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Saturday, March 19, 2011

Calling all quilters.

I feel a strong need to help someone in some way in Japan and bloggers are the best at lending a hand.
I heard a story today about a nine year old boy found by rescuers searching amongst the chaos looking for his mother and father. In his hand he had a drawing he'd made of them. I'm sorry if you're shedding the tears as I did but this makes it very real for me and I want to help in some small way to help bring a little comfort and I hope you might be able to help too.
I've decided to donate this quilt and send it to someone who needs it more than I do. Do you have a spare quilt or are you prepared to make one? They are asking for baby size up to single bed and lets not forget the boys and not send just girly quilts.
This is a copy of an email from the editor of Quilt Tsushin Magazine, Naomi Ichikawa, Naomi lives in Tokyo and her mother and brother survived the tsunami in Sendai.

Here is Naomi’s request translated into english.


It is still bad situation now in Japan. We are still nervous about shaking and radiation,but no way to escape. I start to announce to the quilters to send us comfort quilts for the people who are suffered.I would like to do it to the world quilters. We will deliver the comfort quilts to the people who are very difficult situation. Could you please help to announce it to the quilters? We accept any size of quilts(baby to adult).new or unused.

The deadline would be the end of May or later.

Send the quilts to: until the middle of April;

Naomi Ichikawa
Editor of Patchwork Quilt tsushin Patchwork Tsushin Co.,Ltd
5-28-3,Hongo,Bunkyo-ku,Tokyo,Japan zip:113-0033


after the middle of April

Naomi Ichikawa
Patchwork Tsushin Co.,Ltd
2-21-2,Yushima,Bunkyo-ku,Tokyo,Japan zip:113-0034

I will appreciate if you help me.
Naomi

Other bloggers are pitching in, check out Stephanies post where Nissan is matching Red Cross donations and she is raffling a quilt.
Christine is donating quilts and doing some quilting and would appreciate donations of batting. I guess she would probably love some fabric for backings too. She's also organising a binding bee at her place if you live near her.

Thank you dear friends and if you do send a quilt, write on the box, quilts for Japan. Include your name, address and email address. I believe Quilters Newsletter magazine will collect quilts for sending.

32 comments:

  1. I Quilt for FunMarch 19, 2011 at 10:55 PM

    I'm in! Thank you, Janet. Every disaster brings tears and sadness for those impacted but I cannot talk about the workers who have gone into the nuclear plant to try to stave off this disaster, save their fellow countrymen and maybe even people elsewhere in the world. It may be the most noble gesture I've seen in my lifetime and it brings me to tears everytime I think of it.

    I have thought about all the beautiful and intricate quilts that our Japanese quilting friends have made over the years and the pleasure that I have gotten from them -- in shows, in magazines, in patterns. I will never quilt with that level of beauty and art - but I can certainly help wrap someone in comfort.
    Jan from iquiltforfun.blogspot.com

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  2. Jess @ Scrappy n HappyMarch 19, 2011 at 11:00 PM

    The quilt you are donating is lovely! I am going to go to Christines for the sewing bee, and I have a boys quilt I am thinking of donating.

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  3. BarbaraMarch 19, 2011 at 11:11 PM

    Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this - pulling out the fabric bins and getting ready to make some boy quilts.

    I do not have a blog but those of you who do read Janet's post here, PLEASE re-post this on your blogs. I knew about all the Red Cross donation sites but this is the first that I have see of directly asking us for QUILTS - start your machines, girls. This we can make a difference !

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  4. UnknownMarch 19, 2011 at 11:16 PM

    My quilting buddies and i have been busy making quilts to donate, we have half a dozen ready to go, and a couple being quilted. Thanks for giving us somewhere to send them!

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  5. AnonymousMarch 19, 2011 at 11:34 PM

    Thank you Janet...

    I feel for all and wish I had a quilt for each and everyone.
    Life is precious.
    hugs
    Christine

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  6. BunnyMarch 19, 2011 at 11:39 PM

    I have a quilt I can donate. Thanks for the address. I have been wondering what to do with this little quilt I had but I guess it has been waiting for this so I can send it to them. Thanks for the information.

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  7. LurlineMarch 19, 2011 at 11:53 PM

    Wonderful Janet - I'll be in it too! Oh, how I wish I could do more!
    Hugs - Lurline♥

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  8. Abby and StephanieMarch 20, 2011 at 12:03 AM

    You're awesome. There are so many ways to help and each and every bit helps.

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  9. BarbMarch 20, 2011 at 12:04 AM

    Thanks for posting this and the address!

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  10. SewWhatsNewMarch 20, 2011 at 12:15 AM

    Janet, Thank you. When I saw all that snow and the shelters full, I thought of all the quilts folded in my closets and I wanted to donate some. I will distribute the address info. around North Carolina. Cissa Kamakura

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  11. ValentinaMarch 20, 2011 at 12:16 AM

    Count me in, Janet! I will see what I can do from this end, and maybe get more quilters involved. Thank you for always being so inspiring. xox

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  12. LoriMarch 20, 2011 at 1:20 AM

    Fantastic Janet. I had not heard about this yet.

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  13. YankeeQuilterMarch 20, 2011 at 1:50 AM

    I have a couple of tops that I can quilt up this week and send off...thanks for sharing the address.

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  14. julieQMarch 20, 2011 at 2:41 AM

    Thank you so much, Janet...I was feeling like I want so much to do more than just donate to the Red Cross...thoughts translated into actions really help! I am sending two quilts, one for a girl, one for a boy. Thank you again for the contact information!! I will post the pictures of them today on my blog.

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  15. Mary AnnMarch 20, 2011 at 6:11 AM

    Thanks, Janet. I was waiting for the opportunity to do something in addition to donating to the Red Cross. The money is, of course needed, but I think a quilt would be such a comfort in wake of this horrible tragedy.

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  16. AnonymousMarch 20, 2011 at 6:53 AM

    What an absolutely beautiful quilt! I have made hundreds of simple tied quilts over the last few years to donate for humanitarian and with each one of them I picture it lovingly wrapped around a small child or family. The need is ongoing all over the world. Thank you all for your generosity and kindness. (Just a thought for all those with extra fabrics you don't know what to do with anymore. Someone who is cold and without doesn't care how pretty the fabric is...They just want to be warm.)

    Peggy H.
    www.neverenoughstash.blogspot.com

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  17. Raylene SmithMarch 20, 2011 at 9:01 AM

    I asked on a forum the other day if anyone was organising quilts for Japan...these poor people need our help...I have been making string quilts for charity, so thankyou...I now know where I can send them...

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  18. carol funMarch 20, 2011 at 9:04 AM

    Thank you for brining attention to this. I know I have something or can pull together a quilt this size right away. And I am so happy you mentioned boy quilts. As the mother of 2 sons I've seen that the girly donation quilts always outnumber boy ones.

    I saw that same piece on the little boy and I was in tears. First he looks so much like my older son did at that age and my heart just breaks for him.

    Thanks again for the information - off to get a quilt together.

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  19. JuliaMarch 20, 2011 at 10:30 AM

    Great post and a beautiful quilt your sending Janet...
    It's heartwarmimg to see quilters pull together for our friends where ever, whoever they are, in times of hardships and need..
    I'm in...
    Julia ♥

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  20. SewjournalMarch 20, 2011 at 10:38 AM

    It's a beautiful quilt Janet and will bring much comfort into the life of someone who rally needs some right now.

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  21. SewjournalMarch 20, 2011 at 10:38 AM

    It's a beautiful quilt Janet and will bring much comfort into the life of someone who really needs some right now.

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  22. HeatherMarch 20, 2011 at 11:02 AM

    Thanks for providing this address. I have so admired the beautiful work of Japanese quilters and am thrilled to be able to help in some small way. Off to my stash now!

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  23. Oops-LahMarch 20, 2011 at 12:24 PM

    What a beautiful quilt. I'm sure it will bring someone much comfort and joy as well as warmth. I'm just about finished with my "Queensland Flood" quilt and will take a look which one of my UFOs is in the finishing stages, so I could finish it and send it to Japan. Thanks for sharing the info where to send etc. Lots of Love Vreni x

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  24. Kim D.March 20, 2011 at 1:52 PM

    Such a gorgeous quilt and a generous donation. I'm sure someone will be so blessed to receive your quilt. Thanks for sharing the information, I plan to help out also.

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  25. ShrinkieMarch 20, 2011 at 4:03 PM

    as someone who experienced the recent Christchurch earthquakes and the terror of not being with my child at the time, my heart is breaking all over agin for all the '9 year old boys' who have lost their families in Japan. So uplifting to see the positive international response though, and the reaasurance that at the worst of times we are never truly alone.

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  26. Nat PalaskasMarch 20, 2011 at 8:17 PM

    Quilt heals Janet. It's a beautiful quilt and it will give such comfort to the receiver. I shed tears many time since the Tsunami hits Japan. I will send a quilt and if I am still going I will take it with me - thanks for spreading the word - Hugs Nat

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  27. myBearpawMarch 22, 2011 at 1:37 AM

    I am so pleased to read that something quilty is being organised to help people in Japan. I will get started on a quilt as soon as a I can, and post about this on my blog too. Well done!

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  28. RedHeadedQuilterMarch 22, 2011 at 5:12 AM

    Thanks for mentioning our blog about Quilts for Japan. We really appreciate it!

    Kelly M. Smith
    Senior Editor
    Quilters Newsletter

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  29. valMarch 22, 2011 at 6:08 AM

    Thank you Janet for the information and the inspiration, I have come over to you from Valentina's blog and will definitely send one or two quilts to Japan.
    God bless, Val xx Oxfordshire UK

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  30. CaroleMarch 23, 2011 at 1:45 AM

    I'm here via a friend's suggestion! I'm in! It's so devastating what is going on! You guys have had your share of natural disasters! Goodness! Thank you for sharing the information! Cheers!

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  31. Beginning QuiltingMarch 25, 2011 at 4:47 PM

    It's great to know that there are a lot of quilters that are ready to help the people of Japan in time of need. It's very heartwarming that you decided to donate your very own beautiful quilt. Good luck and all the best to you!

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  32. myBearpawMay 10, 2011 at 8:03 PM

    Hi, I have got a quilt ready to go now but just wanted to check that the address was still correct. Have you had any positive feedback from anyone sending to these addresses? Has yours got there safely? Just a little hesitant about sending it off! Also have another 4 - 5 UK quilters in same situation and want to reassure them too.
    Jo

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