We at TQS have been horrified of the wild fire images coming from Australia.  Our hearts go out to all of the families touched by this tragedy.  As quilters we would love to help those who have lost everything.  Why not take inventory of your studio and donate items that you can part with? 

Are you planning to attend the International Quilt Festival in Chicago?  IQA will have a donation drop off location at the festival.  IQA has generously offered to pay the shipping expenses of donated items that will be sent to Australia.  Please read the letter below to find out more details regarding what they can/will accept.  for more information contact IQF directly here.

At the Internatinal QuiltFestival in Chicago in April we will have a collection point for any donations you might want to send to the Australian quilters whose lives have been so badly damaged by the fires.  We will collect the donations, sort them, package them for shipping, and ship at Festival's expense.  So any of you who want to share more than just a fat quarter that's easy to send in an envelope (and I think sending those is a lovely idea), plan now to bring your donations to the Chicago show...we'll take it from there. 

It would also be nice to bring cards and/or letters that we could include.  You wouldn't know the nameof the person, but you'd know he or she was a quilter.  Fabric, notions, thread--all would be welcome.  I'm not going into possibilities for books.  Nor are we going to accept batting--not because of the weight, but because of the space it takes up.

Karey Breshenhan

Director, International Quilt Festival-Houston, Chicago, Long Beach