Fat Quarter Challenge and an unsung hero

 

Aren’t these fun little quilts? These are the latest quilts to come in for our Fat Quarter Challenge. This almost doubles the number I’ve received since the fat quarters were handed out in Houston last year! I know I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again, it’s really fun to see everyone’s uniqueness and creativity. All shapes and sizes and colors and each one filled with love and ready to bring happiness to someone around the world. Such a great feeling to be a part of this wonderful work! So the winner for January’s drawing is…..Sandra Ohler!  She made the quilt on the left in the picture. Linda Ferraro made the other TWO for us! Thank you both for your help!

Now I’d like to share a story that Ann, our RC in California sent along. It’s about a woman who helps out one of Ann’s sewing groups, Sewing Servants, at her church.

She is 78 years old.  She is less than 5 feet tall.  She has overcome cancer.  She has macular degeneration.  She is a widow.  She lives alone.

Do you think she can’t do very much?  She mows her own lawn.  She cooks and cleans for herself.  She irons for her daughter and son and all their family members.  She loves to iron.

She is a member of Sewing Servants at our church.  She is there nearly every time we meet.  We meet once a week on Mondays and the first Sunday afternoon of each month.  About 6 of us are at the sewing machines.  She does all our ironing.  Our backing fabric has not one single wrinkle.  She is an ace at ironing binding.  Our blocks are neatly pressed and ready to be sewn together.

Recently I received several boxes of tops for QBB.  They needed a great deal of ironing.  I asked her if she would mind ironing them whenever she could.  No hurry, just do it in the next few weeks. There were about 25 in total.  She happily agreed and had them all done in two days!!  What a woman!

What is her name?  Well, she prefers to be anonymous.  She says she doesn’t want any credit for her work.  We just call her Ms. B.

Isn’t she a wonderful example? Truly inspiring! Hopefully we’ll have more stories about some of our unsung heros who give so much and want so little in return.

Smiles,

Sandi

 

Confessions of a Regional Coordinator

Here I am in front of a quilt I didn’t make! But this quilt holds a significant place in my QBB life.  It is the 200th quilt that has crossed my path for some measure of preparation since I became a QBB Regional Coordinator, exactly one year ago this month.  This top was pieced by the Quilting for Christ Ministry from the Hurst Baptist Church in Hurst, Texas. I unloaded it from Lucy, aka my long-arm, last night, hung it up on the design wall for its blog picture, checked my log book and realized it was a sweet, milestone moment in my journey with QBB.

Here’s a chuckle for you. Recently I got backlogged in my picture taking for blog pictures which meant I had about 30 quilts in the queue waiting to be photographed. You should know that I have a reputation for frequent, mostly unnecessary redecorating around the house. Usually I just rearrange little stuff like pictures and pillows; occasionally I also move furniture.   I read somewhere that you forget to look at your stuff unless you move it around.  (Try it, it feels like you bought new things when you really have just reshuffled everything.)  Anyway, it was definitely time to take blog pictures of these 30 quilts. So I spent the morning climbing up my little stool, pinning one quilt to the wall, climbing down, taking the picture, climbing back up, removing that quilt…and repeating – 30 times! My husband, whom I thought was paying no attention, finally looked up from his computer and asked, “Haven’t you found ONE you like YET?” 

           

I, like you, have a passion (obsession?!) for quilting. Was signing on to be a QBB Regional Coordinator going to be like the guy who loves to cook, opens a restaurant and then never gets to cook? Happily, no. In fact, after so many years of making quilts for my family (you KNOW that look -“ MOM? I already have 45 quilts, what am I going to do with THIS one??”), sewingwith a new purpose, a new outreach, has become a bright spot in my life.  All the children who receive our quilts receive a work of art that started like the painter’s blank canvas – from nothing. Fabric is solicited, donated, cut, organized, kitted-up and distributed.  Fabric squares become pieced tops. Pieced tops become quilts. Quilts become precious gifts.  Coordinators coordinate. Of course. We coordinate the effort under the watchful, enthusiastic and capable eye of our leader, Carla. We are organizers and cheerleaders for the program. We certainly get to sew and quilt. We are a team who usually only know each other through email.  We continue to hope opportunities to go to IQF in Houston and to travel as a QBB representative on delivery trips to the children in the world will become reality.

We are QBB. I am QBB and I am fulfilled.

Karen Matheson
Northeast Regional Coordinator
Simsbury, Connecticut

Quilt Delivery to the Forgotten People of the Navajo Nation

Wow! When we put out a plea to help us collect 100 quilts for the Forgotten People of the Navajo Nation by Christmas, you delivered. We were able to send more than 100 quilts for distribution. If you remember, many of these Navajo do not have heat in their homes, so quilts were desperately needed for the elderly and children.

Our Regional Coordinator, Sandi, who coordinated this delivery had posted several pictures of quilts that were sent for distribution. You can read about those photos from her December 22nd post on the blog. The following quilts were also sent for distribution to the Forgotten People. The quilts were made by the Prayers and Squares Quilting Group, Simsbury United Methodist Church, Simsbury, CT; Donna Sciandra, Karen Matheson and Carol T. If you hover over the pictures, you can see who made the quilts.

                 
Right before Christmas, Marsha Monestersky delivered the quilts to the Navajo and sent pictures from the delivery. I will let the pictures speak for themselves. You will see many new moms and grandmothers receiving quilts for their children. Marsha also sent us this note.

Please find attached some photos of quilts we distributed that went far and wide on the Navajo Nation to children, grandchildren and the elderly

You are incredible and your quilts are amazing
We will be giving out more quilts at Senior Citizens Centers and am thrilled to see how happy the people are to receive your incredible original quilts-artwork

Your quilts make the people feel loved.
Have a Blessed New Year and Thank you!!!! Marsha

                                                           

Thanks again everyone!
Tina

Thanks from Salaam Cultural Museum & Some of the Quilts Sent to Uganda in November

Many of you have helped us by making quilts for Syrian refugee children living in Jordan. We have partnered with Gleaning for the World in Virginia and the Salaam Cultural Center in Washington. Both of these organizations have been receiving our quilts and delivering them when they return to Jordan. We always try to have the partnering organizations take photos of the delivery, but as you can imagine, that can be very difficult in some cases. Rita Zawadieh of SCM sent us a thank you note with a collage picture of the deliveries her organization has made over the last year. Not only do they deliver our quilts, but also medical supplies and warm clothing, etc. This is the thank you note that Rita sent:

Hello all!

To the wonderful crafters that made 2014 such a prismatic year for us, thank you for warming our hearts and thousands of Syrians. We continue to be blown away by the compassion and effort put forth by you remarkable individuals.

I might have told some of you this before, but when I was growing up my aunts and grandma would often knit/crotchet or sew items for my siblings and I. Every time I open one of your boxes, I’m reminded of those memories in Syria. We treasured those handmade goods, so much so that even when we escaped to the States, my mother remembered to bring one or two sweaters along (as seen in my kindergarten school picture, not included below). In a time where entire families are displaced across borders, you all are that aunt or grandma providing warmth and love to these Syrian children.

From all of us at SCM, we made this as a thank you and in hopes you too will be reminded of the impact you made in 2014. We honestly can’t thank you enough, and we look forward to distributing anything else sent our way in 2015!         Rita

We continue to collect quilts for the Syrian refugee children. Just last month, our Regional Coordinator, Linda Mullins-Spirio in VA collected 150 quilts to Gleaning for the World for their next shipment to Jordan. We will have a blog post soon about that delivery.
Finally, we worked with Dave Galaway who does work with Christ the Center Ministries Primary and Nursery School in Kampala, Uganda. We only found out about his need in early October, I believe, and he wondered if we could provide quilts for the children, but he needed them by the end of November. There are nearly 250 children at the school. To most people, that would seem an insurmountable task, but for our wonderful quilters, you came through. Ann Drake, our Regional Coordinator in CA, collected over 150 quilts for the children. You guys are unbelievable! By the way, we will be coordinating another delivery in May 2015 most likely.

We have not received pictures yet from that delivery, but I wanted to show you a few of the quilts that I sent. Now I have an apology, with the holidays approaching last year, I took some of the pictures of the quilts out of the back of my car before taking to FedEx for delivery. I had actually just picked them up from Linda Brammer who had quilted them so quickly for me. Well with that rush, I forgot to write down who made which quilts. There is a possibility that a few of the photos are probably not identified correctly; I am really sorry. The quilts were made by Barbara Peterson, Kim Bennett, Donna Sciandra and quilted by Linda Brammer and Barbara Peterson. If you click on each picture you can see the names.

     
QBB would like to wish all of you a very happy new year! We can’t thank all of you enough for your generosity to help these children with the love and warmth that these quilts give. Cheers! Tina

December’s Fat Quarter Challenge Quilt

Hello Friends!  With all the hustle and bustle of December happenings, Donna Dellacamera still had time to send me her Fat Quarter Challenge quilt!

Isn’t that a cute rail fence? Your quilts provide so much inspiration and they are all wonderful examples of creativity. It’s so much fun to see how you put them together and I always say, “Oh, I want to make one like this.”  Now to get them actually made!

So it’s time to announce our monthly winner for the $25 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop and that winner is…Rebecca Timm! Rebecca returned her finished quilt in November and that’s the sweet part of our new monthly drawing. Regardless of the month you return your quilt, you’re entered into every single drawing starting the month it’s returned all the way up to September’s grand prize drawing of $100!  Of course, the quicker you turn it in, the more chances you have to win!! January is a great time to stay inside and get those projects finished!

Stay tuned for lots and lots of pictures of our recent initiatives in the upcoming weeks.  You helped make 2014 a memorable year for Quilts Beyond Borders with all the love and quilts you’ve sent all over the world.  Thank you so very much!

Smiles,

Sandi

The Forgotten People of Bennett Freeze Initiative was a smashing success!

I am in awe of your generosity and the speed with which this initiative was filled. When Carla first sent out an email asking if we thought we could do this, there were VERY few quilts in anyone’s inventory. We were confident we’d be able to fulfill the goal but not before Christmas. No way! Give us a couple months and we’d be able to round up that many quilts was my thought. But…the plea was posted on the blog and in less than a week, we had commitments for both the Forgotten People and Syria for almost 100 quilts each. But in reality, we reached and surpassed both of those goals. A total of 149 quilts were sent to AZ in the past two weeks and 150 to Syria! YOU PEOPLE ROCK! Everyone knows that quilts are filled with lots of love but until I was in charge of this initiative, I don’t think I really, really got it. As these boxes and boxes of quilts came into my home, I felt all that love. Usually I’m on the giving end and even though these quilts weren’t here very long, they brought a wonderful Christmas magic into my home! A real ah ha moment for me and I know they are going to be loved and cherished and used every single day! The following people helped make the Forgotten People initiative a reality:

Sandra Gerhardt, Rosemary Boros, Lori Roelse, Theola Breaux, Sue, Sarah, Jody Daniels, Jean Clarkson, Loretta Kelldorf,  Joann Hopkins, Jennifer DeMeuse, Donna Sciandra, Linda Dranchak, Merla Fritchey, Jean Clarkson, Melinda Connely, Maribeth Frevert, Gayle Wallace, Annabelle Kimball, Kathy Parker, Autumn Crites, Judy Wood, Tracey M, LaDawna M, Margaret R, Vicki Rhodes, Christ Poehlman, Carolyn Sowers, Audrey Butler, Cathy Labath, Delleen Kompkoff, Becky Goldner, Barb Nilles, Celina, Edith, Sharon Hill, JoAnne Dana, Chuck & Lisa Glenn, Susan Seward, Mary Jane Morrison, JoNell Mollohan, Sue Ayres, Vicki Reed, Marci Lane, Lynda Young, Jane Sanders, Karen Humphrey, Jan B and Karen M.

We also had the following groups contribute as well:

Sunshine Online Quilt Guild with quilts by Pat Ferguson, Kathy Thomason, JoAnn Sagar, Tammy Simpson, Ann Drake, Lia Brodnax and Sue Trzcinski

Friday Sewing Sisters consisting of Judity D, Susan H, Sharon LeC, Susan L, Sue M, and Kathy T,

St James the Less Church,

Unitarian Universalist Church,

The Sewing Servants,

Houston Quilt Festival,

Quilters Emporium,

Prayers and Squares

Here are pictures of the quilts. Sorry they couldn’t all be individually taken but hopefully you can spot some of yours!

Someone also sent some handmade scarves, sweaters, hats and afghans.

This label really touched my heart. Kids helping kids!

A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who helped make this possible. In an email from Marsha M, the coordinator in AZ who will be delivering the quilts, she said, “Your quilts make life perfect and wonderful!” You are making such a big difference!

Smiles,
Sandi

 

A Real Christmas Story & A Big Thanks

I wanted to pass along this wonderful pay it forward message from our Regional Coordinator, Karen, who was with her husband, Paul purchasing blankets for the Syrian refugees. Here is her story:

“Paul and I were responding to the need for blankets for Syrian refugees . I know our organization has sent hundreds of quilts but with over 10 million refugees and a relentless winter, the need is glaring. We visited our local “Value Village Thrift Store” and piled a cart full of warm and cozy blankets. At checkout, we explained that they were all going to Syrian refugees and that we would appreciate any allowable discount. He replied, you might qualify for the Sr. discount (gasp, might be overqualified for that). 20% . We thanked him and learned the total of $58. The young lady behind me said “please let me pay for it. I heard what you said, my heart goes out, please allow me.”

We had to cough a bit to check the tears, it was such a generous, pay it forward act. She said she was not from the middle east but she had worked with refugees and she just understood.

Wow, so we went to Value Village in the next town; did it over again! not complaining but I’ll be washing blankets for days.”

QBB would also like to thank everyone who came to our pleas for quilts for the Forgotten People of the Navajo Nation and more quilts for Syrian refugee children that will be sent by Gleaning for the World. We not only fulfilled our commitment for the Navajo people but we also made the deadline by Christmas. We really didn’t think we’d be able to get 100 quilts that quickly. Even better, we were hoping to get 100 quilts to send with Gleaning in their next trip to Jordan, and we actually collected 150!

I think Karen said it best, “Let’s always be proud to live in a country that has so much love, compassion and generosity for others.”

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season!
Tina

Pictures from Ukraine, and Letter Describing Delivery

We recently received a note from Charity Jacobson who took 89 quilts to the Romaniv Orphanage for disabled boys in Ukraine.   She also sent us some pictures.   We sometimes find that the people who run the orphanages don’t always let us personally distribute the quilts to the children, and when that happens, we’re always happy when we get pictures later, which was the case here.

Great thanks to all of the wonderful quilters who made this delivery possible!

Here are the pictures Charity received:

Charity’s note:

Early this year, toward the end of August, I was able to make a trip to Ukraine. While there, I had the opportunity to visit Romanov orphanage. This orphanage is home to 84 boys all of whom are physically and/or mentally challenged. The boys range in ages from 5 to 30. In Ukraine, typically people who are raised in an orphanage do not ever escape the orphanage system, but they spend their entire lives there. As a whole, orphanages are sad places with little care actually being given to the children. Oftentimes, the children (especially those with special needs) are looked down upon as sub-human and unimportant. People who get jobs working at orphanages will often steal from the orphans. The boys’ orphanage in Romanov is a special place. The director of this orphanage has worked hard to make it different from the “normal” orphanage in Ukraine. He has planted lots of flowers all over the grounds, he has painted walls, and he allows people to come in and interact with the boys. He has worked hard to keep the orphanage from becoming corrupt. All of the gifts given to the boys are recorded and kept track of. Thus, it is difficult for anyone who works there to steal.

Almaz (or diamond) Church in Kyiv, Ukraine has taken this boys orphanage as one of its ministries. They have been diligent in raising funds for the orphanage to help feed the boys real meat, to help get them some dental care, and to bring some joy to their lives. The Mercy Ministries team at Almaz tries to visit these boys as often as they can. They visit them at least 4 times a year and seek to visit them more often. The boys know these people and they look forward to hearing Bible teaching and taking part in some games/activities with the visitors from Almaz.

When I went to this orphanage in Romanov, I partnered with Almaz Church in order to get there. We went as a team of five people. Before leaving the States in August, I had sent the quilts on ahead because there was too many to keep track of on a flight. With the help of some very generous people here in the U.S., I was able to pay for everything including shipping and the cost of a day trip.

Early Friday morning, I woke up and was driven, with my translator, to the metro station (about 30 minutes away). We then rode the metro for about 45 minutes across and under Kyiv. I was jostled around as I tried to keep myself from falling over amid the swaying of the metro. It was a good time to study the people of Ukraine as I silently stood watching the masses going to work. Finally, we reached the western side of Kyiv and walked to a McDonalds to await the rest of the team. Sasha and Ina, a newly married couple who work regularly with special needs people and have a great desire to serve these boys, met us first. Not long after, Vladimir – our driver – arrived with the van full of shoe boxes from Samaritan’s Purse to also gift to the boys. Our car was full as we sped along the roads of Ukraine to the village. It felt like we must be Saint Nicolas with our van packed with quilts and other small gifts. However, instead of the smooth ride in the sleigh, we jostled and rumbled along the pothole-covered dirt roads trying to keep the boxes from falling on our heads as we went.

Finally, about three hours later, we arrived at the orphanage. I’d been there before and was thankful that I knew what to expect. We tumbled out of the car and stretched our legs a bit before gathering in a circle to make our plans. I strained to understand the Ukrainian/Russian chatter of the other four. Finally, we were ready. The assistant director met us and brought us to the warehouse where we could unload our gifts. He explained that he would need an exact count of everything we were bringing for their records. We popped the boxes of quilts open and did a final count of how many were there. I was surprised and pleased to find that there were a few extra. I can’t swear by it, but I believe the final count was 89! Every one of the quilts had made it safely through! At this point, the assistant director informed us that he was going to put the quilts in storage for another time. I worked hard to explain to him (through my translator) that we had come to give the quilts to the boys ourselves. It had been pre-confirmed by the director that we could do this. However, despite arguing for twenty minutes with him upon this point, I got nowhere. The deal was, we were not to give the boys the quilts because there were government official at the orphanage that day who were doing an inspection. Something about handing the quilts out was contrary to the normal ritual and thus could put a black mark on their report. Alas, I had to submit to this sad state of affairs and just go along with it. I would still see the boys and leave the gifts to be distributed another time. After our long argument, the assistant director finally took some pity on the frustrated American and said that we would act out giving the quilts away for pictures and then he would put the quilts away. I was not very interested in this as I didn’t want the boys to have false hope. I was assured by the rest of my team that this orphanage was honest and that, as the weather got colder, the boys would get their quilts. I could do nothing but trust. The next few hours we spent talking with the boys, listening to Sasha preach a little sermon, and playing a few games. They were so happy to have us all there. We shook many hands, gave many hugs, and were happily received by the boys. They were very thankful for our visit and asked that we return very soon.

I went away that day sad at what I saw and disappointed that we could not have been able to give them our gifts personally. We so wanted them to know that we cared for them and loved them. After getting back to Kyiv and talking over the trip with the pastor and the other team members, we settled on a plan that another group of people would go back to Romanov in a couple of months and get an update on the quilts. They would make sure that they were being use and that the boys were allowed to have them.

Just this morning, as I was sitting down to write to the pastor at Almaz Church and inquire on the status of this latest trip, I received and email from him. He informed me that he had just recently received some un-staged pictures of the orphanage and that the quilts were obviously being used! Not every boy got a quilt because some of them are so destructive that they would ruin it quickly, but those who can appreciate it and take care of it without immediately destroying them are being allowed to have the quilts on their beds.

Not every person will have the opportunity to see their quilt in the arms of a happy boy and I am very sorry for that. Thankfully, however, the diligent work of Almaz Church and the cooperation of the orphanage director has assured that every quilt that was given to this orphanage will be used and loved by one of the orphan boys who live there. Each quilt will find its way into the arms of a needy boy who can enjoy, not only the colors and warmth, but the love that was poured into his quilt.

Again, thanks to all the wonderful quilters who made this delivery possible!  I would also like to thank those of you who have responded to our request for quilts for Syrian Refugees and for the Forgotten People of the Bennett Freeze Area.  We have reached our target for the Forgotten People, and the effort to get quilts for Syrian Refugee children will be on-going for some time.

Regards,

Carla

 

Our First Fat Quarter Challenge Drawing!

Can you believe it’s already been a month since International Quilt Festival??? And that it’s time for our very first drawing to see who’s the winner of the $25 gift certificate from the Fat Quarter Shop? But first, let’s see these beautiful quilts.

The one on the left was our very first FQC quilt received and was made by Donna Sciandra. The quilt on the right was made by Rebecca Timm. Aren’t they beautiful and sure to bring smiles? Ok, our first gift certificate is going to….Donna Sciandra! Be watching your inbox, Donna! Remember, the sooner you return your quilt to me, the more chances you’ll have to win a gift certificate and STILL be entered in the drawing for the $100 grand prize the end of September, 2015! Your name is entered into the monthly drawing EVERY MONTH after I receive your quilt. These two quilts will be going to the Forgotten People of the Navajo Nation in the Bennett Freeze area. I know they’ll be greatly appreciated and much loved.

We’d like to thank the Fat Quarter Shop for their generosity in allowing us, for the first time ever, to award a gift certificate every single month of the challenge!  Here’s a little bit of information about them: Fat Quarter Shop is an online fabric retailer that sells quilting fabrics, fabric precuts, quilt kits, patterns, notions and more. They also offer a wide range of exclusive kits, clubs and block of the month programs. They offer major brands such as Moda Fabrics, Riley Blake Fabrics, Windham, Robert Kaufman, Art Gallery, Marcus Brothers and Northcott. They carry the largest online selection of fat quarter bundles! 

The Fat Quarter Shop was founded in 2003 by Kimberly Jolly. An avid quilter, Kimberly began her shop as a side business while still working a corporate position, cutting, packing and shipping right out of her house during evenings and weekends. From the very beginning, she was committed to delivering top-notch service for every single order and customer. As the Fat Quarter Shop’s reputation grew, Kimberly decided to make it a full-time operation. Her husband Kevin joined her not long after, and with his help, lots of hard work, and a tireless commitment, the store began to grow. Over the past few years a few more people have joined the staff!

Thank you so much, Kimberly! We’re looking forward to next month’s drawing!

Smiles,

Sandi

Quilts Desperately Needed for Syrian Refugees and Forgotten People of the Navajo Nation as Winter Approaches

We are asking for your help again for completed quilts for Syrian refugees in Jordan and for the Forgotten People of the Navajo Nation in Bennett Freeze area of Arizona.  The need is urgent because both of these groups live in areas where the cold, winter months are approaching rapidly and both groups are living in tents or houses without heat.

We have been sending quilts to the Syrian refugee children ongoing this year.  Right now we are trying to collect 75 quilts by mid-December for shipment to Jordan to a camp that houses refugees from ISIS and the Syrian war.  While we commonly think of the Middle East as being all desert and extremely hot, the camp is in northern Jordan where the winters are very cold.  Many of these refugees escaped Syria with only the clothes on their backs and are currently living in tents.  Last year several babies died when the temperatures dropped to freezing.  Our quilts are not only welcome and appreciated, but also lifesaving in some instances.  This initiative is being handled out of Lovettsville, VA.

 

The second initiative is to gather 100 quilts by Christmas for Navajo children and elderly people living in the Bennett Freeze area of Arizona.  Again, you may think of Arizona as being hot and arid, this is not the case for this area in the winter.  Winter temperatures here are already in the teens and just this week dipped to 12 degrees.  Many of these residents live in homes with no electricity, heat or running water.  Last year we provided quilts to this area, but we have been asked to provide more quilts for people who didn’t receive them in 2013.  We have been told that they were very much appreciated for their warmth and beauty.  This initiative is being handled out of Bear River City, UT.

  

I know it’s a busy time of the year for many of you right now.  However, we hope if any of you have some finished quilts for either of these groups, that you could help us out.  Also for those of you that picked up fat quarters for the challenge at IQF, now would be a good time to complete those quilts and earn more chances for the monthly $25 gift certificate drawing from Fat Quarter Shop.

All of us at QBB wish each of you and your families a wonderful Thanksgiving and hope you will consider our rather urgent plea for quilts at this time.  If you have quilts, please email us at quiltsbeyondborders@gmail.com.  Thanks.

All the best,

Tina