TQS member ClaraLawrence is issuing a challenge for YOU to help The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI).  The AAQI is a national charity that sells small donted quilts to fund Alzheimer's research.  We've seen the big guns participate (Alex, Ricky, Libby, Sue, Hollis, Caryl, John), now it's YOUR turn.  We can do it too!  Let's jump in and do some serious damage...I mean quilting.  Make them, buy them, or both.  Every quilt donation, every quilt sale counts.  Clara says that she knows that the TQS quilt community could really shake things up (when we put our minds to it)!

When does it start?

January 17, 2012 till January 17, 2013!

Contact Clara to share your ideas and questions on the Forum here. Share your Priority Quilts in Show and Tell here.

What are we making?

Priority: Alzheimer’s Quilts are 9" x 12" in size or smaller.  Read the rules here: http://www.alzquilts.org/paq.html. This could be a scrappers paradise or a way to use those extra bits from a project you cut too many pieces for, or a way to try out a new technique you learned on TQS. You could easily create a series of little quilts. (Keep in mind they won't be sold as a series, but it sure is fun making them that way. I've got 12 in the works right now.) Make 1 or make 100, it is up to you.­

What are we Buying?
Alzheimer's Quilts, of course. Don't buy your own quilts back, silly. Buy somebody else's! Collect art! The AAQI sells quilts 24/7 on their website and the best of the best are auctioned online during the first day days of every month. Check it out: http://www.alzquilts.org/quiltsforsale.html and http://www.alzquilts.org/quiltauction.html

Who the heck is Clara?

I’m Clara Lawrence, the Sorting Queen from the Half-Square Triangle Exchange. (Hey, there's an idea: build your mini-quilts from half-square triangles and strips!)

Why am I interested in AAQI?

My family was affected by Alzheimer’s. Not just one family member, but two.  I personally love Ami Simms's idea and its simplicity and want to help. This year I want to make quilts that make a difference. Don't you? Will you join me?

How to get involved?

1. Make a Priority: Alzheimer's Quilt (http://www.alzquilts.org/paq.html)

        a. Register the quilt yourself and send me (through TQS) the registration number the AAQI assigns to it.

                                                OR

        b. Ship me the quilt and I'll register it and ship it to AAQI for you. (Contact me first so I can have you fill out and sign a special form and give you my mailing address.)

2. Buy a Priority: Alzheimer's Quilt or bid and win one during a monthly auction.  Use TQS to send me the registration number of the quilt you purchased.

3. Share your quilts, the ones you make and the ones you buy! TQS has a Priority: Alzheimer’s Quilt Show and Tell section already on their site. Share your completed quilts there and on the forum. 

 How do we get to 1,000? I'll submit the quilt numbers to the AAQI for quilts you make. They will publish them on our own special page: http://www.alzquilts.org/tqs.html

I'll also keep track of how much the TQS community raises by purchasing quilts. When you buy a quilt, give me the number and the amount you paid for it (less shipping and insurance).

Contact Clara to share your ideas and questions on the Forum here.