AUSTRALIA BUSHFIRE QUILT PROJECT
Australia has suffered enormous losses. Months of severe drought mean that bushfires have been ravaging the country since September. To date, over 15 million hectares of bush, forest, and parkland have burned.
Families have lost loved ones, others have lost their homes and all their belongings. Not to mention the extensive loss and damage to native flora and fauna. Unfortunately, it is only the start of the fire season and forecasts predict worsening conditions, and anticipate further loss and destruction. Thousands are currently seeking shelter, forced out of their homes with little time to prepare.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
In an effort to bring some comfort, Wollongong Modern Quilt Guild is calling out to people to make and donate "quilt blocks" to help them make quilts for the fire-affected families within their communities. They will gift the quilts made to families who have lost everything.
We are asking YOU if you can help them with their project? All of the instructions you need to participate, including mailing addresses for the finished blocks, are below.
If you cannot participate yourself, please consider forwarding this email to friends and family who may be able to help. We sincerely thank you!
INSTRUCTIONS FOR QUILT BLOCKS
FOCUS + DESIGN Wollongong MQG are asking for "tree blocks" as they are symbolic of life, nourishment and regrowth. There is no restriction to one type of tree block. Feel free to improvise. The above quilt blocks have been designed and supplied for inspiration, but please feel free to use your own tree-based ideas and colours.
Please use a low volume / white or pale grey background.
SIZE Blocks should be a generous 12 1/2” square.
Please iron your blocks flat and trim all threads.
NEED A BIT EXTRA HELP?If you would like to get involved but not sure where to start, Australian Quilter Lorena Uriarte has generously posted a free pattern for the seedling block (top LEFT image above) along with a template on her website which you can follow and use your own fabric to make a block- Learn more by clicking below.
WHERE TO SEND YOUR COMPLETED BLOCKS
Mailing Instructions:
1. All blocks must be received no later than FEBRUARY 15, 2020
2. Please mark 'Bushfire block' somewhere on the packaging
3. Blocks can be sent to any of the following addresses:
AUSTRALIA
Wollongong Modern Quilt Guild
PO Box 54, Jamberoo, NSW 2533
AUSTRALIA
U.S.A
Austin Modern Quilt Guild
PO Box 82445, Austin, TX 78708
USA
CANADA
Nelson Stitch Lab
505 Baker Street
Nelson, BC, V1L 4H9
CANADA
Please give the Wollongong MQG a follow on instagram to see this story unfold @wollongongmqg Please use the hashtag #bushfireblocks #showusyourmqg when posting images of your block so as to spread the word.
A Big Thank you to:
Austin Modern Quilt Guild @austinmqg
Nelson Stitch Lab @nelson_stitch_lab
Tara Glastonbury @stitchandyarn
If you have any questions about this project, please email angela@acecampstravel.com
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Thank you, The Ace Camps Team
