Generous people

 Last year, we had a lovely sewing day at the Leicestershire Craft Centre in Market Harborough, hosted by Katharine.  Unfortunately she’s too busy to hold one this year - perfectly understandable - but has donated a large bag of offcuts, panels, strips, orphans and wadding for us to use!  

 

Here is a shot of part of it - I had already started to sort it out when I realised it would be good to photograph it!  Katharine’s students use lots of bright colours, and there were plenty of fabulous blocks which can be used as medallion quilt centres, or feature in sampler quilts. 

Here are a few of them!  Fabulous!  Thank you so much, Katharine and her students!  Well definitely put it all to good use. 

Busy time

 I know it’s not really the time for quilts, but Linus quilts provide more than physical warmth.  I contacted the Diana Service, and found that Aimee has taken on Rosie’s place as Linus contact.  We arranged to meet at our usual handover point, Wigston Tesco, but as I arrived there were lots of people milling about.  I couldn’t work out what was happening, was it a demonstration, a celebration or flashmob?  Then I heard the siren.  There had obviously been an incident which meant they had to evacuate the shop!  Luckily it didn’t affect me, and I easily found Aimee and passed over the quilts. 

Here is Aimee, with the back of a quilt.  She liked this one “as Halloween will be here soon” so I didn’t insist she turned it over.  It is indeed lovely orange fabric, but actually Star Wars! 

Then today, I went over to Jay Fostering to take quilts for the welcome boxes they prepare for their looked after children.  Valentina interrupted her lunch to receive them and be photoed.  

She actually chose a quilt which Maria started and I finished recently.  She asked whether it was possible for them to have some larger quilts as playmats to use in the centre.  As it happened there was at least one larger quilt in the batch, so I said that could be one, and I would get a couple more for them soon. I’m really pleased that my quilt cupboard is now manageable, but I don’t have to worry, as Knit and Stitch is tomorrow and I’m sure there will be more coming! 

Unbelievable

 I had a call from Sue in Ward 12 that they needed more quilts.  No problem.  My husband and I set off to the LRI wondering how long we would spend in the car park queue.  Would it be half an hour or three quarters or more?  Well, unbelievable as it is, we spent a mere 5 minutes in the queue and easily found a parking slot!  This is unheard of - but very welcome!  

Then our reception on the ward was fabulous.  Everyone was oohing and aching over the beautiful quilts and the young man at the back with Paula’s penguin quilt was hoping that staff could choose a quilt too, with his eye firmly fixed on that one! Unfortunately that was not to be, but we enjoyed the admiration! 

Lovely day!

 Since Hinckley Tangent Group donated some money to Project Linus, we decided to hire a hall and hold a sewing day.  Lutterworth Piecemakers kindly booked Walcote Village Hall for us (they are regular users, so we got it for ‘mates’ rates’) and I wanted it to be available to anyone, so it was a free event!  Julie works at Tesco and she asked if they were prepared to make a donation towards our refreshments cost - and they did!  They funded it completely, which was wonderful of them.  Julie bought all kinds of treats from cans of coke to bananas to keep us going!  Here she is with the Project Linus sign outside. 

Madeline supplied a raffle, which basically paid for the hall, and the prizes were cute little houses.  I know, because I won one! 

Just under twenty sewers came, which was wonderful, considering the temperature was about 28C that day!  We had all the doors open, and managed to catch any breeze going, which meant it was quite pleasant for a working environment.  

Everyone got stuck in to the ready cut kits, and even coped with my sketchy instructions! 

We had quite a few visitors too.  Here are Chris and Lynne who popped in for a look round, a coffee and to pick up kits to take home! 

Unfortunately, although we had lots of finished tops, I didn’t photograph any of them.  I was going to take a photo of them all together, but some people had to leave early, and I didn’t realise I had missed a photo opportunity till it was too late! 

I am always in awe of the creativity of these ladies, and none more than Fiona.  She is a wow at getting orphaned blocks to play nicely together, 6as is evident from this photo!  She put several sets of blocks together for future assembly.  

Many thanks to all the people who came and helped on the day.  We may have to make this a regular fixture on the Linus calendar! 

Another trip to Leicester

 The quilts are piling up (hooray!) and I thought I would ring Piper on Ward 10 to see if she needed any quilts. I thought she might, as I haven’t been over to Ward 10 this year so far!  Before I could contact her, I had a phone call from Muntaz on Ward 11 to see if I could bring some quilts to her patients!  Coincidence!  Muntaz said that while they had a lot of babies, they didn’t want any of the very small (cushion sized ) quilts, as while they were very cute, a larger one could be equally cute and more useful in the long run.  I thoroughly agree, so packed up 25 quilts of assorted sizes.  Then I rang Pip and of course she said they would love some quilts.  Today husband and I braved the car park queue and delivered quilts to Ward 11.

Muntaz is on the right and was delighted with the quilts, big and small.  Then we nippped across the corridor to Ward 10, and took 50 quilts there. 

Several staff members were keen to be on the photo, and chose beautiful quilts from the selection. (The lady on the left asked if I had made all the quilts myself!  I know I’m quite prolific, but 50 quilts is a lot for anyone!) Incidentally, I checked my records and found that I have been bringing Linus quilts to Pip in Ward 10 for 10 years!  How did that happen!  Lots of happy children, so thanks to all my makers! 

Happy day!

 Last week, I had a request from Ward 12 at the LRI to take 30 quilts.  Fabulous!  Jane kindly offered to go with me which was very pleasant. 

Here are a couple of staff members and Jane displaying just a couple of the beautiful quilts! 

Always a pleasure. 

Sad day

 Yesterday was a sad day, as we celebrated the life of Maria Haslewood, one of our most prolific and talented quilters.  Maria had been ill for a while, and died after a fall at her house.  Paula, Julie and I went to her funeral, and she will be sorely missed. 

Here she is at The Big Textile Show.  She was always happy to spend time promoting Project Linus, and was an asset at any event.

Of course, there was coffee and chat included too, and we all enjoyed going out and meeting new people.

Here we are at a sewing day in Coalville.  

Maria’s involvement with Linus illustrates well the bonuses that belonging to such a group has.  She put a lot of work and time into the quilts she made, but she also benefited from the pleasures of creating and giving, plus the friendships she made.  As a quilter and friend, she will be sorely missed.