A Quick Post......

....before I head off to the Quilt Haus.  I have to choose some quilts for the Kaleidoscope of Quilts Show in August.  they are going to need hanging sleeves.

From our last retreat - that's me front far  right

We found out yesterday that River City has cancelled our retreat.  How sad.  I am not sure I want to stick with River City Quilt Guild anymore.  Every time they talk about a teacher, it gets pulled back.  Now the retreats, which have been a staple of guild activities for over a decade. 

Cynthia, our Retreat Leader

The concentration, it seems, is to save the money to donate to Charity.  you know me, President of CAAWS for 5 years and Board Member for 18 years, charity and donations are my middle name!

But we have to retain SOMETHING for the members. 

And don't  think we don't have charitable things in Baton Rouge for the quilting society.  We have the Giving Quilt.  A 501(c)3 organization whose sole purpose is to accept donations of quilts/fabric/money to distribute to organizations and individuals who need them.  (Sadly one of the organizers, Noreen Mazzaroppi passed away this last weekend.)

And if that is not enough, we have Wasted Women Guild.  Which is a smaller version of the Giving Quilt and often funnels quilts into the Giving Quilt.  There are at least 3 other smaller groups I can think of whose purposes are to do nothing

but Charitable Quilting.

I think we can have a couple of organizations that provide education and activities FOR THE MEMBER without going to Hell. 

Ok.......I think the statement from The Giving Quilt is worth putting here:

From their website: 

The Giving Quilt, Inc. is a public, non-profit, charitable organization that promotes the creation and presentation of quilts that provide comfort to children and adults, and works to increase public awareness with a biennial public quilt exhibit and presentation ceremony.

 

Organized in 2008 as a single quilt guild's inspiration to provide quilts to wounded soldiers, it has grown into an organization that has provided hundreds of quilts to various non-profit agencies such as the Neonatal Unit at the Women's Hospital in Baton Rouge; Child Advocacy Services (CASA), which serves a 10 parish area; Quilts For Kids; Our Lady of the Lake Hospital's Children's Unit; Children's Hospital in New Orleans; Braveheart, which serves children who are wards of the state; veterans and military service members through several organizations; and St Jude's in Memphis, Tn., to name a few.

 

The Giving Quilt invites all quilters to participate by donating quilts, either through participation at Giving Quilt sponsored sew days or through the biennial quilt show. Quilters and non-quilters are encouraged to join and participate through donations and assisting at the show. Organizations can be added to the list of quilt recipients, and The Giving Quilt will make sure the quilt completes its journey to the intended recipient. The opportunity to participate has given new meaning to sharing a love of quilting. Many non-quilters join this endeavor because they have a quilt that was from a mother on grandmother and remember the comfort and memories their quilt represents.

 

For a little inspiration, take a look at the 2010 and 2011 shows that displayed over 640 donated quilts in our Photo Gallery. This effort has inspired many quilters to take a new look at the gift of quilting and given a venue to share talents, time and treasure to provide comfort to others.