IB♥L3D begins ....

The third round of IB♥L, nicknamed  IB♥L3D, is now underway. 

For those of you wondering "What is IB♥L3D?"... It is the acronym for  Iraqi Bundles of Love, a grassroots project now entering it's third phase in which bundles of fabrics, threads, needles, etc are shared with the women of Iraq.  Here is the best summary - from the IBOL Guy himself (click either image to increase)

Click this direct link-   http://ibol.wordpress.com 

I hope you are interested in participating in IB♥L (whether you have an abundance of sewing or knitting/crocheting items or are willing to purchase new items to share).  This is the initial push of round three, with a follow-up portion coming later this summer, to coincide with Ramadan... stay tuned to the IB♥L website (or link up via facebook) for the most recent news.

Are you pondering what in the world to send?  Click here for answers to that thoughtful question.

Curious about how to properly package your materials?  Click here for those directions.

Wondering where to send your bundles?  Leave a comment on the IBOL blog and he will send you the address.

I have participated in the two previous IB♥L opportunities, sending two boxes each time.  I will be participating again and I hope you will join me ......

IB♥L II: Give A Little

I have just learned that the IBOL guy is at it again!
and I quote:

The Iraqi Bundles of Love project has shifted back into gear, with IB♥L II: Give A Little. The current effort, IBOL 2.1, runs through September, with a due date of Friday, 01 October, 2010, for getting bundles into the mail. IB♥L II: Give A Little is in support of Salah ad Din, in northern Iraq, and includes the area in and around Tikrit.

It is time to share the wealth with an impoverished country continually under fire .... for the small price of $12.50, the flat-rate postage for a US Postal System box overseas (well, to an APO address), you too can share your overabundance with women in another part of the world who excel at making the most of the very little that they have while living in a war zone.

I am talking about Iraq and the renewal of one soldier's efforts to leave a country with gifts for the needy there.  Perhaps you remember my posts of last September about IB♥L which stands for Iraqi Bundles of Love.  One soldier, commonly known as "The IB♥L Guy" asked for sewers and quilters back home if they would send a small bundle of needles, fabric and thread to him which he would then place in the hands of an Iraqi family.  His request reached the eyes and ears, via the internet, of thousands of open-hearted women and men .... and packages flooded in, far far surpassing his wildest expectations!  Read back through my posts (start here) or go to his blog:  http://ibol.wordpress.com/ to read more there.  He is also on Facebook (isn't nearly everyone?)  Better yet, join the spirit of IB♥L II, and Give a Little ... or give a lot!

Click here to see the 2-page pdf flier the IB♥L guy made for this year's IB♥L II: Give A Little.

For more information on what to send, click here.  Think: large pieces of fabric (soon to become clothing or bedding or curtains or ....) and toss in thread and needles too.  Be generous -- you'll feel so much better!

For more on how to bundle it, click here.  This make it easier to unpack and deliver, once your IB♥L has arrived.

Now move fast -- the deadline is Friday, October 1st, 2010.  All IB♥L packages must be postmarked by Oct 1st to arrive in time for delivery.  I'll write more soon, but need to gather some fabric to share with another .....



By the way, last year, this group effort sent 3,445 bundles to Iraq.  Wonder if we can top that this year?  and if so, by how much?  (IB♥L II count is 59 so far ...)


Are you wondering if this IB♥L story is a scam?  If so, click here -- or think of this:  You probably have more than you need, right?  Does it really matter who you are gifting it too?  You can choose to mail a bundle to IB♥L or donate your extras to a local charity ..... or both!

and the winner is ...

Breaking Traditions 2009 Exhibit Favorite is a wonderful quilt made by .... are you ready for this ....

the wife of Maj. IBOL Guy!!!

Congratulations to Kristin LaFlamme!

Rooted IX
the 2009 Breaking Traditions Exhibit Favorite

Click here to learn what prizes Kristin has won or click here for more information about Breaking Traditions Art Quilt Exhibit.


my, my, it is a small world after all ...

Note: See the previous 3 posts to learn what an IBOL is and more.
You'll be glad you did!

1,921 and counting

One thousand nine hundred twenty-one
That's the number of IBOLs received so far as of yesterday!

The total will increase as my IBOLs are still in transit, along with countless others. How exciting that over 1,000 Iraqi women will soon be receiving fabric and notions from well-wishers around the globe. I am amazed at how the internet shrinks the size of our world, the distance between far-flung places. Don't you agree?

As Maj. IBOL Guy (a.k.a. Maj. Art LaFlamme) works out a distribution plan, we must wait patiently for news of the next phase. One can only hope that this project will continue or relocate (maybe to Afghanistan?) in some form or fashion....

Dream big!

Check the latest news on the IBOL blog.

IBOL is on Facebook too.

Click here for an article in the Honolulu Advertiser.

Generous hearts - quilters helping others - does it get any better than this?

Two IBOLs

I managed to package two IBOLs to send to Iraq and did not even make a small dent in the over-abundance that is mine.


As you can see, by following the specified directions (click here), the bundle of sewing items (fabric, yarns, notions, etc.) will be easy to unpack and deliver to two Iraqi women.


I am hopeful that this program will be continued in some manner -- and will post here if I learn that this happens. But even if it stops now, the current count of IBOLs arriving in Iraq has far surpassed the IBOL Guy's original dream. Quilters make me smile when I see evidence of their generosity.

Meanwhile, I have learned of other groups that send care packages to our American military personnel (men and women) stationed in Iraq and elsewhere. Click here and here for information on two of these.
Continue to pray for peace in our world in our lifetime....

... it could happen ....


Before you go, click here to see the warehouse where all the IBOLs (mine included) will be kept until the distributition. Approximately 500 have been received as of this posting, and that number is sure to double or triple (that's my humble guess).
I can hardly wait to see what the final total is!

Hurry & purge/share

I have just learned of an amazing project called Iraqi Bundles of Love (or IBOL). It is a simple idea dreamed up by one of our American soldiers in Iraq who is about to return home. The IBOL guy wants to leave something positive behind in Iraq by helping women in the war-torn region get back on their feet.

To help with his vision, gather a bit of your fabrics (plain or prints, simple is best, any is appreciated), thread, yarn, needles and such that you are happy to send to another with far less (click here for more on "what to send"). Stop by your local post office and pick up a large size APO flat rate box (or more than one). Click here to see how "to bundle" your gift. Then gather, pack, label, and send (costs $11.95 to ship to APO address). It is that easy.

Click here for a photo of one IBOL that arrived.

Here's the catch -- your IBOL Must be Mailed by Tuesday, September 8, 2009 to reach its new home in time.

Click here and here for more photos of arriving IBOLs. (sorry, I am unable upload images directly so you'll have to click to see them).

Thank you to Karey Bresenhan, Director of the International Quilt Festival (Houston, Chicago, Long Beach) who shared news about it through the Quilts, Inc website (click here to see her message) and has started the Festival Brigade. I heard about it via contacts that all link back to Karey.
Thank you to the many quilters, knitters, and crafters who have shared their bounty with these Iraqi women, including Sew, Mama, Sew! who coordinated the first large effort of over 150 IBOLs (click here for her cute photos - love the baby!) and Happy Zombie for the IBOL button (click here to get yours) as seen in sidebar of my blog.


Join this incredible effort to make a difference.


I will close with Karey's words:

I know how much receiving a Bundle of Love would mean to me if I were living in the conditions the Iraqi women endure, and I urge you to take action IMMEDIATELY to participate in this fine project. What an impact this can make.
* The extra stash was paid for long ago.
* The postage will run $11.95 if you use the APO flat-rate box.
* The box is free.
* The goodwill is priceless.


Please excuse me now, as I have fabric and thread to bundle and send .... email me for the address (or there are links in Karey's message too).