3/50 Project and Quilt/34

Tim’s boss and his wife recently had a baby girl, what better excuse to make a super sweet modern quilt AND Year of Making Stuff Item #34?  I made 6 different blocks with 7 different fabrics and played with the layout.  The fabrics are a nice mix of mellow pinks I had on hand and some fat quarters I received from Regina as a gift, which includes the browns and golds.  I love the total effect.  Today is a gorgeous sunny day…the kind where it was sort of hard to take a good photo of a quilt with lots of white in it.  As always, it looks better in person.

My mom recently told me about the 3/50 Project.  There has been some arguments recently in our city council about banning chain stores downtown.  Some arguments against maintain that chain stores are beneficial to our local community because they are employing people who live here.  We want people employed.  However, this website claims that out of $100 dollars spent in a chain store, $43 stays within the local community.  Compare that to $68 that stays in the community if the $100 is spent at a local brick and mortar store.  Nothing is contributed locally if that money is spent online.  I am lucky to live in a city that does have great local stores and restaurants, but I could do better at supporting them, especially the stores.  I very rarely eat at a chain restaurant, but again I am lucky that there are great local eateries within walking distance to my job and home.  I am trying to do more grocery shopping at my co-op instead of Kroger, and thinking about holiday gifts purchased at local stores.  Think about where you spend your money.  It really might make a difference.