More FQC Quilts and February Winner

Quilts Beyond Borders is so thankful for all the people who have participated in the Fat Quarter Challenge and sent in beautiful quilts. Anyone can still join in the fun.. just make a quilt using a FQ of your own, or I can send you one. Add more cotton/poly fabrics to make a QBB-sized quilt, machine finish and bind the quilt, and send it in. You will help a child, and you might win a prize.

Here are the quilts that have come in recently. Enjoy the eye candy!

This pretty one is from Jeanne A. of California. It is the second quilt she has sent in so far:

Helen S. of Colorado sent two lovelies:

This fun, scrappy quilt is from Donna S. of New York:

This cuddly quilt was made by a Minnesota quilter whose name we will receive soon. It was hand-delivered by her friend, but missing the identifying information:

Diane H. of Connecticut picked up two FQs in Houston last fall and ended up making these three eye-catching quilts:

Charlotte M. of California made this happy quilt full of butterflies:

The winner of the February FQC drawing is Sharon E. of Minnesota! Sharon has sent in three quilts, so her name goes in the prize drawing three times each month! For winning in February, Sharon receives a $25 gift certificate from the Fat Quarter Shop which has generously supported our FQC project for several years. Here is a picture of one of Sharon’s quilts:

We are so thankful for all 38 beautiful quilts we have received so far for this year’s Fat Quarter Challenge. As we always say, it’s the children who are the real winners! If you have any questions about how to participate or need the address to send in a quilt, send an email to quiltsbeyondborders@gmail.com

Carol Egan

FQC Coordinator

Special Delivery of Quilts in Panama

FQC Coordinator, Carol Egan, recently traveled to Panama with her sisters. They took along five quilts which they delivered to people of the Embera tribe. What a fun adventure!

First they rode in a dug-out style canoe to reach the Embera village. Then the people served them a lunch of fresh fried fish and fried plantain served in a banana leaf.

After a short talk and then some dance demonstrations, Carol and her sisters gave quilts to a family group who had some small children.

You can see the joy on the beautiful faces!

As the last photo was snapped, that little munchkin on the right walked over to see what was going on. Sadly, they had run out of quilts by then.

These five quilts were the first QBB quilts to be donated in the country of Panama.

I Should Leave the Country More Often

I told my husband that I should leave the country more often… Recently my sisters and I took a fabulous trip to Panama. While I was gone, NINE (9) quilts arrived at my house for the Fat Quarter Challenge! I’m busily planning my next trip in hopes that a similar quilt avalanche happens again (hardy har har).

Can you believe the beauty?? These are so great, soft, cuddly, and cute. Nine more kids will get to have some love and cuddles. Thanks to all of you!

Some of these are second or even third donations from the same quilter. Good luck to all who have donated so far this year.  They now have their names (once per quilt) every month in the drawing for a $25 gift certificate from the Fat Quarter Shop.

Here are the nine that recently arrived (you can click on each photo to see it larger, and each maker’s name is listed):

The kids and QBB thank you for your generosity!

From Carol Egan – FQC Coordinator

quilts are from

Beth H., Minnesota

Cassandra W., Colorado

Elle B., Minnesota

Jeanne A., California

Karen R., Minnesota (2)

Patty C., Oregon

Sharon E., Minnesota (2)

Photos from Navajo Holiday Quilt Distribution Parties

As we described in this recent post, we once again partnered with Marsha Monestersky of Forgotten People to provide hundreds of quilts to elders and children in the Navajo Nation for the holidays. We are excited to now have pictures to share from these happy occasions, please enjoy and we hope you recognize one of your own beautiful creations!

 

 

January Prize Winner

The lucky winner of the January drawing is Deb W. of Michigan! Deb sent in seven beautiful Fat Quarter quilts.

Deb wins a $25 gift certificate at Fat Quarter Shop. Fat Quarter Shop has been kind to sponsor the Fat Quarter Challenge for several years now. We appreciate their support. It adds another fun dimension to the already-fun process of making quilts for kids in need.

Here is one of Deb’s 7 beautiful quilts, and you can see more recent submissions in this recent post.

Looking forward to receiving YOUR Fat Quarter Challenge quilts. Send them to me at Carol Egan, PO Box 50734, Mendota, MN 55150.

Please note – do NOT ship to a PO Box using UPS. If you need my street address, please leave a note at the QBB email: quiltsbeyondborders@gmail.com

Thanks!

Carol Egan

FQC Coordinator

Quilts for Navajo Nation’s Holiday Celebration

For the 7th year in a row, Quilts Beyond Borders has sent quilts to the Navajo Nation in northern Arizona.  Quilts are given to children and elderly during holiday parties.  This time, 500+ quilts were sent to Marsha in November and December.  Marsha travels many miles around the Navajo Nation to distribute the quilts and provide holiday cheer and greetings.

Here is a message from Marsha about the 2019 quilts:

“We went on the Navajo Nation to Chchiltah Senior Center, Rock Point Elementary, Junior & Senior High School, Rock Point Senior Center, Red Water Pond Community, Horse Lookout Point, Monument Valley Senior Center, and Big Mountain. The people, elderlies and youth, ALL love the quilts and appreciate the incredible one-of-a-kind quilts, each stitch made with love for them! Most of these elderlies and youth live a subsistence lifestyle, and for many of them, it is the only holiday gift they will get.”

Quilts Beyond Borders could not have received this touching message without quilters like YOU who provide these “incredible one-of-a-kind quilts”, many quilts designated specifically for the Navajos.  Thank you to all the quilters and others  who support Quilts Beyond Borders. What a difference 1 quilt can make in a young or elder person’s life.

Marsha is assembling photos of the children and elderly with their new quilts and those photos will be posted soon.  In the meanwhile, the following photos are a glimpse of some of the 500+ quilts sent in 2019 to the Navajo Nation.

But first, we have a photo of Marsha preparing to head to the Navajo Nation with boxes and boxes of quilts. She is faithful to take these north each year on behalf of Quilts Beyond Borders. (Photo from the 2018 initiative.)

The first three quilts were created by Joanne.  The red and white strip quilt was sent by Jeannie A:

These were created by (left to right) Karmel, Dolly F, Catherine and Ronna, Ronna, and Dianna:

First two quilts (left to right) were created by Nancy, Ronna and Catherine.  The last two quilts were created by Catherine and Ronna:

These two quilts were sent to QBB by Joanne S:

These quilts were provided by Jeanne A (first two, left to right) and Louise H (last two)

Many quilts have been submitted.  Unfortunately, five beautiful quilts  missed the photo shoot.  Apologies to Carol E, Beth H, and the Sunshine Guild for not including photos of their quilts designated for the Navajo’s – we hope to include the photos in a later blog showing the heartwarming distribution party!

Linda Cadzow, Susan S, Dolly Fraley

Kim B

Maria Rodriguez, Marsha W, Shaun, Becky Becktoff

Donna Sciandra

Lori Heyder

Anonymous 11.14.19

Submitted by:
Sherree Newhouse
Quilts Beyond Borders
Arizona Regional Coordinator

Making Child-Friendly Quilts

Last time I wrote about receiving quilts, I called it a blizzard. I think what I recently received was the true blizzard. I received eight quilts in one day! That was very exciting! Since this was a true blizzard of quilts, I decided to photograph them all in the snow on my deck.

This quilt is by Gail H. of California. Gail loves puppies and appropriately used some CUTE puppy fabric on the back, making this quilt just as lovely on the back as it is on the front…

The next seven quilts are all by Deb W. of Michigan. These are some cheerful, child-friendly quilts! We could all take inspiration from both Gail and Deb: using these bright and happy colors on the front AND the back will make the quilts even more appealing to children. I’ll include a couple photos of her backing fabrics so you get an idea of what I mean. The fronts and the backs are very kid-friendly. Along with Gail’s one and Deb’s seven quilts, eight lucky children will feel so loved in these happy quilts.

Thank you to Gail and to Deb for these wonderful quilts. Your names are now in our monthly drawing for a prize. (Deb’s name goes in 7 times!) Good luck!

Carol Egan

FQC Coordinator, QBB

Kids Kingdom Initiative

Northwest Christian School (NCS) in Phoenix, Arizona has  “adopted“ an orphanage in Mexico called Kids Kingdom. Kids Kingdom is a light in their community of Imuris Sonora and has been operating for 15 years.  A few times annually NCS students trek to Imuris Sonora to bring some supplies, be with the children and show them they are loved. This past December the students and their leader, Chris, also took quilts along to share with the children.

Kids Kingdom is not only an orphanage, but a small community center and a church.  Between providing meals, jobs, education and spiritual guidance, directors Arutor and Lila have made a palpable difference in the town of Imuris.

There are approximately 18-22 children living at Kids Kingdom at any given time, but meals usually include many more children of the neighborhood.  The quilts from Quilts Beyond Borders  provide warmth through the cool nights, and it showed the children that there are others that care for them.  As Chris told us on their return “ … this [ gift ] was pretty special to little ones at Kids Kingdom orphanage!!!  ”

Here are pictures of a few of the children with their quilts, with permission from the organization:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Go6DLku1gPg6SYeG9

The photos below are of the quilts that were sent to bless the children. Thank you, quilters!  Quilts Beyond Borders can not support these initiatives without the amazing quilters you are!

Submitted by Arizona Regional Coordinator -Sherree Newhouse

By Hittle and Nahid H, Lind L, Bert C, Night Owls:

By Night Owls, Linda W and Pam W, Night Owls, Threads of Love Texas:

By Alaina H, Linn R, Alaina H, Linn R and Sherree N:

By Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, Texas (first two), Bert C and Patricia L, Judy C:

Marsha W and Patricia L, (first two quilts), Cari, Theresa L and Nahid H:

By Cathryn and Ronna, Patricia L, Debbie M and Patricia L (last two quilts):

By Marian, Rosalind W and Sarah W:

By Joanna P, Mari, Ann M and Joanna P, Cassie B:

A Blizzard of Quilts for FQC

The cold winter months are here; it’s a great time to stay indoors and sew some quilts for children. The Fat Quarter Challenge is always happy to receive your quilts, and the children will be snuggled and warm.

We have recently received a blizzard of lovely quilts — four of them:

This quilt is from Jeanne A. of California. I had seen a photo online, but seeing it in person was much more fun. It’s lovely and cuddly. Thank you, Jeanne!

This quilt was sent to Regional Coordinator Sheree. It is for the Fat Quarter Challenge. I have only seen this photo, not the quilt in person, though I would have loved to see it with my own eyes. Look at the gorgeous quilting! This was made by Linda L. of Louisiana.

The next two were made by local friends of mine and handed to me in person. Big thanks to Maureen L. and to Sharon E. for these beautiful quilts! I’m grateful that my attempt to recruit quilts actually was successful. I have nice friends.

All four of these people, Jeanne, Linda, Maureen, and Sharon, will have their names included in the next drawing for a prize from QBB and Fat Quarter Shop. The next drawing is on Feb. 1st; readers, you still have time to get a quilt sent in. I can send you a FQ, or you can choose one of your own. Add other fabrics to it and make a quilt to the QBB size specifications.

Good luck, and thanks for playing our Fat Quarter Challenge. The children are the real winners of this game!

Carol Egan

FQC Coordinator, QBB

December FQC Winner

The lucky winner in the December drawing is Mary B. of Massachusetts. Mary will receive a $25 gift certificate to Fat Quarter Shop. She was very excited to win. She said, ” I don’t believe it. I never win anything! This is marvelous. I love the Fat Quarter Shop!” She’s going to have fun shopping.

You, too, can win a shopping experience at Fat Quarter Shop. All you have to do is submit a quilt to the Fat Quarter Challenge. Use a fat quarter of your choice (or I can send you one), add other fabrics to it, and make a quilt to the QBB size specifications. Then send the completed quilt to my PO Box: Carol Egan, PO Box 50734, Mendota, MN 55150. Your name goes into the hat as soon as the quilt arrives, and stays there until the end of the challenge year (Oct. 15, 2020). You could win more than once!

QBB appreciates any and all quilt donations, and I especially love getting the FQC quilts so I can enjoy the beauty and love in your quilt before the quilt gets sent to a child. The children are the real winners!

Mary sent two beautiful quilts to me for the FQC. Here are pictures of her two quilts:

If you have questions about the FQC, please ask. Use the QBB email (quiltsbeyondborders@gmail.com) and we’ll answer ASAP. Thanks.

Carol Egan

FQC Coordinator, QBB