This is Nasty at Best...DO NOT DONATE These blankets to ANY Organization!

This is a blanket I discovered in with 2 others that cannot be given away!

 

 

More of the staining!

Another larger stain!

Getting quesy !

I seriously do NOT understand the mentality of someone who would donate this to any organization that is donating blankets and quilts to those in need!

There were three blankets donated and all of them are like this! The others were afghans that are covered in pet hair.

Please, if you have something like this, throw it in the garbage, wash it and donate it to an animal shelter or rescue that can use them, but DO NOT donate them to an organization that is going to give blankets to families who lost their homes!

I would NOT even consider donating something like this to a shelter and honestly? Ewwwwww, who wants to touch this? I took pics and then asked a local shelter if they could use them.

I am sorry these pics are graphic, but I want everyone to know I will NOT take anything like these and pass them onto anyone in need and shame on the person that donated these instead of tossing them out!

Wordless Wednesday Quilt Pics for Chelan/Okanogan County

Please, Consider Making a Quilt For a Family Member

At this time, I have had someone have to back out for making a quilt for one of the firefighters wives, this one is extremely needing to be adopted and made.

Our need is:
1 - Wife
4 - In-Laws

These quilts can be as elaborate as you would like them or as simple as you would like them.  Here is an example of one that is done and has been sent to a brother of one of the fire fighters:

How awesome is this? 

In making a quilt for a family member, you can make them as elaborate, elegant or simple as you would like to.

I always ask that you consider putting something into the quilt that would make it personal...perhaps we learned the family took a trip to NYC...or they loved old trains...then you would want to incorporate that into your quilt.

Please, these families have lost their son, spouse, brother, father, nephew, uncle, etc. doing what they loved to do, taking the risk to help others stay safe, to keep their property safe and now, all they have is memories.

These quilts mean the world to these families. Please, won't you step up and adopt one of these family members?
 

Quilt Drop Off Points for Okanogan County Fires...in WA state

For those that live in WA state, here is an updated list of collection points around the area:

1- Georgia
The Needle & I
4727 Evergreen Way
Everett, WA 98203
425-259-3013
~or~
540 NE Northgate Way Ste D
Seattle, WA 98125
206-724-0695

2-Town Square Fabric & Yarn | 445 SW 152nd St Ste. 100, Burien, WA 98166 | (206) 246-9276 Talk to Cynthia or Christina
3-Judi C.

Still stitchin' in Tacoma
Evergreen Quilting
8227 S. Park Ave. #1
Tacoma, WA 98408

If you live in areas close to Seattle, Tacoma, Marysville, Everett, Arlington, Mount Vernon or are traveling to these areas, these are your drop off points.
If you want to mail quilts, please mail to:
Layers of Hope - Quilting 911
c/o Jean Kester
18740 Ivan Street SW
Rochester, WA 98579

SKAGIT VALLEY FAMILY YMCA
215 E Fulton Street Mount Vernon, WA 98273
360 336 9622 (YMCA)
Just take them into the lobby!!

Bayside Quilting
225 State Avenue NE
Olympia, WA 98501
(360) 357-2000 Phone
(877) 357-8822 Toll Free
*Melissa is the contact person*

 

Consider a small purchase

If you cannot knit or crochet and want to help support Layers of Hope - Quilting 911, please check out my Etsy shop and make a purchase to help us.

Every cent that is profit goes towards the support of this organization.

Profit for me is sales - Etsy Fee - Paypal fee, but if you see something you are interested in and would like to purchase away from Etsy, you can also contact me.

I believe my items are priced fairly as I do not believe in trying to sell things at such high prices they won't sell. Here are a few pics of our items:

Apron

Dr. Who Key Fobs

Dr. Who and Elephant Key Fobs

Butterflies

Semi-Colons

Fish

Angels

Infant Seattle Seahawk Fish Hat

Adult fish Hate

Recycled Denim Bag

Inside pocket recycled bag

Tote/Grocery Bag

Embroidered Pocket

I Need A Special Quilter for a Wives Quilt

Earlier this week I had someone step up to do a special quilt for one of the wives of the fallen fire fighters and she just notifed me, due to a sudden health issue, she will be unable to do so.

Please, if someone can step up and take this project on!

The Hurricane That Started It All...Katrina, Ten Years Later!

Ten years ago I wanted to go to New Orleans and help where I could with the 911 centers that needed some relief. I had other priorities and my husband suggested I make and send quilts. I did and after years of doing it on my own, I realized I needed help and thus, Layers Of Hope, Quilting 911 was given a name and I have been blessed to be able to reach out to so many of our 'unseen heroes,' during their time of need as well as family members and first responder's during so many difficult times in their lives.

 So many people ask me why do I do this? Why quilts? I do this because I grew up with a grandmother who believed you gave back to those in need and while we may not have much, she told me you can always find someone who has less! I do this because in the midst of tragedy or disaster, a quilt brings a small slice of warmth, hope and love to a complete stranger. Perhaps I do it for small children like Eliza whose letter I still have: Eliza wrote:
'I love the quilt color and size and I sleep with it every night and share it with my sister.' PS, 'Our dad is a policeman.' 

In ten years of doing this, Eliza's letter was the first I ever received from a child. Why quilts? Because I do NOT have unlimited funding like Red Cross, United Way and other non-profits, because we operate out of our own pockets and I do not have a warehouse to store things, I do not own semi's to transport anything and quilts just seem to make people smile. 

Maybe I do it because when you give a quilt to a first responder who gives so much to everyone else and they realize that quilt is for them to keep and they look at you with tears flowing down their cheeks, I realize why I do this! 

When people have blankets given to them and they choose a quilt we gave them to sleep under or even hang on a wall to remind them to never give up hope, I realize why I do this!

In a time when our world seems to be falling apart and complete strangers trust me to do what I say I will and send me quilts to pass out, I realize why I do this!

When a family loses a family member to a tragedy and contacts me and asks to reach out to a family that recently is suffering the same pain, agony and tragic loss they did, I realize why I do this!




Gods hands have been on this ministry since day one and I will continue to do what I can to help others until I can no longer do so!

Today, if you are reading this, it means you have more right now that many people who are affected by the wildfires across our states. 

You may not quilt, but I ask today that you spend some time hugging your family tighter and reaching out to someone that needs hope in their life!