Tammy Gilley Studios

Wrapped Up

Rebecca has posted photos from her recent trip to Haiti.  If you sent quilts for Quilt Haiti, sent money, sent dolls, or have just been following this story, be sure to check out her photos here.  They will do your heart good.  xo

Beautiful. People.

Just a quick post.  Please visit Rebecca.  I don't have the words in me right now. 

Only two. 

Thank you.

First Stop, Nashville

Rebecca has received your quilts, and leaves very soon for Haiti.

Thank you again, one and all.  If you contributed a quilt, sent money, sewed cute bunnies, created my blog button, posted that button on your blog, prayed.  Whatever you did, thank you.  It was just the right thing.  xo

(Photo courtesy of Rebecca Sower, haitibyhand.typepad.com)

People All Over the World, Join Hands, Start a Love Train

Do you remember that song from...the 70's I think?  (Totally dating myself...oh well...the gray hairs announce me before I ever walk into a room, I suppose.)  Anyway, I was giving a little concert in my car this afternoon, as I do from time-to-time, and it seemed the perfect song to plagirize for my title to this Quilt Haiti update post.

Because, seriously, people from all over the world sent quilts, are sending quilts, are starting a love train full of quiltie love to send to Haiti.

I am jumping up and down and just all a-wiggle with the absolute joy this project has brought me.  Completely self-full, I know, but I can't help it.  This project has done my heart good, baby!

Rebecca leaves soon for her trip to Haiti, and she has promised lots of photos of beautiful people receiving beautiful quilts.  These wonderful, love-laden quilts that came from Canada, Japan, and all over the United States!  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you. 

And there were stuffed rabbits, quilted baby balls, and little notes of love and support.  So many gifts.  I won't lie to you; I shed many-a-tear opening up these boxes, seeing the quilts and goodies, all the hard work that went in to them, yes, but all of the compassion and caring, too.  What a gift it was for me to witness all of this.  Thank you so much.

It was with sheer delight that I was the keeper of your quiltie love treasures until the time came to mail them off to Rebecca.  Soon they will be in her hands to pass along to our new friends in Haiti.

What a beautiful thing you all have done.  Thank you so, so much. 

And here's double-good-news:  Rebecca will be making a return trip to Haiti later in the summer.  So, if you missed out on this first round, fear not, my friends, there's still time to jump on the Quiltie Love Train.  Join hands.  Stitch quilts.  Send love.  Lots and lots of quiltie love.

Quilt Haiti Blog Buttons

Yay!

There are two sizes:  a cute little button, and a large economy size button.  You can simply download the button, or you can grab the code.

Snag code below for small Quilt Haiti blog button:

 <a href="http://tammygilleystudios.typepad.com/tammy_gilley_studios/2010/02/quilt-haiti.html"><img src="https://tammygilleystudios.typepad.com/quilt_haiti_150.jpg" alt="quilt haiti" width="150" height="225" border="0"></a>

Snag code below for large Quilt Haiti blog button:

<a href="http://tammygilleystudios.typepad.com/tammy_gilley_studios/2010/02/quilt-haiti.html"><img src="https://tammygilleystudios.typepad.com/quilt_haiti_175.jpg" alt="quilt haiti" width="175" height="263" border="0"></a>

I'm no technical genius (however, I have many other gifts!).  So, please consult your blog host if you're unsure how to post the button on your blog.  Thanks!

Thanks so much for helping to share the quiltie love!  The response so far has been awesome!  And it's not too late to get involved...send quilts now, our operators are standing by.

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.