Caring With Quilts.................

Finally I can say the Caring with Quilts project is all but done..................one quilt left to deliver.......done....

I meant to post an update in August but as you know August and September disappeared for me and not sure who stole October and here we are well into November December..............

It all started back here on Australia Day...............

I've included some pics of my travels............many trips into the fire area..............it was such a huge area I broke it down into smaller areas/roads to deliver the quilts to everyone............days of quilt delivery were held with Chris, Sue, Liz and Janette as travelling partners on various days.......

I cannot describe how special it was to be able to deliver the quilts that you sent to me and the CWA for delivery.

Many hugs, some tears, a few cuppas etc..............

It was wonderful to personally deliver these quilts as some people had not "qualified" for much assistance..............

We were so pleased to receive so many quilts we were able to deliver quilts to every property that was affected by the fires......this resulted in many many families being assisted..........and a few other special people we found along the way.......

quilts ready for delivery .......

piles of quilts ready for sorting and packing................so many sizes, styles, colours etc

A gorgeous lady who I met from St Aidans at Exeter who delievered a bundle of quilt..........

pictured with Chris holding up some of the quilts they made.......

Above months after the fire a shed destroyed by fire.............grasses returned but not much green on the hills................

naked mountains reveal amazing scenes/rock formations we have not see before............

members of the CWA held a morning tea for one of the members and her husband who lost their home..........

a large group of ladies from Walgett joined us that day delivering a big bundle of quilts............

on a very cold day this recipient was very happy to receive a quilt for her and a neighbour

3 gorgeous happy little girls................

Early one morning i met Chris for a coffee before a big quilt delivery day and she gave me 4 quilts that she had pieced and quilted herself.............

I didn't have any streets etc to deliver too..........everyone was on a farm or hobby farm........so local knowledge was essential......

a lucky boy home sick for the day got to pick his own quilt.........I saw him again the other day with his Mum and she said he loves it...............

very late one afternoon we made it to the top of Siding Springs Observatory to deliver quilts to the permanent residents who work there...............it was freezing cold and very windy but the sun was setting and it was stunning................

very hazzy out towards the plains..........and the Caretaker was telling us how they were seeing so many big eagles since the fires......Liz who was delivering with me snapped this pic..........

Now the problem I had - a good problem might I add is that you were all so generous I had too many quilts for children under 5yrs. There was very few in the area I had to deliver to so they had been sitting in the Chookshed waiting for me to make a decision............sadly that came with the terrible fires in the Blue Mountains........I saw Rainbow Preschool at Winmalee on the TV..........
they had terrible damage at the preschool......lucky they didn't lose the building but only just.........it was very close to the back door and completely destroyed all the children's play area out the back............
The day I called in they had just got the soil samples back and everything was going ahead the day after I was there restoring the play area.........(I got the pic below from there FB page the next day)

These are some of the children from the preschool...........8 children lost there homes but I had nearly enough quilts for all the kids........Joan the Director a lovely lady was so thankful.............they still had 12 children at the preschool when they had to evacuate in a fire truck with great urgency....the fire came thru very fast.....but I was happy for all the children to receive a quilt as driving into the preschool the whole area is fire affected.............the children will never forget this........they couldn't go outside to there play area............

 A sign they have hanging out the front.........says it all really............

So to anyone who supported the project the
Baradine CWA "Caring with Quilts"
THANKYOU
the people who have received the quilts
THANK YOU  for caring
we have received some amazing thankyou letters............

Just one suggestion.............if making quilts to donate make it big enough (50x50) most of the recipients who lost there homes wanted to put them on there beds to make things look nice
Also make them uni sex/age as I struggled to have enough quilts for men and also older boys......unless you know specifically what you are making for........
2014 I would like to make a quilt or 2 for a cause....yet to find the cause or need but I am sure that will develop............
THANKYOU
Catch you later

Chookyblue