Immediately following the Valley fire, I received emails from friends, fellow quilters and total strangers concerned about assisting those who had lost their homes. Quilters near and far wanted to offer comfort and warmth that only a hand made quilt could provide. The furthest was a generous quilter from Rochester, New York, who had heard about the fire through the internet on Ricky Tims and Alex Anderson's website "The Quilt Show". She had 20 quilts to share!
Another was Helen Sexton of Green Valley, CA. She and several friends were getting together for their yearly Berryessa quilting retreat when the fire broke out and decided to work on quilts for the fire victims instead of personal projects. Helen is a longarm quilter and said she had 30 quilts to quilt from this group and would deliver them just as soon as she could. After a few days, she decided not to wait till all were quilted and would send me what was completed so far; they're pictured below.
I found out that 14 firefighters had lost their homes and everything they own while trying to save homes of others in our community. I decided they should receive Helen's first group of quilts. The pictures below show the beautiful hand tied and machine quilted quilts from baby to bed size from Helen. The last picture shows me and Middletown Fire Department Secretary Mandy accepting the quilts on behalf of the Department. Mandy was thrilled and stated they will be well loved and needed.
Another was Helen Sexton of Green Valley, CA. She and several friends were getting together for their yearly Berryessa quilting retreat when the fire broke out and decided to work on quilts for the fire victims instead of personal projects. Helen is a longarm quilter and said she had 30 quilts to quilt from this group and would deliver them just as soon as she could. After a few days, she decided not to wait till all were quilted and would send me what was completed so far; they're pictured below.
I found out that 14 firefighters had lost their homes and everything they own while trying to save homes of others in our community. I decided they should receive Helen's first group of quilts. The pictures below show the beautiful hand tied and machine quilted quilts from baby to bed size from Helen. The last picture shows me and Middletown Fire Department Secretary Mandy accepting the quilts on behalf of the Department. Mandy was thrilled and stated they will be well loved and needed.
Helen is also a member of the Napa Valley Quilters Guild and had started receiving quilts from them and fabric from distributors as well. She decided it would be great if both guilds could work together and decided to invite members of our Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild to join Napa Valley Quilters in sew day. I was so sad I wasn't able to attend but happy to see a few quilters from our guild were able. A great day for all. Here is what our President Carolyn Dexter shared with me about the sew day...
"The Napa Valley Quilt Guild invited our guild to join them at a sew day where we made quilt tops and received finished quilts for the victims of the Valley Fire. From our guild Jan Cook, Mary Ann Riley, Carolyn Dexter, Geri Beam, Debbie Vivrette and Carolyn's sister Marilyn Grock attended. We had a great time and got lots of quilting done. Some finished quilts went home with Geri and Marilyn for fire victims they know. Other finished quilts will be available at our guild meeting on November 14."
Below are pictures that Carolyn and Jan Cook sent to share of this special day...
Connie Cracraft
Web Editor
"The Napa Valley Quilt Guild invited our guild to join them at a sew day where we made quilt tops and received finished quilts for the victims of the Valley Fire. From our guild Jan Cook, Mary Ann Riley, Carolyn Dexter, Geri Beam, Debbie Vivrette and Carolyn's sister Marilyn Grock attended. We had a great time and got lots of quilting done. Some finished quilts went home with Geri and Marilyn for fire victims they know. Other finished quilts will be available at our guild meeting on November 14."
Below are pictures that Carolyn and Jan Cook sent to share of this special day...
Connie Cracraft
Web Editor
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