Quilter Spotlights

Today, we feature several amazing contributors to Quilts Beyond Borders who recently created and donated the beautiful quilts pictured below. Read on to learn more about these interesting and talented ladies!

Marcia shared her quilting story: “I live in Indiana, where I retired from teaching at the law school.  I made my first quilt while I was myself in law school in 1976, using random fabrics inherited from my grandma who made draperies for an interior designer.  I didn’t know what I was doing, but that started me on my self-taught quilting.  I’ve never belonged to a guild, just learn by doing, YouTube videos, and advice from an online group I follow (Stashbusters). I mostly make scrappy quilts – my stash contains a lot of fabric from thrift stores and almost nothing purchased full price.” Thank you Marcia!

Joanne is from Michigan and shared her story with us too: “I recently moved to the beautiful Upper Peninsula of the state with my husband and am looking forward to spending our retirement here! I have a wonderful group of “quilting” friends in our little town. We meet weekly for creativity (many are also knitters), fellowship and a potluck. I have always enjoyed sewing, but found a love for quilting after my aunt introduced me to her quilts many years ago. I have been long-arm quilting since 2016 and am currently quilting for customers as well as Quilts Beyond Borders. I enjoy getting to see all of the beautiful and diverse quilts that come my way!” Thank you Joanne!!

These quilts made from kits were sent to us by the Mary Immaculate Mission Group in Coleraine, Minnesota. We are very appreciative of your contributions!

Mad City Quilt Guild

We have received 103 quilts from the Mad City Quilt Guild in Madison Wisconsin! Thank you for continuing to partner with us as one of your community service projects!

These beautiful quilts are on their way to Ukraine and the Middle East.

– Lynda K., Regional Coordinator

Fat Quarter Challenge Annual Winner Announcement

Congratulations to Kim H. She is the Fat Quarter Challenge annual winner  of a $100 check. Isn’t her quilt a cheerful combination of colors? We appreciate your contribution to Quilts Beyond Borders! Here is more information on participating in our challenge.

Remember that your name will be entered for the monthly prize of a $25 gift certificate from The Fat Quarter Shop and also for the annual prize of $100 for each quilt you send. Send us 5 quilts and your name goes in the drawing 5 times plus you will making a difference in a child’s life.

Happy Quilting!

LaDonna H. – FQC Coordinator

January Generosity

Holidays and winter weather did not slow down the supply of quilts that arrived here in the Southeast this January.  This generosity allowed QBB to ship two very large boxes to children both here in the US and abroad. What a dedicated group of quilters we have!

The following quilts were sent to Comfort Cases, to comfort children as they enter foster care.  We can probably all relate to a favorite blanket offering both comfort and security. Thank you to our quilters for giving an extra hug to these kids.

The following quilts were sent to Maasay Yahdav, to comfort children in orphanages and foster care in northern Israel.  These children are far from the actual war zone, but still appreciating comfort in their daily lives.  Thank you to our quilters who enrich the lives of others. As always, you can click on each image to see it larger and to see the maker’s names.

Thank you,

Ann D, Southeast Regional Coorinator

Quilts to Comfort Cases, Jeremiah’s Hope for Ukraine, Maasay Yahdev and SCM Medical Missions

Thanks to generous quilters from Missouri and surrounding states, during 2023 the quilts pictured below were sent to Comfort Cases for children entering the foster care system, to Jeremiah’s Hope for Ukraine who provide humanitarian aid to be distributed to those in need from Ukraine, to Maasay Yahdav supporting many humanitarian organizations throughout Israel, and to SCM Medical Missions, who provide assistance to refugees from Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine.

You can click on each photo to see it larger and to see the names of the makers.

Jeremiah’s Hope:

Comfort Cases:

Maasay Yadvah:

SCM Medical Missions:

Thank you for your contributions!

Janet Frazier – Missouri Regional Coordinator

December Gift Giving

We think of December as the month of gift giving, but every month is gift giving for Quilts Beyond Borders.  All year long we share our hand made creations with others who may need the gift of a warm hug. 

Our quilters almost never meet the recipients of their gifts, and vice versa, but the feelings of love and compassion carry through.  

Thank you to all our quilters who generously share their time, their talents….and their love. (The world needs us!)

The ongoing collaboration between Wrap-A-Smile and QBB made our December shipments possible.  Please enjoy the photos, and a big thank you to all who contributed.

Ann D. – Southeast Regional Coordination

The gallery below shows quilts sent to children through Maasai Yahdav:

Jeremiah’s Hope received the following quilts, to help survivors and others displaced by the war in Ukraine:

Never forgetting those closer to home who are also in need, the following quilts were sent to Comfort Cases, for children entering foster care:

Giving Thanks and Spreading Hope

Quilters from the Southeast generously shared quilts both at home and abroad in November. The largest shipment went to Maasay Yahdav, for needy children and orphans in 4 schools and a children’s ward of a hospital, all located in the northern half of Israel. This is a renewed relationship for QBB, our quilters having provided quilts in past years. QBB will be communicating with Rita of Salaam Cultural Museum if and when there are Palestinian refugee children for whom Rita will be providing humanitarian aid.  

A smaller ship of larger, heavier quilts has been sent to Ukrainian refugees via Jeremiah’s Hope.  Winter has already arrived and people truly need warmth as well as our good wishes.

And of course we continue with our ongoing commitment to children in the US who are going into foster care. A handmade quilt, added to a backpack of comfort items, helps a child feel a sense of dignity as they undergo this transition in their lives. In the words of Comfort Cases, “every child deserves to pack their belongings in a special bag that they can call their very own.” 

Thank you to all our quilters who contributed to these shipments,  The photos below are labeled with the names of contributors and you can clink on each one to see it larger.

– Ann D, Southeast Regional Coordinator

The following quilts were sent to Maasay Yahdav:

These larger heavier quilts were sent to Ukraine:

Comfort Cases received these quilts for foster children:

Summer Challenge Winners

It amazes me how beautiful a quilt looks when made with fat quarters. The possibilities are endless. Grab a fat quarter and let your creative brain go to work. These four ladies did just that. I am pleased to announce June, July, August and September Fat Quarter Challenge winners. Dellen K. is our June winner (sorry we didn’t get a photo of this one before it was delivered), Diane H is our July winner, Gurmeet K is our August winner and Eleanor W. is our September winner. Congratulations! Each will receive a $25 gift certificate from the Fat Quarter Shop who has been our generous sponsor in this challenge for years.

Please join us in this year’s Fat Quarter Challenge.  Check out our website for our construction guidelines. Mail them to us to have your name entered into the monthly drawing for the rest of the year. Each month someone wins a $25 gift certificate to the online shop, Fat Quarter Shop. Send us 5 quilts and your name is entered 5 times. At the end of the year, we draw for an annual winner and the prize is a check for $100. Your name is entered for each completed quilt you send for the FQC for the annual prize, too.

We truly appreciate each and every quilt sent to us!

Get busy and join us for the year’s FQ Challenge! A perfect time to try a new pattern and just use some of your fabric stash.(My address is under the Fat Quarter Challenge section.)

Sew beautifully!

LaDonna Helveston

Fat Quarter Challenge Coordinator

Quilts for Navajo Elders and Children

Once a year Quilts Beyond Borders sends quilts to Flagstaff, Arizona for The Forgotten People of Bennett Freeze on the Navajo reservation. Quilts selected for this delivery are often the larger quilts as there are many adults, as well as children who receive them. These quilts become part of a grand Christmas celebration on the reservation. We hear wonderful stories of the joy you bring to these families with your gifts of love and warmth. 

Below please see pictures of the quilts and names of the quilters and piecers whose quilts are on their way to Flagstaff. With grateful thanks, as always.

Karen

From Oklahoma:  Alice Aldrich White
From Rhode Island:  Jane Larkin, Yvette Drurey, Linda Chaffee, Barbara Chojnacki, Linda Ferraro, Lois Gardner
From Massachusetts: Pam Belanger, Sue Martin, Brenda Waber, Bonnie Salt, Fran Fink
From Connecticut:  Kim Bennett, Peg Thomsen, Marguerite Boslaugh, Rita Gladych
From New Hampshire:  Nancy Kiman
From New York:  Janet Palmer
From New Jersey:  Miriam Vogelman

Quilts to Comfort Cases

Children entering foster care are often faced with the indignity of lugging all their possessions hauled over their shoulder in a big black plastic garbage bag. Comfort Cases, headquartered out of Rockville Maryland, is an organization that seeks to eliminate that burden by supplying foster kids with a new backpack to call their own, filled with essentials and fun stuff to take with them on their new journey.   One of these quilts is included in the pack of treasures.  Quilts Beyond Borders supplies quilts small enough to fit in the backpacks every month because, according to Comfort Cases, the need is huge and ongoing. 

See below pictures of the quilts and names of the quilters and piecers whose quilts are on their way to Rockville. Thank you, as always, for your beautiful, sunny creations that will surely brighten the lives of these youngsters. 

Karen

From Australia:  Hong Chang
From Connecticut:  Peg Thomsen, Sue Sweeney, Marguerite Boslaugh, Kim Bennett, Diane Carlson
From Massachusetts: Deb Willard-Parker, Ellen Coburn, Bonnie Salt
From New Hampshire:  Nancy Kane
From Vermont:  Judith Nuno, Sara Huff
From New York: Linda Cardone, Sherry Whitmoyer
From New Jersey:  Miriam Vogelman
From Pennsylvania:  Jean Unger, Sharon Gower
From Rhode Island:  Lois Gardner, Kathy Falcone, Janet Nichols
From Texas:  Karin Tracey
From Oklahoma:  Alice Aldrich White