My heart goes out to all of those impacted by the Australian bushfires. Recovery from the devastation is sure to be a long and difficult path for those that have experienced so much loss. It makes my heart ache.
Our family home was lost to fire when I was 10 years old. My mother was in the hospital after giving birth to my youngest sister, the rest of us were staying with my grandmother. We were fortunate that no one was hurt and our pets survived, singed whiskers and all. The house was a complete loss. The only thing the firemen pulled out was a dresser in the living room that contained my parents wedding pictures in the bottom drawer. The kindness of the entire town is still vivid in my mind. As a kid I’m certain I couldn’t appreciate the sadness and hardship my parents surely experienced but images and memories of the event are still fresh in my mind. I often wonder what lasting effect the fire had on my sisters and me. I don’t attach much to material things in my life and while I’m short on words when I hear of tragedy I immediately begin devising how I’m going to help.
If you’re feeling the same way and want to be involved there are some amazing initiatives going on:
- The block above will being heading off to Tia Curtis of Camp Follower Bags and Quilts who has organized the Bushfire Quilt Project.
- Helen Stubbings of Hugs ‘n Kisses has put together a reference page listing all of the projects she’s aware of.
- Melly & Me have been amazing with their fund raising activities and continue to report ongoing opportunities on ways to help.
Gosh, just writing about this is so emotional for me. Take care everyone and have a fabulous week.
Wow, what an amazing experience you went through as a child! Your block for the Bushfire quilt project turned out beautiful.
Oh well this is just lovely. And I think that all the people out there helping victims of the brushfires in Australia are amazing people.
Beautiful block, Kathi. So clear, and bright, and un-fire-ish. Just perfect.
Hugs to you.
Thank you so much for sharing information about the Bushfire Quilt Project. I hope to make a few next week (or sooner if I finish my current sewing project before then). I’ve also let a bunch of my crafty friends know about it. I love having a hands-on way to help out.
Thanks again!
so kind from so far away….
HI Kathy,
Thank you so much for participating in Bushfire Quilt project. From your background you can relate to the loss fire brings. I can’t tell you how humbled I am by the kindness of people from all over the world who are willing to help out with a block or two. When this project comes to a close we will have quilts made up of blocks from all over Earth. These quilts will truely be a big quilted embrace from quilters all over the planet. The Internet sure brings us all a bit closer. Thank you again!
XO,
Tia
I’ve seen so many of these stars recently, and I love the piecing, but this one truly took my breath away. The combination of fabrics, colors, and the center square just really “click.” Thank you so much for sharing.
That’s so thoughtful of you Kathy. I am in Victoria and what we see in the news coverage for days is devastating. My heart goes out to those who have been affected by the bushfires too.
I can’t quilt but I have tried to do my bit by sewing some totes/library bags. Here’s my post on it.
http://littlemunchkins.blogspot.com/2009/02/bushfire-appeal-and-award-for-moi.html
That is a beautiful quilt block. I cannot even imagine that for your parents – wanting to bring a new baby home to a house that was utterly destroyed. Wow. I’ve decided my cause of the year is breast cancer research; 10% of all my sales through Halloween weekend will be donated. There are very personal reasons for this.
I can’t imagine losing my home and everything in it. How wonderful that the crafting community is coming together again. I will have to put some blocks together and get them off next week.
This one is SO pretty!
That block is beautiful – I just love the colours you have used and the background fabric is perfect!
Thank you for the links – it’s good to know how we can get involved.
Beautiful on so many levels.
Wow, what a heart-string twanging tale and all-around lovely entry about the kindness of strangers (and the good that a community at large *can* do!).
I saw on king 5 news that a good number of volunteer firefighters from WA state were flying down to fight fires for however long it took. It definitely jerked some tears, let me tell you. It is beautiful when people respond so proactively in others’ times of need and sadness. thank you for the links!!
Kathy, what a beautiful block, the colours are just lovely.
As a Victorian (who lives not far from the fires, but far enough to be safe) I just wanted to say thank-you for taking part in this great initiative. You clearly have every reason to understand what the loss has meant to those affected.
The fire threat is not over. Tomorrow is forcasted to be a dangerous day – hot and windy – likely to cause havoc with the fires that have still been burning in their containment lines. It is very likely that more homes will be threatened, if not lost.
The volunteers (The Country Fire Authority, which deals with Bushfires is almost entirely staffed by ordinary people who volunteer) should be remembered for their bravery, committment, and selflessness. Many of these people are traumatised as well.
Thank you for keeping our state in your thoughts.
A very moving post. Reminds us that a caring community (physical or online) can really make an enormous difference during times of devastation.
I admit it, I didn’t read…just wowed by your block. I just mail mine today, loved making them. I love how you took yours one step further. BTW, that seahorse pattern you have in the shop couldn’t be any cuter. It’s on the list. Hope to see your face at Sew Expo!
Today is yet another day when the whole of victoria is braced. A good friend of mine lost her house in black saturday not far from our house. We were on ember alert and it was teffifying. I cannot express how much it means to me that people like yourself, so far away, are willing to give. It shows such nobility of human spirit. Bless your cotton socks!