.

Moda Candy Charm Packs.  But I'm sure I can arrange a little bit of the other kind of candy.

But not these Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.  They're mine.

And they'll be gone by the time you read this.

Happy Tuesday!  Go make it a Marvelous day!

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