If you're stopping by for the patterns for Seattle Streets or Stained Glass Log Cabin:
The .pdf file for Seattle Streets is here.
And Stained Glass Log Cabin is finally ready too. Here's the link to the .pdf. If that doesn't work, email me at eastsidequilter[at]aol[dot]com
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ca·ri·tas [kah-ri-tahs; Eng. kar-i-tas] noun Latin: charity; love for all.
Originally, in Latin, the word meant "preciousness, dearness, high price."
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What do you think of when you hear the words "charity quilt"? Precious? Dear? Created with love? In other words, made with "caritas"? (Which is, by the by, where the word "charity" comes from.) If so... Me too! You're in the right place! This website started taking shape in my mind when I read a blog post by a friend. In it, she wondered why some people were objecting to the phrase "charity quilt" being used to describe quilts made for their favorite program. "The problem, as I understand it," she said, "is that quilts made for [a very worthy organization] were referred to as 'charity quilts' and, as such, carried an inference -- for some people -- of shoddy workmanship and/or inferior quality fabric. I didn't quite get it." I don't get it either. The organization is a very good one, and their recipients are 100% deserving of beautiful quilts. Yet so are abused women, foster children, people undergoing chemo, folks in nursing homes, and all of the other quilt recipients who are at a time in their lives where they need some warm, soft comfort. At the same time, we charity quilters are frequently working with limited time, and often with donated fabrics that we didn't choose ourselves. To help us put "caritas" in our charity quilts, it's nice to have things like quick-yet-eye-catching patterns, or tips to make fabrics play nice with each other -- even when they weren't purchased by the same person for the same quilt. And that's where I hope this website will come in. This site is still under construction, but eventually I hope it will become a source of inspiration for quilters who have a heart for charity. (You know. The real, original meaning, which I think the average quilter carries in her -- or his -- heart.) If you are one of these quilters and have links or photos you'd like included, please let me know via the "Contact me" tab up top. In Caritas, Laurie P.S. I am NOT the Quilt Police, sent here to judge quilts and other quilters! My experience is that quilters have hearts full of love to begin with, and my goal is just to assemble some resources to make it easier for us to let our lights shine in helping others. |
Charity Quilt Links
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