Lyn | News from HQ
April was a busy month. Traplet Publications kindly donated a stand for us at the Uttoxeter Quilt Village. We sold more raffle tickets and also sold scrap packs and fabric remnants which had been donated but were either not in child friendly colours or not of patchwork fabric. The scrap packs in particular were very popular. We raised enough money that way to supply wadding for Linus days across the country and to produce more publicity material. We have had posters and flyers with simple patterns for quilts and blankets printed to give out to anyone who is interested in supporting us.
The Quilters Guild gave us some workshop space at their AGM in Portsmouth. Jane Lambert and Lourdes Ball brought lots of ready cut pieces for attendees to piece together. We put up posters and gave out leaflets. Of course most Guild members know about Project Linus and many are regular supporters but it is good to keep them up to date with what is happening.
It seems that there are a number of knitting and crafting magazines who are interested in charity knitting so our blanket patterns have been requested by several magazines along with information about our organisation and where our quilts and blankets go. They don’t always tell me what they have published though, so it’s hard to keep track!
Preparations are already under way for the Festival of Quilts at the NEC in August. There will be another quilt to raffle and local Linus coordinators will be selling tickets. We hope to see you there, or you could take part in our Block Challenge.
Elspeth Russell in Falkirk has reported that Asda offer free use of meeting rooms in some of their premises. She has booked one for a Linus event and will report back on how it goes.
Sandra | East Kent
I thought you would like to see how my banners turned out. I am very pleased with them and had several good comments about them. I think you can just about make out the dog quilt which is the one I have all my ladies making for The Kent Association for The Blind. It has been very popular, so if there is any wadding going it would be much appreciated!
We certainly had a good fundraiser, organised by our local coffee lounge Mackaris. He said he would arrange a celebrity but I didn’t expect Stephanie Beecham and Russ Abbot, I felt so honoured. Russ Abbot was lovely and certainly made everyone laugh.
Jane | North Cornwall
These children at their kindergarten in Romania live in a very poor community, where most adults live on the few pounds doled out by the government for families, eked out by their own very small scale farming efforts and charities such as Rora Christian Centre, Devon. My cousin Christine and her husband (both in their late seventies now) travel out three or four times a year with a lorry of goods that have been donated in this country to help the community at Vulcan and other local communities. Their support isn’t just practical in goods and the provision of a school and canteen. They also help the children’s parents fill out government forms and try to access what little they are entitled to. If you want to know more, I can send you Rora’s latest newsletter from Romania. These often make heartrending reading, so I’m very pleased indeed we’ve been able to cheer the children up with quilts.
Ed – Many of us made quilts for Romania before Linus got started in the UK. There was some anxiety that they weren’t always reaching the orphanages they were aimed at but Jane Anstey has a direct link and her makers were happy to send these to the children. I know this stretches the Linus remit and I would always insist that makers know and are happy with where their quilts were going, but I would hate to think that we ignored need that we knew we could meet – Lyn.
Sylvia | Warrington
We had a wonderful coffee morning on 12th April. The ladies worked hard both before and during the event making craft items, cakes, jams and marmalade etc but it was well worth the effort as it gave a big boost to our funds and will allow us to buy more fabric and wool to keep us out of mischief!
Ann | Chesterfield and South Sheffield
Beryl is a PACT nurse at Sheffield Childrens’ Hospital, and she wanted to visit sew4others and personally thank the ladies who make the quilts (this includes quilts made by Quilt Time in Stannington) and to express just how much the children love their quilts – which they bring back with them for subsequent treatments at the hospital. She also told us a little bit about what PACT is, and does (Parent’s Association of Children with Tumours and Leukaemia).
The PACT nurses work with the children and supervise all their treatments but they also care about the whole family too. The quilts also help to liven up the house that the parents can stay in to be close to their child whilst they are undergoing treatment in hospital. Beryl has been nursing patients with cancers for a number of years and her devotion and passion for her work shone through so much so that when we had a ‘show and tell’ of the quilts she was mentally matching up the different quilts with her patients.
Sylvia | Warrington
In February we did a presentation to a team from Warrington Youth Club about “Crazy Quilters for Linus” and Project Linus UK, explaining about the history of Project Linus, the work we do and a little about the recipients. We had a display of quilts and blankets we had made and an incubator cover and some vent bonnets. The four teams within the youth club had each chosen three local charities that they were to consider and then set about fundraising. We were fortunate enough to be chosen as our team’s charity. This was for their personal development and team work over the next six weeks as part of their “National Citizen Service” (NCS). The NCS help young people discover the value of volunteering, make new friends, challenging activities and learn life lessons that can’t be taught in the classroom. They felt we were a small local charity who did our own fundraising for a worthwhile cause.
They had agreed that our talents were best used knitting and sewing and they would use their talents in their own ways. They did various activities including sponsored bike rides, dress down days, coffee mornings, cake making and making posies to sell for Mother’s day. We had been told that any money they raised would have to buy goods rather than be given directly to us. We had a meeting to discuss the type of fabrics and wools we use and where to shop for it. A few of them set off to choose things to buy. We were then invited to their graduation. The youth club leaders said they like to make this a special occasion for them and they certainly did. Five of our committee members were able to attend. The youths, their leaders, some parents and family, the Lord Mayor and representatives from the other three successful charities were there. The tables were full of food and drinks and looking very festive with party poppers and balloons. The youths too were all dressed up and looking very smart. I had the opportunity to tell everybody about Project Linus UK and our group in particular, the work we do and the recipients before thanking them for all their efforts. I was then presented with £440 worth of fabrics and wools, tied up with coloured ribbons. My four friends had to come a give me a hand. I thanked them again and said our ladies would think it was birthdays and Christmas all rolled into one. Alex, one of their leaders, then introduced a video they had made whilst they were having fun, dancing and singing around Warrington Town Centre. This can be seen on NCS undefeatable crazy quilters. (If that is not successful try NCS Warrington) They couldn’t thank us enough for the experience, how much fun they had during the fundraising and the shopping, very evident if you manage to see the video. We are so grateful to them for ourselves and for the children and young people who will get the ultimate benefit. They have promised to keep in touch and a few of them helped us at our own coffee morning the following week. As my daughter said after watching the video, it is good to see the youth of today getting so involved and doing some really good work.
Get in touch
Please send any articles or photographs for inclusion in the next newsletter to Ann by 15th August 2014.