Quilts for Nunavut

The quilt guild sent 48 quilts to a birthing centre in Nunavut in February.  Why Nunavut some would ask? It happened this way.  Thanks to some very ambitious members the guild had more cuddle quilts than the local ambulance, police and firefighters needed. Someone at an executive meeting last fall suggested we share with others less fortunate that are usually forgotten – the Inuit’s in the far north. Luckily, my oldest daughter, Maryanne, happened to be manager of Indian and Northern Affairs for the federal government at the time and she was able to provide lots of information. It was Maryanne’s suggestion that instead of sending the quilts to a settlement we should consider sending them to a hospital with a birthing centre so the newborns would go home with a new quilt. If we send them to a settlement there would be some children without a quilt which would be heartbreaking.

So, we contacted Iqaluit, Nunavut, and they were thrilled to receive such a gift. They have between 300 – 400 births a year but we only sent 48 quilts. At least 48 mothers will know that someone cared enough about them and their babies to make their baby a quilt. The mothers have to be flown into Iqaluit from all outlaying settlements to give birth and according to my daughter, they are very poor and these quilts will be so appreciated.

So, now we need more cuddle quilts – which are now called comfort quilts. Be sure to pick up a kit at the monthly meetings. I just made one of these and they are super easy and quick to make up. You can have the top done in one afternoon. Everything is cut to size. You just open the kit and start sewing! Don’t you wish all your projects came this way!!!! Oh, and don’t forget, if you have any metal shelves you are not using, Elise needs some to store our fabric on.

Violet Verhoog

Some fun websites

A few websites for you!  (disclaimer – none of these are sponsors, simply sites where we’ve found interesting things)

• patsythompsondesigns.com – lots of quilting designs - be prepared for a long visit- she has lots!
• zeffiesquilts.com/Patterns  another site with tons of quilting designs, both sketched and a sample photo of the design in a quilt
• Quilterstv.com – free online shows with lots of variety and top quilters
• Youtube.com – enter search terms like ‘quilt binding’ or ‘strip tube quilting’ or ‘easy tube pillowcase’
• Electricquilt.com – I EQ – do you EQ?  Their website is a treasure trove of samples, lessons, fabric swatches, mystery quilts, designs of the month!
• Fabric manufacturers often have free patterns!  Try ModaBakeshop.com for lots of ideas!
• quiltuniversity.com – online quilt classes
• longarmuniversity.com – interested in Longarm quliting? Good research information here!

Lots of talk recently about organizing our quilting and our stash – check these out:

• allpeoplequilt.com/projects-ideas/decorating/organize-your-sewing-room_ss1.html - organize your sewing room!
• stashmanicure.blogspot.com
• trueup.net/how-to/10-steps-to-a-decluttered-stash
• sewtakeahike.typepad.com/sewtakeahike - Continuous Prairie Points - a different take on a golden oldie!

Nifty tips!

Members love sharing handy little tips and tricks!

Grip-It products - the non-slip product - comes in little rounds, marketed as Plate and China Protectors - ideal for stacking to help prevent chipping - come in packs of four.  One member likes to place these Grip-its under her machine's foot pedal.  Since they are packaged in 4, she puts 4 on the floor (no, not the manual transmission gearshift) and just peels away the dirty one, when necessary.

She also likes see-through, scented tote boxes to keep scraps.  When snooping, later, it's very pleasant digging for just the right snippet!

Co-opting gadgets

Once you get the quilting bug, it just seems that quilty things can be found everywhere.  On my recent visits to my husband's favourite tool toy stores, I've been seeing lots of things that I can use in my quilting ...
- a suction cup dent puller makes a really great rotary cutting ruler stabilizer!
- magnetized saucer-type thingies for pins
- tool caddy for keeping all my gadgets organized at my sewing table
- clamps!  there are so many clamps in so many sizes
- air duster canisters

Kinda makes me want to look for excuses for a road trip for more tools :)

Quilted Thanks to the Troops

This article appeared in the Chatham Daily News Nov 3 2010:

DIANA MARTIN photo@chathamdailynews.ca
Phene Richardson, left, Violet Verhoog and Virginia Travis
are just three of the women involved in quilting for soldiers
fighting in Afghanistan

Spread across Chatham-Kent Quilter's Guild member Phene Richardson's kitchen table are approximately 100 quilt squares. Unlike most squares, these will not be joined to create a larger quilt -- well not directly.

Richardson hopes they will unite Canadian Forces members serving in Afghanistan this holiday season.

"We're hoping to ship them within the next two weeks en masse so they can get them for Christmas," said Richardson.

There are upwards of 30 members working to create the quilt blocks, each the size of a sheet of paper. Each block has a design -flowers, Canadian flags, beavers, moose, and even a camouflaged turkey or two. On the back, the women have penned their thanks and best wishes; others have sewn on poems. Each carries a genuine message of gratitude.

Richardson said the project started in late spring and gained momentum when she made contact with a woman at Canadian Forces Base Trenton who has a son serving in Afghanistan.

Ideally, they want to have 200 squares finished -one for each member of the troop -before they bring them to Trenton, where they will be delivered to the soldiers.

The guild has done quilt projects to remember those who have given their lives, but this year they wanted to change the focus.

"We thought, why shouldn't we remember the ones who are serving now?" said Richardson.

She hopes that the quilts trigger a happy memory of home for the soldiers and a realisation that although they are far from home, they are close in the hearts of the Chatham-Kent Quilter's Guild.

Reprinted with permission

Getting excited about Nov 2010 gathering

Nov 17 - last year's Christmas dinner was fabulous, this year's event planners have been very busy making preparations for another wonderful evening. Our guild's celebration of the season ... lots of fun, great food, treasured fellowship and inspiration of 'show & share'. Hope you all have your tickets!  See you there :)

What a night!

All I can say is, "WOW!"

This was the first "Annual Christmas Dinner Meeting" that I've attended with our guild, and it was fabulous! I really liked the pot luck dishes everyone has - it's great to sample everyone's favorites :) And the turkey and trimmings were just wonderful.

The paper piecing displays were spectacular ... lots of fun with the ornament exchange ... what a lot of ingenious creations out of the little square of blue ... and the show and share is an inspiration each and every meeting :)

Well done, everyone!