Quilt Haiti

 

Quilts were meant for sharing.   

I've been noodling about quilts.  Women who make them.  Women who need them.  Quilts, especially those that are handcrafted, are really just a giant hug for anyone who wraps one around herself. 

Perhaps by stitching quilts, we’re comforting ourselves, too, because the whole concept of what has happened in Haiti is overwhelming.  And sending a check helped me for a day or so.  Then I grew antsy.  So, I stitched.  And I thought.

I'd like to do a "quilt drive", for lack of a better term, and get quilts to the women, children, men (we don’t discriminate here) in Haiti.  I realize the needs in Haiti are huge, and “sending blankets” may not seem like the answer.  But consider this: quilts offer comfort, solace, warmth.  These beautiful people lost everything.  Perhaps by sending our quilts, we are also sending our love.

I’ve been talking to my friend, Rebecca.  I know many of you follow her blog.  Rebecca returned home from Haiti only days before the earthquake hit.  I checked her blog everyday to see if there was word about the people she met, what was happening, how I could help.

When I presented the idea of sending stacks and stacks handcrafted quilts to Haiti, she said, “I absolutely love the quilt idea!  Truly, one thing they need right now is warmth and comfort.”

So.  Without further ado…let’s Quilt Haiti! 

Rebecca is planning a trip back to Haiti.  She has generously offered to get our quilts to the people there.  So, let’s send her a whole big bunch of them!   If you’re a quilter and like me, you have oodles of quilts in your home.  Send me one of those.  Or create a new one to send.  Send a handmade bunny or bear.  Send a baby quilt.  Send a king size quilt.  It’s up to you.  Whatever you send will be absolutely perfect and right.

If you’d like to be involved, simply leave a comment here.  Please be sure to include your email address, so I can contact you with the details.

I am so excited about this!  And I hope you are, too.  I’m working on getting a blog button uploaded (thanks to my pal Monica for giving of her creative and technical talents).  I’m having my own technical issues, but as soon as I get it together, I’ll have buttons for you all to put on your blogs.  In the meantime, don’t be shy, spread the word.  What the world needs now, is quilts, love, and more quilts.  And more love. 

Send quilts.  Send love.  Pass it on.

Comments

[DAGMAR / February 25,2010]

Hi there

I am currently organizing a group of ladies thru my church to make quilts for the people in Haiti that were devastated by the earthquake.
Please send me information on where we can send these quilts to so they get there.
Thank you
D.F.

[O'Dell Merchant]

Hi Tammy,
I have made quilts in the past for the ABC quilters that sends them to sick babies/children in hospitals around the world. I have several small quilts almost finished -just have to get them out of storage (we're planning a move soon)-and can send these to you for Haiti babies, once I have the address. Quilts are a wonderful way to say you care...since they are both warm and cheerful! I will also pass this info along to my niece who is a new quilter, to whom I'm giving some of my fabric scraps...
keep up the good works! O'Dell

[Kim Donaldson]

Hello there, my kids and I have made a quilt (we are novices) to send to Haiti and we have lost contact with the group we were going to send it with. Have these quilts been sent yet? To where can we send our quilt if they have not?! thanks
Kim

[Sheri Howard]

I would make a block and send to you if you still need more.

Thanks,
Sheri Howard

[Pamela S]

Count me in - I'm at psmith926@gmail.com. Please send me an address to mail a baby quilt and block. Also, I see you are asking for 12 inch blocks. Is that finished or unfinished? Thanks for taking on this much needed project!!

[Margaret]

I would love to participate. I don't have a blog but do have quilts!

[Margaret]

smargster@msn.com

[Mary Kickham]

Hi Tammy:
We are a group of crafters from PEI Canada and have made over 100 baby quilts for children in Haiti. We would like to know how we can forward these items to them without costing us a lot of dollars.
Mary K

[Jennifer]

We'll be sewing in honor of this great cause.

[Heidi]

Hi Tammy ~

I was thinking about starting something similar but just for babies - the picture of all of them lined up in the back of that dirty truck bed hunts me! Anyway, I'd love to make some baby quilts, but not sure how to go about getting them to you, etc. Please contact me at hkwdesign@verizon.net

xo Heidi

[Renee Puza]

Hi Tammy,
Considering it is soon summer in Haiti, and temperatures are warm, are you still seeking additional quilts? Our women's ministry would love to make some fleece blankets to send - would this be appropriate, or would a lighter weight fabric be better? Please contact me so we can start the work. Also please inform of how to best get them to those in need. Thank you!

[Heidi]

Hi Tammy -

My e-mail is having issues and won't send e-mails out - grrr! Anyhoo, I have 3 baby quilts that I'd like to send your way, please send your address.

Thanks -
Heidi
Birds of a Feather

e-mail - hkwdesign@verizon.net
(I can get them, just not send!)

[Heidi]

Hi Tammy -

I sent the quilts off this morning, Priority - they should be there by friday!
I didn't enclose a note - I wasn't quite awake this morning. There are 3 altogether - one from my MIL, and 2 alphabet ones from me

Thank you so much for all you and Rebecca are doing - it's a wonderful cause and hopefully the quilts will keep on coming!

xo Heidi Wallingford
PS Not sure why my e-mail won't send to you - say it's apam - grrr!