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Saturday, March 26, 2011

Quilts for Japan


I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare.
C. S. Lewis



***Update April 16th, 2011*** The good people of Janome with the help of Quilts for Japan (Canada) have compiled an EXTREMELY useful list of DOs and DONTs for donation quilts to Japan. Things like what colors and themes are offensive to the Japanese people. Head on over to their WEBSITE to view the complete list =cD http://www.janome.ca/jpn/quilts_4_Japan.htm



They are taking up donation quilt to send to Japan now. If there was every a time to dig into your UFO or WIP stash, the time would be now! Donation quilts can be no larger than a full-sized bed quilt.



For more detailed information please see this site.

If you don't have a fancy vacuum sealer, which would be ideal for these type of packages that are being sent in bulk, another type of non-porous plastic bag would work. I have found that OVEN bags are wonderful! They're thick, clear, relatively CHEAP and quite LARGE. A throw-sized quilt would have room for leftovers. You'll have to tie it off somehow or seal it closed. Who knows where these will end up, and you don't want your donation quilt that you've worked SO HARD on to be wet, and smelly.
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If you are in the US please ship to one of these two addresses:

Dana Jones
Quilters Newsletter
741 Corporate Circle, Suite A
Golden, CO 80401

Ship to Mission of Love Foundation
2054 Hemlock Court
Youngstown, Ohio 44515
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If you are in France, -
Vous pouvez aussi l'expédier à cette adresse:
Solidarité Japon - Domaine des 12 communes - Route des Crêtes - 69480 Graves sur Anse - FR
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South Africa -
Send quilts to:
A. Coulson
Acacia Street 2(b)
Riverdal, 6670, South Africa.
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If you are in Canada - please see this website:
when you're ready to ship click "my donation is ready" for shipping information.
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If you are anywhere else, please ship your donation quilt (AFTER MAY 1st) to one of these addresses:
Naomi Ichikawa, Editor
Patchwork Tsushin Co., Ltd.,
2-21-2, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku
Tokyo, JAPAN 113-0034

Patchwork Tsushin Co. Ltd
Tohoku Kanto Earthquake Comfort Quilts
〒113-0033 Tokyo, Bunkyoku, Hongo 5-28-3
Telephone 03-3816-5538
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*****Updated April 1 2011*******
Lapel Stick has offered a free printable .pdf for you to use as a quilt label for your donation quilts. The labels include writing in English AND Japanese. I have been informed that there are many English translators in Japan and it might make your quilt a little more personal if you write the label in your OWN language. You COULD use the Japanese label and include a note with your quilt written in your own language. The decision is yours, but obviously it would be better to use this label rather than nothing at all.

***Update March 27th, 2011***

This was originally posted on the "Learning Fiber Arts" yahoo group.
Just a word of caution..... Do NOT write the word QUILT on your address or duty sheet or any where on your parcel. It seems they become targets of becoming 'lost' packages. Address it to a persons name only. Call the quilt a blanket, or fabric samples, never quilt. As these are truly gifts, label it as such. Also, value the parcel at under $100. to avoid duty charges at the other end.( for international parcels) Also, a large price attracts the 'sticky finger' = lost quilt! I have heard this advice from many people and groups over the years. Please pass it on!
** Read that you should include a note inside the package that includes what the quilt is for --*missions of love* or Quilts for Japan.


Please, if you are not a quilter and would like to support the efforts of comfort quilts for Japan, or "mission of love" you can donate with Paypal or a credit card on their site:
http://www.missionoflove.org/donate/donate.htm

There will obviously be a significant cost involved for this project. Your donation at Mission of Love will assist with this project and other Japan relief projects.


Right now I am working on a butterfly quilt, made from a panel (cheater print) fabric I had in my stash. I'm quilting it AWS and will be sending it off next week.
The Japanese people, landscape, and artists have been an invaluable inspiration to me over the years. About half the books in my quilting library are of Japanese quilts and techniques. It's this reason that I feel so close to the Japanese people, and it will be my honor and privilege to be a part of this project. I hope you all will join me - lets show the Japanese people an outpouring of love- in thanks for the endless inspiration and creativity they have provided us!

Other ways to help: MSNBC has compiled a list of links of additional resources that are aiding in Japan's earthquake relief. http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/03/11/6246445-japans-earthquake-how-to-help

2 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for your efforts on behalf of the people suffering from the earthquake and tsunami. Your quilting gallery quilt is beautiful.

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  2. Japan’s survivors still need our help! Can they count on YOU?

    Quilts for Japan based in Calgary, AB is a group comprised of quilters and caring individuals dedicated to bringing hope and comfort to the people of Japan’s recent Tohoku disaster. Our shipment of over 1700 quilts has now arrived in Japan and is currently being distributed by CRASH Japan.

    Jonathan Wilson of CRASH has approached us with a plea for help. With the continued long and difficult days the survivors face with no jobs to go or homes to run, depression and feelings of hopelessness are starting to overwhelm them. Their diminishing sense of well-being is of grave concern.

    CRASH has informed us that they were so inspired by the Quilts for Japan project that they have decided that in an effort to help provide something meaningful for the survivors to do and in an effort to try and uplift their spirits, CRASH is going to have its volunteers teach the survivors how to quilt. In order to make this possible, CRASH needs our help.

    As a result Quilts for Japan is now entering into its second phase of relief efforts for the people of Japan, Project Threads of Hope and your assistance is greatly needed.

    We are asking quilters to donate pre-cut quilting kits (as specified on our website; www.quiltsforjapan.ca) as well as sewing and embroidery supplies which are required for the survivors to complete quilt, sewing and embroidery projects which we are making available to them.

    This phase of our efforts allows everyone to participate. Whether or not you have ever quilted, sewed or embroidered, you can choose to donate any of various sewing and embroidery supplies which will serve to bring hope and a sense of purpose to a survivor’s day.

    Help by spreading word of our efforts to your friends, family members, colleagues, local churches, quilt guilds and friends on Twitter, Facebook (join the Quits for Japan Facebook group) http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_160658547321617 and other social networking sites.

    Please help us make a positive difference in the very difficult lives of these people. No donation is too small to make, nor measure of hope to give.

    Many thanks for your continued support for the people of Japan.


    Bev Rogan
    Quilts for Japan
    Project Threads of Hope
    "Sending what we love"

    ReplyDelete