Wishes4kids

 I had a lot of quilts ready to give out, since my lovely sewers had been beavering away during lockdown and I hadn’t been able to make the usual donations.  I decided to to find some more recipients, so rang Wishes4kids, a local charity which brings joy to children with terminal illnesses or who have suffered trauma of various kinds.  I spoke to the lovely Gary who was in the process of filling 200 goodie bags as Christmas gifts and was delighted to hear that I had quilts to add to the bounty. He was even willing to come over and pick them up!  I got 130 quilts ready for him, and he took them all! 

He was amazed when he chose this beauty for a photo, quite understandably.  His charity, which is based in Leicester, does its best to grant children’s wishes.  These range from activities to meeting celebrities. It was a pleasure to meet such a generous and lovely person.  Carry on the good work, Gary! 

Mammoth donation!

 Every year, we have a trip up the M1 to Shepshed to visit a wonderful group, Quilting Together.  They are very talented and very generous, and I always enjoy seeing them.  I missed them last year, but they had kept on quilting and had a mammoth pile of quilts for Project Linus! 

There were so many quilts that we couldn’t get them all in the car!  Eileen very kindly popped over with the remainder a few days later.  There were actually 149 quilts altogether!  What a lot of hugs! I took lots of photos, but only have time to add a selection. 

This is a giant hexagon!  It was made simply by going round and round the centre. What a stunner! 

This is a great way to deal with small hexagons.  This solves edging dilemmas! 

This selection of blocks gets unity from the turquoise and brown hourglasses. 

Another wonderful quilt made by going round and round! 

This quilt successfully bigs up some little pictures of lighthouses. 

Here are two for the price of one! 

Another double treat. 

Clever use of random squares to make a very pleasing design. 

Here is a great collection of coordinating blocks arranged very pleasingly. 

A seaside theme is always good. 

A great medallion quilt using up some hexagons beautifully. 

More squares, but what a clever arrangement. 

Half square triangles arranged in zig zags, plus a bright mile a minute! 

Another arrangement of squares!  So innovative! 

This is so much fun! 

A centre of strings, with a lovely border. 

I think most of these blocks were meant to be together, but there are some strangers playing very nicely! 

Yet another squares quilt!  There is so much talent in this group! 

This is so cheerful! 

This is just a few of the quilts, and I would like to say a huge thank you to the makers for all your hard work!  See you again, but not till next year! 

Quilts going off to give hugs

 I had quite a lot of quilts in my cupboard, and in the last week I have successfully sent most of them on their way to new homes. 

Firstly I went over to the Living Rock Church in Stoney Stanton, where ‘Pebbles’ is based.  This is an organisation which helps provide baby equipment to mothers in need.  I left 20 quilts there for the organiser, Janet. 

Then Paula and I went up to the LRI to meet Pip from Ward 10 and take 60 quilts.  That should keep them going for a while!  The nurse who is holding the quilt on the left really liked the backing, which was space themed.  She rushed off with it, saying, ‘I know someone who would love this!’ She gave it straightaway to a youngster who adored it (and his mum teared up).  

Then a trip to Market Harborough to Homestart, a charity which supports families.  They had 20 quilts and Stella particularly liked this pink quilt, as it was bright and cheerful. 

Now there is space in my cupboard, but not for long, I predict! 

It’s Autumn!

 Time has ticked on, and I haven’t done much blogging.  Knit and Stitch afternoons have continued indoors and the quilts have steadily rolled in.  So far, this year I have had 301 quilts donated!  That’s an amazing number of hugs waiting to give snuggles!  

Sometimes I get specific requests, which I try to fulfil if possible.  Rosemary from the Diana Service asked if I had a larger quilt for a tall 14 year old, plus two “blue quilts for Leicester FC fans’.  The larger quilt was easy and I found two very blue quilts.  I appliqued a nice fox’s face on the blue quilts for an extra touch. Rosemary thought they were fine! 

This week Paula and I finally made it to meet up with Leicester Stitchers to talk about Linus and receive two fabulous quilts made by their members over lockdown.  As you can imagine, we kept making dates then rearranging them, as the COVID-19 situation progressed!  I was glad to meet them as they were very friendly and gave me a generous donation for Linus as well as the quilts! 

Here they are with their fabulous creations.  Thank you so much, and Paula and I hope to see you all again soon. 

July donation

 We haven’t been able to make donations to the Leicester Royal Infirmary, as the COVID-19 situation has been particularly bad in Leicester, and this was the main COVID hospital.  However, I contacted Chandni who works on Ward 27 and she said they would love some quilts!  Hooray!  However, we wouldn’t be allowed to come into the hospital, so she would meet us outside.  At the agreed time I rang the ward only to find that she had been pinged and was off work!  Luckily another member of staff came down to fetch the quilts. 

The lady was a bit camera shy, so I had the photo by myself!  That’s fifty gorgeous quilts on their way to cheer up some poorly youngsters.  

Normal(ish) meeting

 The Methodist Hall was open and we decided to meet inside.  I wasn’t sure how many people would come, but I was delighted that twenty two people came along.  

Here are the sewers, socially distanced and you can see that the emergency door is open (as well as all the windows) to provide good ventilation. We had spent a while sanitising door knobs, light switches, tables and chair backs before people arrived to make sure all was COVID secure. 

Here are the knitters.  There wasn’t a lot of knitting (or sewing) going on, but it was lovely to see people and feel as if we had at least got the ball rolling. 

Lots of show and tell.  Naomi put together a random set of blocks very successfully.  

Margery brought this top, with wadding and backing.  She was hoping that someone would volunteer to layer it up as she has run out of 505 spray.  Unfortunately nobody stepped forward, and I recommended Empress Mills as a good deal on 505 and she had to take it home with her! 

Another of Naomi’s beautifully hand quilted quilts. 

Ann hand pieces, and here is one of her hexagon quilts. 

Martha has made up a scrappy windmill.  Always a favourite.  There was a block left over, which has gone into the box for another quilt. 

This is a tumbler quilt made by Martha. 

I think this is Jewel Box made by Naomi.  

A smaller version of the same quilt. 

Julie cuts tumblers with her Accuquilt cutter, and Anne Marie has put them together beautifully. 

Fiona has made a stunning Bargello design. 

Here is another of Julie’s kits made up by Martha.  

Ann Marie made up this Carpenter’s Star quilt.  

Another hexagon design from Ann. 

Martha took some cat squares and begged them up in this beautiful design. 

And last, but not at all least, here is Fiona’s scrap quilt.  Bright and cheerful.  

It was lovely to see everyone, and we’re looking forward to next month when we can (hopefully) get back to normal. Happy sewing! 

All set!

 Last week I was able to get all our equipment, sewing machines, iron and extension leads PAT tested!  Julie’s sister has her equipment tested, and we join in with her.  The man charges a flat fee for any number under 40, so it benefits us both if we can join up. 

Here is everything checked off and legal!  Just in time too, as I have booked the Lutterworth Methodist Hall for our July meeting, and I’m hoping we will be able to get some sewing done.  At least we won’t freeze to death or be threatened by frisbees and footballs!  

The dates for this year are July 1st, August 5th, September 2nd, October 7th, November 4th and December 2nd.  There will be no refreshments at the next meeting, but be reassured that the toilets will be open!  Hope you can come. 

Prem baby hugs

 Today I went over to Hinckley to deliver some prem baby hugs to the local charity ADAPT.  Sue was delighted to receive quilts as she says the wards are beginning to open up. 

There were 60 quilts altogether, ranging from the small 18” ones ( much like this) up to the more lap sized quilts with baby designs.  They are all equally welcome! 

Unusual meeting places

 When I said I was delivering quilts this afternoon, Jane asked, ‘Where to?’  She didn’t expect me to reply, ‘Tesco Superstore, Wigston!’  The look on her face was a picture!  And while the quilts were being handed over at Tesco’s, it was Rosemary from the Diana Service for Children with Life-limiting Conditions who would be distributing them.  

I

We usually meet at Meridian, as it’s easy to get to and plenty of free parking, but this was just as good, and had the added bonus of trollers to use to transfer quilts from car to car! With thirty quilts, it made life much simpler. 

Rosemary brought some cards which the children had made.  Lovely. 

Surprise!

 I had a surprise yesterday.  I had a phone call from Angie at the LRI Chilldren’s Intensive Care Unit to ask if we had any larger quilts for teenagers. (That’s not the surprise.). I said yes, and how can we deliver them? (That’s not the surprise.). She said, well, just bring them up to the ward next time you’re passing!  That was the surprise!  ‘Can I just come then?’ said I.  ‘Yes, of course.  You can even stay for a cup of tea!’   Well, I knew things were beginning to get more relaxed, but I hadn’t realised that included hospitals!  So, I sorted out ten larger quilts and husband and I delivered them with pride. 

Here are Angie and I, and we are both smiling I can assure you.  Here’s to more visits to the LRI in future! 

First meeting of 2021 - part 2

 The rule of six applies in England at the moment, so I invited six people yesterday, and another six today. Emily couldn’t come along because she was taking her parents for a vaccination this afternoon, and Sue was seeing her family.  Luckily Paula, Julie and Maria were able to come along despite the weather being no better than yesterday! 

Paula brought several quilts, including this lovely pink one.  It looks complicated, but is really not.  

She has done a great job here. 

This is a bordered nine patch.  The colour choices here are fabulous. 

 Here is Julie’s Bonnie Hunter’s ‘Grassy Creek’.  Looking really good. Maria is getting ready to display one of her quilts. 

 Maria has given me lots of quilts during lockdown, but due to ill health has slowed down recently.  Here is a beautiful purple quilt.  Stunning. 

 And here is something you don’t often see.  Julie took this photo of me!  Here is a mile a minute idea which I have found recently.  I think it’s bright and cheerful.  

We will be meeting again at Lutterworth Rec on May 6th and would be delighted to see you if you’re free.