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It's not often I try to coordinate a project and ask for help. However, this tragedy has hit really close to my heart, being a former first grade teacher.

Equilter is working on coordinating quilts that will be donated to Sandy Hook and surrounding community agencies. They want wallhanging style quilts that will commemorate each of the 26 victims.

Here's my thought. How about 26 cq circles, say 6" in diameter finished? Each block will feature one person — name and something personal. There are all sorts of bios on the internet right now that would help. Pictures — yes or no?

I will put together an applique wallhanging that will incorporate the blocks in some type of special design — perhaps one of the circular mandala designs.

It's a very rough concept at the moment, and I'm wondering whether I can get enough interest to get the 26 blocks covered. There are some people on this board who do exquisite work, and I am hoping that some of you will feel moved to help.

The time frame for these is pretty long — they are talking of donating the quilts in May, September and/or December. So, I would like to have the blocks by April.

I will put the top together, quilt and bind it and get it to the appropriate people.

Count me in. As a parent who has lost a child this has hit me very hard as well. My heart aches for the grief I know these parents are going through which has got to be 10 times worse than what I went through given the circumstances.

I will watch this thread for the final decision of how you are going to put this together.

I would like to be a part of this also. Pictures would be nice, but on such a small block I'm not sure how they would work with the other info. Would you just assign everyone a name or what? I could get started anytime you want.....will be watching for more info.

edt: Are specific colors being asked for?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: bjeannes,

I to am willing to help, my sisters and nieces are teachers, and it is heart breaking that something so terrible could happen, I look at my son Caleb who is roughly the same age, tears escape me, and my heart just breaks for the parents of the children and teachers who tried to protect them, and to all the students who survived, but will remember this tragedy for the remainder of their lives...

I would love to help..

I think assigning us all a child would be good and have us put that child's first name on our circle. Maybe do them at 7 or 8 inches to allow plenty enough room for their name and our other embellishments.

You could do a fabulous needleturn angel and have her arms outstretched with the CQ circles going in a circle around her body.

Absolutely!! I would be more than happy to make more than one if we don't get enough response. I have been involved in a circular RR for the past 4 months and have found that a great size size to work with (not too big and not too small) is the size of a regular CD disk. 4.5" with .5" seam for sewing the units together. If we go larger as you have suggested to 6" then we might be able to incorporate a small picture. One can pint the picture with the childs name under it onto fabric. Carol, if you need me to help organize this with you I'd be more than happy to.

Carol, you know that I am with you in any endeavor. Although I can't make a CQ circle for you, I will send you a check to help defray some of the costs you will incur,e.g. Batting, backing, postage, etc.

Carol, I just had another thought. If we don't get enough CQ ladies here on this board to meet the quota, I will be more than happy to to Blog about this project to contact some of my CQ friends from some of the CQ forums I belong to to help us out if need be.

I'm so humbled by everyone's responses so far.

Nickilee, I would love for you to add this to your blog. I know you have some outstandingly talented friends, and I would feel so honored if they would help.

Missmommy, thank you so much for your generous offer. I will get in touch with you.

I love all of the ideas so far; please keep them coming. As I said in my original post, I have a very rough idea right now.

Im not very good at cqing .....but would be more than happy to also send funds to help defray your cost Carol.

Please let me know how I can help !! This tragedy is just so very heartbreaking...

I am not a CQer either, but I would also be very happy to contribute funds for postage or anything else.

CQ is NOT me BUT may I piece a prarie (6 pointed) star and machine stitch decoratively? If so I would like to call dibs on a blcok in memory of Noah Pozner.

Carol--I would love to help, but my CQing is terrible---Please let me help with $ too--OK?

I will help, let me know final size of unfinished cq block, deadline, and name of person I should create a block for.

Carol, I don't think you are going to have a problem getting the cirlces done - I've already contacted a few my online friends and they are more than happy to do one if we need their help. Once we have the size, name and Guidelines I will post about it on my Blog.

And you can include me in on this, carol. A really worthwhile project.

Mary

I'm not a CQ'r but would love to be able to help in some way with funds please. My heart just breaks for those families.

I'm so gratified to see so many offers of help.

The reason I asked for cq blocks is that the equilter facebook page is really wanting to see at least the names of the children on the blocks, and preferably pictures. To my way of thinking, crazy quilting would be the perfect avenue to do justice to those 26 beautiful people.

Since I will be putting together a rather large top to accommodate 26 circles, the offers of funds to help defray the costs is most appreciated.

Nicki, I will get the list together and send it to you via PM, and I will include anyone else on the PM who wants to do a cq block. I will do my best to research each of the victims to give you an idea of an interest so that you could include a little bit of their personality.

I have a friend who is a whiz at EQ (she teaches it), and I'm going to ask for her help to design the top itself. I want to stay away from angels and other overtly religious symbols so that we don't afoul of someone who refuses to display the quilt because it might offend someone.

I hope all of this makes sense. I have a really nasty cold and I don't think I'm thinking clearly. Please excuse the rambling.

I'll do a block. Please add me to your pm list. Thanks!

I don`t have the right printer to do a picture on a block, but if someone would print me a pic on a piece of fabric, I would CQ it up for you.
Or could do a name and CQ it. Whatever you need, let me know.

Carol, what a lovely project you are presenting. Please count me in to CQ a block or circle or whatever you want. Just let me know size of the piece and name of the sweet child I have and if you want a picture on it.

I too would like to help.
I willcheck in with Nicki after the holidays for the details.This is a wonderful project.

You know that I am a slow CQer, but please sign me up. You and my other local friends can help me out if I get stuck on ideas.

This is a huge undertaking for Needlecrazy/Carol both time wise and financially. So if like myself, you are not a CQer but have offered to help out by sending her funds, do PM her for her address.
I'm sending my check this week.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Missmommy,

A check will be in the mail tomorrow, Carol--hope your address is still the same !!

Please count me in. My niece just turned 5 a couple weeks ago and the tragedy struck me also. Do you want them in cotton fabric?

pb

TTT

Carol, the town is asking for no more donations at the moment, as they have no place to put them and no plan to distribute them- it was in our local paper yesterday.

Before you go to a lot of time and effort and money, maybe you want to check with the town school?

i saw that and was rather hoping the three quilts and toys i sent to the Church would be given out. i did put a note that if they weren't, they could then be given to someone who lost things in the Super Storm. just hope they get used.

I have an email in to equilter since they are the ones in charge of this project. As soon as I have a definite answer from them, I will let you know.

In the meantime, I have received a check which I will hold. If any more come in, I will hold them until we know whether we are a "go" for this project. If we can't do it, I will return your checks.

Thanks for helping me out with this. Y'all are truly the most generous people I know.

Carol

Here is the reply to my email. I am planning to move forward with this project. I will set up a PM to everyone who has indicated interest, and we will get started.

Hello, Carol,

Thank you for your email!

The eQuilter focus for quilts is on Memorial quilts that would honor those lost, and is seen as a long term project, rather than the production of warming quilts such as we are still collecting for Hurricane Sandy victims who have lost everything from the storm.

As Luana indicated in her Newsletter December 22:

"Remember, we are looking for quality, not quantity. Take your time and make every stitch a prayer, a hug, full of love and healing. Each group quilt represents a community that has come together to unconditionally support the Sandy Hook Elementary community.

Possible dates for memorial quilt presentations are the end of this school year (May 2013), the start of the next school year (Sept 2013) and the one year anniversary. (Dec 14, 2013) We may well give quilts on all 3 of these dates."

So, working on such special quilts as these is, indeed, still an active project for presentation in the future.

Please let me know if I can be of further assistance!

Best regards,

Dana

Thank you Carol. Will await further direction from you.

Read the update. If you want to come over and eat some baklava and have tea while putting that PM together, let me know .

These CQ blocks are going to be beautiful and the quilt will be much treasured.

Hmmm, tea, baklava and what was that third one again? Oh yeah, the PM. Mention baklava and I get all distracted, Lisa. You know that!