Another Year Gone

Well, here we are. Two full years already under our belt and we will be celebrating our third - yes third - birthday this year. Hasn't time flown by. I really can't believe I started this in 2006!

So how shall we kick this year off and how shall we celebrate our third birthday in September?

I've got my thinking cap on and will come up with some new ideas for blocks and ways of donating in these hard times. So stay tuned and see what occurs.

In the meantime, Cheri at Jovaliquilts has come up with a good idea to kick 2009 off with a charitable bang. Hop over to her blog and see if you would like to participate by making a red and white block, or blocks.

To summarise 2008:

• 15 quilts now made, with the help of Finn and Carol E in the USA;

• hundreds of blocks received with the never ending support of "my regulars";

• Elizabeth D in Brittany, France, got her "girls" to extend their quilting skills by making red and white blocks in all sorts of styles;

• a lovely person in Italy arranged for the ladies on her online forum, The Patchwork Caffé, to make the most beautiful and intricate red and white hearts. I'd love to show them off, but they are stored in their envelopes and, knowing me, if I take them out for a photo session I'll never remember who made what;

• Carol E issued a red and white challenge. She was inundated with blocks, half of which came to me. I really must get sewing and make quilts out of these. Some of them are gorgeous;
  

• our new web site hit the internet in the Autumn thanks to Ruth in South Africa;

• the Facebook group (see link in side bar) was up and running in 2008 too. We've got 40+ members and the followers are steadily growing;

• I managed to get some Paypal Donate buttons on the web site and here. The one here is in Euros and the one on the web site is in Dollars. I know this isn't exactly the right time to ask for donations, but just because the world is, apparently, in recession, that doesn't mean that Leukaemia will go away. The children still need your help and love and every cent counts;

• Hedgehog Jen came for a visit in November. She took back with her enough blocks and batting to made 2 more quilts so we stand a good chance of getting into the high 20's in donated quilts this year; and
  

• Last, but by no means least, Teodo Linda did far more than she should have done. Boxes kept arriving from Italy full of batting and yards and yards of backing fabric;

I can't think of any more "thank you's" and if I've missed anyone out then please accept my profuse apologies.

There is one thank you though that needs to be made and that is to all the lovely people who have donated blocks, batting, fabric (opppps - thank you Wanda) and money over the last 12 months. Your never ending support has helped the children so much and given them so much hope.

THANK YOU