Friday 22 April 2022

Quilts for Ukraine update

So much has happened since I first wrote about the quilts for Ukrainian refugee children a few weeks ago. (You can read that post here.)

from Glenys in Auckland

My first 20 blocks turned into a quilt top

I got carried away and made 20 blocks before I even knew what I was doing! I could see on Instagram that Claudia @pfeilclaudia in Germany was receiving blocks from around the world every day, so I decided to turn my first 20 blocks into a quilt top to speed up the process when it gets to Germany. I asked Claudia for the measurements for the sashing and borders to make sure that my quilt top matched those she was assembling. 

at Howick Quilting Friends (Saturday group)


In early April I was invited to Howick Quilting Friends guild in Auckland as the guest speaker, and the ladies there had made 39 blocks for me to bring back to Wellington. And they kindly donated the cute star fabric in the background below that I can use for sashing and borders. 

Quilt top number 2 with blocks from Howick Quilting Friends

My mum was keen to make blocks too, so I posted her some of my bright blue and yellow stash. Now mum has made about 60 blocks! 

Over Easter a lot of blocks arrived from Jeanette in Australia and I've incorporated some of them into quilt tops already. Blocks have also arrived from Vivienne in Napier, Marina in Feilding, and Glenys in Auckland. And I know there are more in the post.  

Top number 3 with blocks from everyone!


Top number 4 with my next batch of 20 blocks


It's so good to see photos of Claudia donating the quilts to the children.  That is why I decided to get involved - I knew the quilts would reach the children in need.  Claudia now has enough blocks to make 700 quilts (after initially aiming for 5 or 10 quilts).  She will keep going, but she is now facing large costs for batting, backings, binding and sashing.  If you would like to make a donation to help with costs you can deposit any amount of money into Claudia Pfeil's PayPal account:

post@quilt-und-co.de

Log in to PayPal, then go to Pay & Get Paid, Make Payments, Send Payments. 

Every donation will be appreciated and will speed up the process of getting the quilts into the hands of the Ukrainian refugee children. 

Top number 5 in the planning stages - mainly blocks from Australia and Auckland


I can't promise to incorporate all of the NZ blocks into quilt tops, but I will send all of the blocks to Claudia in Germany.  Thank you everyone who has contributed, both with blocks and money towards postage. I will take photos of all the tops before I send them off and post them here on my blog.  

Remember, if you are sending any blocks yourself, you need to put $1 value only and clearly label it GIFT or DONATION.  Claudia has had to pay a lot of money in customs duty because people have put higher values on their parcels.  

Well, after that big update, it's now time for the Peacock Party.  Feel free to link up a recent blog post below:




You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

7 comments:

dutchcomfort said...

You are doing such a great job Wendy!! Lovely to see the involvement all over the world! I'm strictly making binding for the quilts for Claudia now, I have sent two boxes and my LQS donated aother bunch of strips, so there's more to be sewn and send soon! Happy weekend!

Frédérique - Quilting Patchwork Appliqué said...

Beautiful blocks and quilts, by so many people! Quilters are generous. And so you are, your quilt tops are lovely.

FlourishingPalms said...

What you are doing is simply admirable, Wendy! I can see that generosity must have been taught to you by your also-generous mother. Wow. Sixty blocks?! That's amazing! This is such a good effort, and I believe even larger than the one that's been happening here in Florida, which also has the goal of collecting quilts (all sizes) to send for Ukrainian refugees. There's so much need! Bless all you NZ Kiwis for your efforts!

Unknown said...

I sent some money to Claudia. Thanks for everything you are doing!!

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

A tremendous effort by everyone, and so generous of you Wendy to finish a few quilts and be the 'drop off' point. So heartwarming to see the pics of children receiving their delightful quilts.


Andree G. Faubert said...

Hi Wendy, what a great initiative. Thanks for sharing Claudia's paypal account - I've made a donation since I've been wanting to contribute something. Take care.

Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting said...

Thanks for this wonderful update!!! Love seeing the blocks and quilts! 700 quilts is amazing!!!