It has been awhile since I've shared about our Home Ec excursions, there have been plenty!
Home Ec is still such a highlight to our week. In March, after learning of the earthquake in Japan and the lifelong rebuilding that will take place for survivors, we knew there must be something we could do to help. Something beyond sending money (though money is a very real, immediate and future need), something lasting... and hopefully, something that provided another person across the world with some much needed hope and love.
I came across a small and lovely group of ladies in Portland who organized Quilts for Quake Survivors, and that is where we decided to place our efforts. Working with our hands, giving our time, sitting for long stretches while talking about the thousands of people left with painful loss and the hard work of rebuilding. Hoping that wrapping themselves in something handmade with love and intention would offer them comfort, and a feeling that life is worth rebuilding and there will be good things to come.
So we began sewing in earnest... the girls were very clear that the fabric combinations should be cheerful and smile inducing, of course.
But just as we got close to having our twelve squares of each pattern completed (enough for a quilt to be made from each colorway), this mama went onto the website and learned that we just missed the deadline to send in the squares! I don't recall seeing a cut off date when I first decided on this project for them, but alas, it seems that a large box of 30 (!!!) quilts is on their way to Japan through Mercy Corps/Peace Winds in Japan.
Although we missed the deadline for actual quilts to find their way to Japan, which of course would be optimal, Daniela and Susan have taken on another project of opening a quilt shop on Etsy which will officially launch very soon! All proceeds from quilt sales will be donated to relief efforts in Japan. In this shop they will sell finished quilts, made from the squares and tops they are still receiving from crafty folks around the country.
They have taken on this huge undertaking and are busy moms like you and I, they are very grateful for any and all help they receive. I'm going to talk to the girls here and see if they think we can tackle finishing these quilts and sending them to Daniela and Susan completed, finished quilts are very much appreciated by them at this point. They are also in need of quilting supplies, in particular, thread and batting.
Susan made a video tutorial to show how a simple log cabin block is made!
I have a feeling the girls will really want to get these quilts directly to people in Japan (understandably), so I will need to locate another organization that is set up for such a thing. If you have any ideas of groups I should look into, please let me know.
I've never completed a proper quilt before, but I do think this would be the very reason to give it a (very careful) try. I'd like to think we could have our two quilts finished by sometime in June, I will keep you posted here if they are listed in the Quilts for Quake Shop. If we wind up sending them directly to Japan, I will be sure to take a few pics before we send them off.
We envision these two sets of squares surrounded by crisp white sashing. We can do this!
Nova recently did a painful yet amazing program on the earthquake/tsunami and subsequent devastation in Japan. You can watch the program in it's entirety online.
I hope I've included enough information and links in this post for those interested in joining Daniela and Susan in any way. You know, immediate needs in an emergency seem to come quickly. It is the people still recovering six months or a year after the fact that hope we haven't forgotten about them. There will always be time to quilt for the people of Japan.
