smorris Posted February 15, 2009 Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 Hi everyone I've just had a call from an APQS owner in NSW to let me know that she needs help. Her group, Caring Heart Community Quilters are making tops for bushfire victims and she has already quilted 8 this week and has another 6 in her car, with more on the way next week from her group. As well as that, a shop in Penrith has set up a room with sewing machines where ladies can go to make tops that will be sent out to quilters to quilt. She has asked if there are any quilters in the Penrith area who would be able to quilt any of these tops. They can be picked up and dropped off at the shop in Penrith, although there is no reason why quilters from other areas cannot help, apart from arranging for them to be picked up or posted. Backing and batting can be supplied. If you think you may be able to help in anyway, please contact Anne Thomas 0404200872 and she will be able to give you more details. Best wishes sue in australia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted February 15, 2009 Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 What can we do over here? I would be happy to send some fabric either to be presented to a fire-victim or to the piecers who are making quilts for people. My email is below--let me know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smorris Posted February 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 Hi Linda I am sure ANYTHING (fabric, needles, thread books) would be most appreciated. At the moment, the problem would be getting these comfort gifts to the people who have lost everything because they are spread out all over the state. Some are with family and friends, others are living in tents organised by the army, in nearby towns. The fires are still burning and there are still towns on alert, ready to evacuate if needs be. We have plans to help the APQS longarmer who lost her machine but first she needs a home. I can't imagine how much fabric was lost by local quilters and I guess their groups' charity quilts have been destroyed too. If you want to put together some things, I'll ask around to see what is most needed. OK, here's a thought, maybe we , on this forum, could all make blocks for charity quilts to be raffled off. The blocks would not be expensive to post to Australia and I would be happy to piece them and quilt them, if there were more blocks than I could handle, I know lots of APQS ladies who would help out. We have a major quilt show that will be in Sydney in June and then in Melbourne in July. The quilt could be on display and raffle tickets sold at the show and the proceeds could then be distributed to the community quilt groups in the affected area. What do you all, especially our American and Canadian and European friends think? We'd have to decide on block size and colour way. I'm sure we'd get the batting from our Australian batting distributors. Waiting to hear what you think. Best wishes sue in australia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susanne.Hughes Posted February 15, 2009 Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 Hello Sue, I am more than willing to help in any way I can. There are a lot of quilters in the Brisbane area, so we should be able to get them to help with the actual quilting. What is really needed is one major co-ordinator, with helpers in every state......... or at least someone who has contacts and is willing to telephone around and field questions and co-ordinate efforts. The Lady organising the Caring Hearts Quilters and the Penrith QS seem obvious to continue in NSW. Perhaps with your and Kay's (Gammil Distributor and all round nice lady) knowlege of who has machines and where, the two of you could use your mailing lists and contact quilters to find out who is willing to participate in quilting. I am sure that Queenslanders will be more than willing to help out as well. My quilting skills leave a lot to be desired (No honestly....... I am not kidding!!!!) but I am a mean piecer and am happy to bind etc (remember I am still working full time for money!) I can get some time of work (paid believe it or not, if I can justify that the time is actually spend on community service). I like the idea of Chairty blocks as well. I would be more than happy to make blocks and sew together quilts when the time comes. The blocks would be a real and tangile way in which out Overseas friends can show their support without breaking the bank! Since you brought this up, how about you decide what size block and we go from there! I am also happy to be a point of contact here in QLD. I have one lady, Yvonne, who is a New Zealander, who also wants to make a quilt and send it over. As far as distribution of the quilts.......... there are so many communities that have been wiped out......... eventually we would be able to get the help form the red cross, local government, local churches etc to get contacts of those who are in need. Maybe a community morning tea can then be organised at which time they are distributed. Let's get the quilts in and not too far ahead of us, because this could end up being a massive job. (At least I hope to think it would be;)) Regards, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Wren Posted February 15, 2009 Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 Count me in! I am happy to piece, quilt (not beautifully) or put together blocks as received. I agree it would be nice to raffle some but I am thinking more utility...Winter is just around the corner! Even if we could do some smaller kids quilts...just thinking out loud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susanne.Hughes Posted February 15, 2009 Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 Good thinking Jenny, Maybe we can stretch their friendships and ask for two blocks........... one in bright, primary children colours and one non descript block for adults. I think that the girls and guys who lost their homes, not only need something servicable, but something that is pretty too. The fires where so ugly, somehow we need to add some "sunshine and warmth" back into their lives. As you said, winter is just around the corner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smorris Posted February 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 Great idea ladies, Lets keep this to our APQS family forum members, from all over the world. So what about 8" finished - two if you can manage it, one primary colours/prints, the other darker colours, star block or nine patch. Lets get this rolling. Please email me if you are making a block so that we can get an idea of how many we will receive and get some APQS longarmers in Australia ready to quilt them if we get heaps. My mailing address is: Sue Morris, 46 Island Point Avenue, Waterways, 3195 Victoria, Australia The news just now said that there are now fires in another 3 areas and we have APQS longarmers in all of those, and these areas are less than 1hr from the centre of Melbourne. Looking forward to receiving those blocks from everyone Best wishes sue in australia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Wren Posted February 15, 2009 Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 Sue, I just sent you a U2U twice & it didn't go through so I will just post here. Steve is on full alert as the fires are far from under control. Diamond Creek is full of smoke & has been for days so I can't even open the windows. My washing has also taken on a revolting smell but...I am grateful to have clothes to wash! I am happy to help you sort & assemble blocks if we manage to get some. Fingers crossed! You didn't happen to score any of the free wadding off Victorian Textiles, did you? That would make life a bit easier. I didn't see the email until it was too late. Keep in touch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susanne.Hughes Posted February 15, 2009 Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 Hello Jenny, My thoughts are with you and your husband. May he and his crew be safe!! It is just so horrible that there seems no end to these fires and the grief they are causing. Regards, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Beth Posted February 15, 2009 Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 I just can't stop thinking about what you all are going through over there. My prayers are with you. We will need an address to send our blocks, fabric, etc to. Can someone send a u2u and I will help get something going over here. Stay safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DB Posted February 15, 2009 Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 I would be more than happy to put together some blocks and send them to help those who have lost everything. The whole thing is just so upsetting. Dianne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbi Posted February 15, 2009 Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 I will ship some blocks off this week... Would be great if some of our batting or backing companies would donate for the quilts... Our thoughts and prayers are with each of you... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted February 15, 2009 Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 I will be making blocks to send. I think I will make friendship star blocks--quick, easy, and appropriate for our friends there. I think I will sign them in the seam allowance so the piecers will be encouraged by the long-distance good wishes. If anyone wants to join me and make some blocks, send them to me in Washington. Enclose a dollar with the package to offset postage charges and I will express the bundle to Sue Morris. Any extra money from the postage (if any) will be included in the package. I will put a 2 week deadline on this so we can get this to them quickly. So quilters, send 8 1/2 inch unfinished (8" finished) pieced blocks to Linda Rech 2713 Wiggins Rd Olympia Wa 98501. Include a bright kid's block and your choice for adults. Enclose a buck for help with postage if you can. I will post photos of received blocks. Deadline is for me to receive them is March 1st. After that you will need to mail them yourself. Let's cover our Aussie friends with love!! Prayers for the safety of people and property and hope for the ones who have already suffered a loss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RitaR Posted February 15, 2009 Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 I'll be sending blocks, too. Will route them thru LindaR to start. RitaR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smorris Posted February 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 Hi Linda Thanks for thinking about the deadline!!! Sounds like we are on a roll. Friendship stars are a great choice - thank you for offering to collect them. Jenny - thanks for the update on your husband - he is a gem and so are you. I was to late in reading Tony's email about the free wadding but I've got a roll here I can use that. I don't expect to get more blocks than a roll of batting would take but if we do I'll ask Tony - he's very generous. I'll take you up on assembling the blocks that would be great. I'm off to check on the cfa website to see how the fires in Belgrave and Ferny Creek are going they are so close. Hope they are under control. Hi Mary Beth My address is Sue Morris, 46 Island Point Avenue, Waterways, 3195, Victoria, Australia but Linda has also offered to collect blocks and send them on so you have two choices (see her post above) I sorted through my stash after I posted the last message looking for suitable fabric for sashing and borders if we decide to go that way - there was plenty. I'll get busy making some pieced backs in single bed and queen bed sizes tomorrow. Thanks Bobbi and Diane - we'll look forward to receiving them. Hope lots of others on this list will join in too. Best wishes sue in australia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheri Butler Posted February 15, 2009 Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 Linda, shall we all do some sort of star blocks for the adult quilt, and the 9 patch for the childs quilt???????????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted February 15, 2009 Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 That sounds good, Sheri. Of course, any design will be welcomed I'm sure. Nine patches for the kids would make a nice top and also mix well with others. I plan to include a yards-worth of plain blocks in a generic bright kid's fabric so the piecers will have something to stretch the pieced blocks with. I have received several emails about this--the response is gratifying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindasewsit Posted February 15, 2009 Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 count me in for some blocks!! will work on this week! linda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seakitten Posted February 15, 2009 Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 My guild meets this coming Saturday & I will ask for donation blocks. We are a small group, but have very generous members, I am sure they will want to give what they can, & I will mail them around March 1. Love to all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted February 15, 2009 Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 Count me in as well.....will get my blocks mailed to Linda so she can include them in the package.... off to the basement, now to sew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra Darlington Posted February 15, 2009 Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 Count me in...I will be sending some blocks out, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra Darlington Posted February 15, 2009 Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 I will make star blocks for adults and 9-patch for kids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindasewsit Posted February 15, 2009 Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 question....should we sign them and where we are from? just a thought....let me know what you think....I'm off to my basement to sew also!! linda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted February 15, 2009 Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 Hi Linda, I think signing would be nice--do what you think is best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sspingler Posted February 15, 2009 Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 Count me in also. Will get some blocks sent off Tuesday since Monday is a holiday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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