Hope

Today was our first visit to the island, Galveston Island. Not exactly the way I remembered our favorite vacation land – the place we’d go for a casual lunch and a walk along the sea wall. No, it resembled nothing of the sort.

As we neared Harborside Exit off I45 we noticed the boats tossed along the side of the causeway, we’d seen photos of this - but nothing prepares you for the real thing. Hard to imagine the force of nature that can move a vessel much like a child playing with a toy boat in the bathtub, landing it at a whim where it doesn’t naturally belong.

Everything seemed in sepia tone – reminding me of the movie Waterworld and others where things in the future after mass destructions were all brown and dull looking. Here it was hard to recognize familiar spots due to the amount of debris piled up on the curb. Everywhere you looked there were piles – around the many businesses that still sported their boarded up windows we saw piles of office furniture, cabinets, chairs, desks, sheetrock, etc. Going down Broadway I caught a glimpse of a business, barely reading the sign on the wall due to the height of the debris…but unmistakably a vacuum store…their previous inventory of vacuum cleaners were neatly arranged on the curb – if you didn’t know better you’d think they’d been so displayed for a special sidewalk sale, obviously the owners still reflecting their pride in their business. The type of Texas tenacity that tells you “we will be back”

The ever popular Strand looked like a ghost town, or perhaps a movie set for the 1900’s era – the buildings are still beautiful with their historic architect but the windows are boarded, the streets covered with dirt, and the sidewalks empty. Where are the actors? Where are the colorful coastal cruise-line destination shops? How long before they will be back?

We made our way to the seawall, where we didn’t SEE some of the familiar sights – noticeably missing were the piers. One place we frequented was Murdoch’s – in the early 1900’s it was a bath house and a popular spot on the water. In recent years it was a gift shop. A few years ago they added a section that connected two of these buildings on piers together which formed what I call a breezeway decking over the water– it was an opened covered area with rocking chairs placed where you could enjoy the water and perhaps have a cool soda or frozen drink. Many memories associated with rocking while enjoying the sound of the waves and the sea gulls. Oh, and we did purchase our fair share of island souvenirs throughout the years – especially when the tropical shirts would go on sale (smile). This is how it looks today. Only the breezeway is standing. It will probably not be rebuilt as city ordinances prohibit new buildings on piers. A piece of history gone, gone with the wind and gone with the waves.

The quilt shop in Galveston was having a customer appreciation sale today - she had over 3000 bolts that had been salvaged, washed and dried and on sale for way below their value. The store which has previously held over 8 years of memories for me was not much more than a shell of its former grandeur. Gone were the colorful quilts on display covering the walls, gone were the book shelves full of inspiration, gone were the neatly arranged bolts of fabric beckoning to be taken home and added to a stash, gone were the displays of notions, giftware, and trinkets. Instead, tables with flat folds of the salvaged fabric, shelves with "free items, limit one per customer" of patterns, charm packs, and other items damaged by the water but still useful. A strange unfamiliar sight.

Yet among the visual rubble were smiles, hugs, and well wishes. Everyone was sooo glad to gather at the quilt shop that had been closed now for well over a month -- a time to run into quilting friends, a time to share Ike stories, a time to wish the owner well in her recovery and future plans -- for you see, the strip mall where she is located will be torn down by the owners to rebuild a grocery store so the shop as we knew it will be no more. This is the shop that inspired my quilting, this is the shop that believed in me and encouraged me to teach others to quilt, this is the shop where I used to work on Saturdays back in the day when I still had a "real" Mon-Fri job, this is the shop that gave me an opportunity to be a longarm quilter of shop samples. This shop is where friends gather. At the end of the month, this shop will be a precious memory. As the owner said, it's not hard to let go of stuff, it's just hard to let go of the memories associated with the stuff. She's been there for her customers - both locally, the ones that come to her booth at Festival and other venues, and through the internet. For now, there's nowhere on the island to relocate. Items are in storage on the mainland and it's "one step at a time" Decisions will be made after Festival as to the future of this shop - indeed, it's a hard pill to
swallow -- but we are not without hope down here. Hope comes in all sorts of ways - from seeing the squirrels and birds return, to seeing new growth of the leaves on my trees in the backyard (sounds strange to you folks further north that are enjoying FALL but around here the only falling of the leaves is generally if they are blown off during a storm ), hope comes in a hug from a friend and hearing how they are rebuilding, and hope comes in the mail - how I do so look forward to facilitating the distribution of Quilts of Hope! And hope comes in looking forward to future events as this billboard on the way home reminded me!!!

Quilting Friendships Have No Boundaries - Here's to TWO Mother Daughter teams that I'm honored to call my friends

Ginny & Torrie (Washington), Patricia and Sarah (Texas) - this is for you girlfriends!!!

It's lunch time on a very moody Monday. I'm honestly having difficulty staying focus on the tasks at hand - a beautiful custom quilt that needs to be finished by Wednesday's deadline...I've taken a lot of "breaks" today, including meeting with a new customer, handling personal storm related "crises" and escaping to the computer during my lunch break.

I decided to catch up on my blog reading and was moved to tears when I read Ginny's blog and how she and Torrie would soon be mailing 20 quilts for me to distribute in Galveston. Then I read the newest post with the link to Torrie on the local news -- this amazing young woman (influenced by a wonderful mom) spent her summer making blankets of love to be donated to children in her area. She was interview on television to share her story and receive the honor and attention she is due. What moved me to tears was in addition to this community accomplishment she was able to share on her interview of the quilts she and Ginny are making and sending to Ike survivors!!! Ladies, you can't know how this made me feel today....and how your gifts are going to bring hope and joy to those who receive them.

As Torrie shared with the newscaster, it's been a month since our storm but there is still a huge need. Please click here to see the video of Torrie's interview. Truly an amazing young lady who is blessed with an equally amazing mom. Ladies, I'm so blessed to "know" you through our love of quilting and the gift of gab (blogging!) Thank you for the encouragement you have given me on this moody Monday.

Another email broke my heart today...one from my favorite quilt shop...I'm sharing it in it's entirety as I try to cut and paste through my tears. Seems that's all I can do today, wipe away tears.

Hello to all of our cherished quilting friends!!!!

We know all of you have been wondering what's going on with Quilts by the Bay

since the hurricane and we thank each of you so very much for all of your patience in waiting to hear from us.

Galveston was truly hit hard by hurricane Ike and weeks after the storm, we were all finally allowed to return.

There are so many sad faces now as the majority of the residents here have suffered great losses.

Quilts by the Bay was flooded along with most of the residents' homes and businesses .

We are having to move out of our location because the shopping center will not be rebuilt.

Right now, there is really no place in which to relocate in Galveston.

As we work really hard to save what we can, we are putting it all

into storage and we're constantly searching for answers to all of the tough decisions we have to make.

After International Quilt Festival, we'll search our hearts and try to find which pathway to begin for the next part of our lives.

Dear friends, please know that through all of this, God has held us tightly in His hands.

We praised Him through the storm and we definitely praise Him still.

We know that He is still in control and we love and trust Him so much!!!

Because of Him, we have comfort and a great deal of hope for the future.

You will never know how much all of your emails of encouragement and all of your love and prayers have touched our hearts.

We love each and every one of you so much!!!!

From the very bottoms of our hearts!!! Thank you!!!!

Love,

Patricia and Sarah

Quilts By the Bay

Back to Quilting and Stuff

Ike forced its presence on us a month ago today. Seems life has been rather serious ever since. I read other blogs and am inspired by all that people accomplish, the diverse ideas that they share, the pure joy of looking at their photos - especially if those photos include pets (smile) and I'm thinking...all I've rambled about is Ike and I know folks are ready to just tune me out if they haven't already! My apologies, but that's just a part of my life right now. I wish a smaller part, but it doesn't look like it's going to fade anytime soon. BUT! I am working really hard at getting back to rambling about quilting!!

Yesterday I had the privilege of teaching a Square in a Square project - Ohio Star - at Cactus Quilts in Texas City. It was fun to play in the fabric and to share these fabulous techniques with my students. Love how everything starts out with a basic square and strips. No flip and sew, no marking, no cutting triangles... I'm thinking that perhaps I need to make another one myself - besides the class sample hanging up at the shop...My 96 yr old grandmother is now in a wheel chair at her nursing home - I'm thinking she needs a lap quilt! So I'm setting my thoughts on trying to whip one out pretty quick. Maybe later this afternoon - typically I take Sunday afternoons to piece and quilt for myself, but today I have a wedding to go to!! A fellow quilter!! If that's not a good Ike diversion I don't know what is!!


One more digression to Ike - Joyce from Kansas sent me the very first two Quilts of Hope -- quilts that will be donated to families effected by Ike. I am expecting a box from Ginny this next week or so, and then I'll get busy finding homes for these wonderful gives of love. I don't think Joyce will mind -- I want to share parts of her email...

Karen....you see, about 6 years ago I had a dog named Ike, who was a sweet yellow lab/golden retriever. During the hurricane news reports, I thought about how different in character my dog and the brutal storm were. So, in memory of Ike...I give to victims of another Ike. And my Ike was named after the dalmatian dog who was mascot for the fire truck in Abilene KS..and that Ike was named after President Eisenhower, whose home town was Abilene, near where I grew up...just a little trivia!

Well, whatever your reason, won't you find a way to help the Ike survivors down here??

A taste of Normality:

Last night my husband's extended family gathered to wish him a belated Happy Birthday. There are 14 of us in the "clan" and it's no small task to get us all together on a single date - only one nephew was missing for our finger-licking good time. (What else do good Texans eat, but fried chicken! -- well BBQ, but that's another party). Anyway, the weather was nice, it's still in the 80's here and as you can see, most of us are still wearing shorts and t-shirts. For the record the two "tall" fellows in dark shirts on the left are my sons, and the handsome fellow in the dark shirt on the right is my hubby. An all male family, almost. One granddaughter, the rest of us females are "married in" (smile). I married the pick of the litter, the oldest son, and have cherished almost 29 years with him...just thought I'd throw that comment in for free (grin).

Okay, so that's my ramble for today, a little more "normal" than "Ike" and I hope the proportions continue to balance heavier on the "normal" side in the future! Now it's time to get ready for a wedding!! Time to celebrate life, love, and the pursuit of happiness - with the hope of sharing contagious joy!
karen

Christ In Action - Hurricane Ike Responders

This morning on my local christian radio station KSBJ I learned of an organization from Virginia called Christ in Action who have been first responders since Ike. They are camped at a local large church, Grace Community on I 45 located at exit 31 -- these fine folks have been serving meals daily since Ike and are "catering" to the island which is Exit 0 on I 45 meaning they are traveling ONE WAY approx. 31 miles.

No only are they catering meals to areas STILL without power, but they are removing trees, gutting houses, and in general ministering to the hurting. The gentleman on the radio said they triage those in need - widows, elderly, disabled, single moms, etc. In other words, those who really can't help themselves. They have a huge financial need. He said they spend $400 a day in diesel alone to keep their generators and refrigerated trucks running. Currently they are "in the hole" financially and need assistance so they can continue to work down here among the needy.

If you do nothing else, please read their blog - especially the story about Judy called As Promised then the entry about Frank & Margaret. These two stories will make you cry. Then scroll down from the entry about Frank & Margaret and read Hurricane Who? It echos some of my own misgivings that the people down here are forgotten by the media.

Again, I heard on the radio that Bolivar probably won't have power until Nov 15th, and that the ferry which runs between the islands won't be fully operational for 3 to 6 months. They said the tent communities will close by the end of the month--where will these folks go? The gentleman from Christ in Action said that much of Galveston Island still looks like it did the day after the storm - there are so many who haven't even begun to gut their houses which are now covered in dangerous mold and mildew. Their organization is offering hope - first with the basics of a good meal and by rolling up their sleeves and helping to do the work - but also with counseling. They are assisting people as they walk through the process of simply knowing what to do next, how to understand insurance, etc. Just imagine the hope this gives - this teams knows and understands disasters and they can guide those who are still in shock from the disaster striking them.

When I first started this blog my intentions were to ramble about my journey as a quilter, yet as life has happened I have been compelled to ramble about my journey simply as a human being. Quilting is what I do, not who I am. It's what connects me to other quilters, who I've found are marvelous compassionate people. Through this blog I hope we are connecting on a deeper level. Life is full of serious times, fun times, and silly times. Right now life in the gulf coast of Texas is very very serious and we need folks in other areas to come along side to encourage and help. Perhaps its through donations to organizations like Christ in Action or Samaritans Purse or others, perhaps it's through Blankets of Love or organizing a mission trip down south with your church or organization. If nothing else, keep folks around you reminded of Ike - so many have forgotten, there's so much going on in our own little daily lives much less all the national attention on the upcoming election and world events. Just in the craziness of daily life, please take time to offer a prayer for Ike survivors and the teams who are so unselfishly ministering to the victims. You may not be able to give, but your voice, your email forward, your link to these relief organizations could be what prompts someone who is able to give the opportunity to do just that.

God bless
ko

PS check out this story Helping Families Caught in the Undertow of Ike

Rearranging My Studio and a New SnS quilt top

Yesterday I decided it was time to move furniture. I don't know what it is about some folks, but we have this need to rearrange. Yep, it's the same ole stuff but when it's organized a different way it seems to brighten up the environment and offer a sense of new beginnings. A freshness.

So that's what I did. I couldn't tell you how many times I've rearranged my studio - we've been here 3 years this month and it's gone through lots and lots of rearranging and reorganizing. Most of it has been documented in my webshots album. I'm not totally done with this newest edition so I'll wait to take more photos once two more corners of the room are tidied up.

Basically what I did was move my little couch from in front of the yellow quilt to the opposite wall in exchange for my ironing station, in the corner, the section with the three sets of wire drawers - that's my stash all organized on Fabric Organizers. I decided that the two stations - ironing and cutting should be together as well as all the wire drawers that hold my customer quilts in waiting. The cool thing is I rediscovered my Alto's Quilt Cut that was my major purchase back in 2001 at the Houston International Quilt Festival. Alto's out with QuiltCut2, but I'm thinkin that I'm going to enjoy my "original". Watched the video last night to refresh my memory and can't wait to speed cut some accurate squares and strips to use with my Square in A Square designs, It's hard to see in the photos, but it's on the table above the white pull out drawers and in front of the basket on the table that holds my snippets.

The area behind my longarm has stayed pretty much the same - I need to do a little spot cleaning - but the other two corners are not photo ready yet (grin)

On the wall next to the large couch by the window I have mov ed my little sewing table. It's sorta crowded in the corner with my hutch that I inherited from my 105 yr old great aunt who went home to be with the Lord last year the day after Thanksgiving (that's her couch too, I also inherited 7 of her quilts). On the wall where the ironing station used to be I now have the little couch. I haven't decided yet how I'm going to redo the quilts on the walls, that's usually a "honey do" project that I'll have to enlist help with.

In the meantime, it's been fun to revisit my stash and my ever growing UFO's or personal quilts in waiting. Goodness, I have two personal quilts that have been waiting for their turn on the longarm since July 2005 (I pieced them on a retreat on my birthday is how I can remember when they were finished!). My goal is to work through some of my projects that have been started and are near completion in the piecing, then they'll join the others as quilts in waiting to be quilted.

Here's one I finished on Sunday after church. It's a Square in a Square pattern called Garden Party. I've made it as a class sample with just 5 blocks, and hope to make a larger full size one sometime in the future. The blocks were in sqares when I started on Sunday, adding the cross-sash and cornerstone in the middle to complete the block, then I cut the setting blocks and added a couple of borders. Once quilted this one may just find itself on my wall - who knows! Every thing changes around here (smile) and that's a good thing. Don't ever want to be accused of being boring!

Quilts of Hope - Blankets of Love

I mentioned a call to action earlier this week in my three week reflection ramble on Sunday - perhaps you missed it since the post was rather lengthy, it’s near the bottom. It's important so worth repeating.

Those of you that are fellow quilters who read this blog and have quilting friends in local churches, guilds, online lists listen up (smile). Here's a call to action, a challenge, an opportunity.

There is a need for quilts of hope and blankets of love to be distributed to those displaced and hurting due to Hurricane Ike. You've seen the photos on TV, the links on the internet. It's real folks. And it's wide spread.

I live in Galveston County, (go to google maps and type in Galveston county to see a clearer view of this area) which of course includes the hard hit area of Galveston and Bolivar Peninsula, but also mainland communities such as Tiki Island, Bayou Vista, LaMarque, Texas City, Hitchcock, Santa Fe, Dickinson, Bacliff and San Leon. Many of our coastal communities have families who no longer have an inhabitable homes - who has “lost everything”…

For example, San Leon is an unincorporated community of 5,000. As you can see on the map, the community is surrounded by the bay - this area is called Eagle's Point and historically has been a fishing community. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, in San Leon do not have homes. And this is just one area. As the weathermen said “Ike is the size of Texas” and it took a big bite.

There are two quilt guilds in Galveston County, Mainland Morning in Texas City and Island Quilters in Galveston. Many many of these quilters who typically make charity quilts have lost their sewing machines, fabrics, and other important necessities in their lives. One of our county’s quilt stores remains temporarily closed due to the clean up from Ike’s damages. So its up to you in other areas to step up and send charity quilts that we are unable to make ourselves.

Quilters unite! Your love is needed on the Texas Gulf Coast. Quilts are needed to offer hope to these local residents. Children need cuddle blankets, adults need bedding. Quilts of all shapes and sizes are needed. I shared with a friend at church Sunday my hopes of receiving quilts to distribute – here’s a portion of his email…

I have a somewhat selfish request. If you get any quilts, 2 of the people that work for me have lost pretty much everything due to the storm and we haven't really been able to do anything for them.. your quilts might be our best way to say we are with you... they are both adults - no kids... I hope you are flooded with quilts soon... praying with and for you and the quilts..thanks M.B

Already there’s been a call to arms, please visit Ginny’s Quilts for her inspiration on making donation quilts as well as a reference to quick rag quilt patterns. Thank you to Ginny and her daughter Torrie who are leading by example.

Send links to these posts to all your quilting buddies – spread the word. Become a local drop off point and then contact me (karen@quiltsnkaboodle.com) for the shipping address, my Quilts 'N Kaboodle studio will be a collection point for quilted donations, then with God’s help and guidance, these offering will be given to agencies already set up in the area to distribute. I’ll do my best to photo document and keep you posted via this blog and or my website.

Thank you in advance.May God truly bless your efforts.

In the local news

San Leon, where I attended church this morning, was in the news this evening...click here to see the video coverage of the story "Volunteers help clean debris left behind in San Leon."

There are also a lot of videos and photos on the Houston Chronicle website. There is a video about Seabrook which is just north of San Leon about 15 miles (Harris County). Also a video about Bolivar Peninsula which is east of Galveston - only one home left standing on the gulf side of Gilchrist. Truly something out of a horror movie.

This storm was wide spread. I have to confess with us only having internet and TV for a week now due to outage in our area that I had no idea the true extent of other areas ravished by Ike. Places further up the coast like Winnie, Beaumont, Port Arthur. I've been in my own little narrow world of Galveston County. In reviewing these websites' photos and videos I'm learning, among other things, of huge cattle drives in an effort to move cattle inland where the grass isn't damaged by salt water making it unless for grazing. Wow, another industry effected by Ike.

This area is heavily populated, I'd dare say making Hurricane Ike one of the largest damage causing storms-I don't know for sure, I'm still doing my research. I did find that I was in error concerning the 1900 Storm Memorial on the seawall - I found this photo, taken after the storm by Steve Campbell of the Houston Chronicle, which clearly shows the memorial still standing. So I needed to clear that up from my previous post.

All in all, it's still more than I can wrap my brain around. I can't begin to understand how this effects our community, our state, our nation - for indeed it does effect all of us through our economy. All I can know for sure is that God is still on His throne, He's still in control, and He still is calling people to repent and give it all to Him. Dreams may shatter, possessions may crumble, economies may fail, but a relationship with Jesus will never disappoint. This should be the top news every day! Today is the day of Salvation!

Three Week Reflection

this photo by Johnny Hanson was published in the Houston Chronicle 9.12.08 the day BEFORE Ike. It is of a well known memorial to the 1900 Storm located on the seawall in Galveston, or should I say, was a memorial. It's my understanding that it was a victim of Ike's furry. The waves in the photo were caused by the storm surge that proceeded Ike and worsened during the storm causing indiscribable devisation.

Three weeks ago Ike made national news. Seems now for the majority of the country this is old news and they have moved on. For the people effected by Ike the news is still current. And very real.

I attended a very small church in San Leon today after attending "early services" at my home church Calvary Houston. I learned that the same Committed Relief organization that had been helping these past few weeks in the Friendswood Community surrounding my home church had now moved south. (The team members are from several Calvary Chapels around the states, for more information including donations click here ).

The Maranatha Baptist Church of San Leon is less than three miles from my home, in Galveston Country right on the shores of Galveston Bay. This area was hard hit, yet perhaps more under reported than the city of Galveston. San Leon is on the mainland and a small unincorporated community.

Morning services were held outside since power has still not been restored. Peeking inside the open doors, looking past the collection of cases of water and other relief supplies I couldn't help but notice the areas where sheetrock had already been removed from the walls. Yet here they were, the faithful few gathered to praise and worship our Lord. The members of the church were joined by this team of relief workers from Calvary Chapels who will be going door to door in the neighborhood of San Leon this week to assist in cleanup.

The service was joyful. The people there, my neighbors whom I haven't met yet, seemed to be very encouraged that fellow believers had come from great distances to help shoulder the burden. As Bro. Bill, the elder in charge since the church is currently without a pastor, said "I've met family I didn't know I had!" Even as my own pastor, Pastor Ron, shared this morning - in Christ there are no barriers of race, religion, culture, or social standing when we have "put off the old man, and put on the new" by being one through Christ. Indeed, it felt like a family reunion, a mini taste of the joy we will one day embrace when we attend the ultimate 'family reunion' when Christ calls all true believers unto Himself. What a glorious day!

While He tares His coming there is work for His bride, the church, to do. Quite honestly I've struggled with this, trying to find "my part" in the big puzzle. Thankfully many have heard the call and rolled up their sleeves to come help with the hard labor of clean up, many have heard the call and are gifted in offering the words of hope and healing. Many have shared their gifts and talents by preparing and distributing meals. Many more by giving of their money to organizations who are good stewards of the gift and use it fully to assist those in need. Indeed, the church, as a whole, is doing what they can to be the light shining in the darkness - not just as a humanitarian effort, as the guest pastor shared today, but as ones who share the gospel first - giving of the eternal along side the temporal. As one of the California team members said - those that come to serve are truly the ones blessed as much or more than those receiving the fruit of their labor. A hard concept to understand if you don't understand the One who gives this peace. Again, referencing Pastor Ron's message this morning, when someone has "put on" the love of Christ then everything out of them flows with His love. When things are done in His name, consistant to His character, then the world can see the hope that dwells in us, the same hope that is for every man. Peace in troubled times. Jesus is that hope. Blessed is he who shares of this love freely through their sacrifice of service.

As a quilter who loves to take tiny pieces of fabric and sew it back into something useful, I've wondered what part can I play in taking back tiny pieces of lives cut up by Ike and doing something useful - what's a quilter to do? A few ideas have come to mind and are in the process of being implimented.

As a quilter I understand the therapy of the quilting process. One friend called me a week or so ago knowing that I had electricity (which she did not) and wanted to know if she could come over to quilt - she needed that stress release. She came over and I assisted her in finishing a t-shirt quilt for a coach at a local Christian school who was recovering from a severe brain injury incurred during the final weeks of school last summer. Her stress release was giving to someone else in need through her gift and talents as a quilter.

The other day the thoughts of quilters who may have lost their abilibty to quilt due to perhaps not having power, or losing their sewing machine in the storm, or their fabric, or just being overstressed by the storm came to mind and those thoughts then turned towards an upcoming class I'll be teaching at one of the area quilt shops these next two Saturdays. I am a certified teacher with Square in A Square technique and thought wouldn't it be a blessing to be able to offer a scholarship to one of my classes? I spoke with the shop owner and she agreed. I'd waive my teaching fee and she'd assist me in putting together a free fabric kit as a needed supply for the class. We also said we'd loan a sewing machine to the scholarship winner if that were a need. I then contacted Jodi Barrows, creator of Square in a Square who gracioiusly will donate the necessary technique ruler as well as an autographed copy of the book that has the pattern we will be making in class to the scholarship winner. Flyers were sent out to the customers of this quilt shop as well as two of the local guilds (one being Island Quilters Guild from Galveston) to nominate a person to recieve the scholarship - someone who would be blessed with a Quilting Girls Day Out. Already we've received stories of our fellow quilters who have lost it all and need this therapy. I'm excited about the class and how it can be used to administer hope, even if it's just playing in fabric. For someone, that will be one more step towards normality.

If you are lingering through this long ramble I hope you will catch this next important opportunity....especially if you are a quilter. There is a need for the love and hope that can come through a handmade quilt (not necessary hand quilted, but made with loving hands). The announcement was made last night on a longarm list that quilts of hope can be sent here to my studio where they will then be distributed to those in Galveston County who have a need for this sort of comfort. I shared the possibility with Bro. Bill at the little church in San Leon after services, he said the need is great for bedding and such. Clothing has been distributed from their facilities and continue to be distributed at the area Christian-run Lighthouse Thrift store in Bacliff. He mentioned that there is also a great need for diapers "from newborn to adult" -- I share that just in case there's someone reading who has this gift of gathering and distribution...me, I'm a quilter (smile) and all I know is to help in ways that I've been gifted - through my quilting and my gift of gab -- urging you who share my joy of quilting to remember the people down south that can benefit from your generosity.

Since this blog is "public" I'd rather not share my mailing address. If you aren't on the online lists where it was posted you may contact me through my email karen@quiltsnkaboodle.com and I'll be happy to provide an address where you can ship your offering of quilts. With the Lord's help, these will be given to organizations that are already in place and connected to individuals who would most benefit. If you are like many who are able to give with your pocket book, I urge you to visit the Calvary Chapel link as well as Samaritian's Purse (be sure and view the videos) to make a donation to assist with relief efforts.

Again, I realize that Ike may be "old news" to journalist who's job it is to keep us current with NEW news, but the aftermath of Ike isn't over. Please prayerfully consider helping with relief efforts. Prayers are one of the easiest and most powerful things you can do as a believer. Thank you for this sacrifice.

In Him,
karen o in Texas