Inspirational Quilts

Today I have a guest blogger, my first guest blogger ever, and I am very proud to say she's one of the most inspiring women I know, so its thrilling to have her blog here.

So over to Nancy from Inspirational Quilts

We all know the feeling. We just love to make quilt after quilt, and there are only so many
family and friends we can trust enough to hand them over to. Forced to take a five week
holiday from work in 2005, I spent the entire time trying to bust through my stash (very
unsuccessfully), and learning to use my newly acquired quilting table.

Before I knew it I had completed 27 quilts and had no idea what to do with them. I called the
Children’s Hospital who advised me that if I donated them they would go to the oncology
unit or be sold in their gift shop. I had nothing against that, but felt that they needed to
go somewhere else. A close friend had a granddaughter who had just been diagnosed
with Cystic Fibrosis, the highest genetic life-threatening disease, affecting the organs
in the body, and for which there is currently no cure. My mind was made up. I contacted
the CF ward, and they immediately accepted the 27 quilts with much pleasure and
excitement. I started to spread the word amongst my quilting friends, and was also offered
the opportunity of a stand at the “Northern Craft Fair” which raised the awareness of
Inspirational Quilts” in the Northern Suburbs.

The quilts soon started coming in thick and fast, and as there are only four children
diagnosed which Cystic Fibrosis each month, I needed to find another avenue
for donation. I had a chat with the Co-ordiantor of Cystic Fibrosis Unit, who
recommended “Ronald McDonald House. They too were overwhelmed with the offer and
accepted happily accepted the quilts.

Since it’s inception in 2005, Inspirational quilts has donated over 1200 quilts to the
Children's Hospital and Ronald McDonald House and is still going strong. Donations of
completed quilts, and quilt tops are always welcome, and are donated within a couple of
weeks of being received. All quilts are photographed, labelled and catalogued, and any
correspondence received from recipients is sent to the quilt maker, which is always a big
buzz. For more information visit the Website www.inspirationalquilts.com.au

Nancy Gheno
Inspirational Quilts


I have promised myself I will make a quilt for this very worthy charity each month this year.  In January I made a teddy themed courthouse steps quilt.  This month I'm making a Raggedy Anne and Andy quilt, which I plan to complete and blog about sometime next week.  

FABULOUS FREE STUFF

Following on with the Valentine's Day theme here are some lovely heart stitchery designs which are shared by the following generous bloggers.

and

From Mary Corbet's Needle N Thread

and

from Badbirds.  Many thanks Andrea.

Don't forget to enter my latest give-away.  Just leave a comment on my Feb 9th post.