Operation Blanket Japan Update

For those wondering how Operation Blanket Japan is going, here are some pictures from Dana over at Quilters Newsletter she posted on her blog. Perhaps, you can recognize one of the boxes you shipped out!

She said the UPS guy is bringing them in by the dollifuls (I know its not a word). Oh, you all should be so proud of yourself for this and PLEASE, do not think, oh well, they have enough....there will never be enough until they are blanketed.

I just knew someone would come up with an idea on how to get quilts over to Japan and if any of my readers live in the Colorado area near Golden, Dana said they will need some help getting them ready for shipping to Japan.

This is just amazing to me. A group even drove a bunch of quilts to their headquarters from Utah. Rock on quilters, we can and do blanket those in need, one stitch at a time!

Dana passed on that they just don't have the time or power to let everyone know individually if their quilts arrived safely, so if you are worried about yours and want to make sure it arrives, send it out with confirmation.

This is just the encouragement I needed to keep working on more quilts! How about ya'all? Let me know if you sent any quilts and send me pictures, I would love to be able to share them with readers!

Don't Forget Operation Blanket Japan

Just wanted to remind everyone to check my post and sign the McLinky if they would like to get involved sending a quilt or 2 to Japan. Check out my post where the McLinky is:
http://quiltingranny.blogspot.com/2011/03/open-eyes-of-my-heart-lordthrough-eyes.html

Operation Blanket Japan

This just in from a Canadian friend of mine:

Quilters Newsletter has long enjoyed a friendship with Patchwork Tsushin, a leading Japanese quilt magazine. So when Editor in Chief Naomi Ichikawa emailed to say her magazine is collecting comfort quilts for those impacted by the recent earthquake in Japan, we wanted to join the effort. QN will gather quilts from U.S. quiltmakers then forward them to Naomi and her staff, who will deliver them to those in need. (If you live outside the United States, email me as indicated below, and I will provide information on how you can send quilts directly to Naomi.)

Here’s how you can be part of this important worldwide response:

• Send quilts of any size from baby to adult to:

Dana Jones
Quilters Newsletter
741 Corporate Circle, Suite A
Golden, CO 80401

• Mark your box: “Quilts for Japan.”
• Send quilts as soon as possible and no later than April 30, 2011.
• Enclose your name, address, phone number, and email address with the quilts.

If you have questions, please email Dana Jones.

Finally, there is a place to send these quilts where we can get them to Japan. Thank you Jesus for your generosity.

If you are interested in doing this, please sign up here:

http://quiltingranny.blogspot.com/2011/03/open-eyes-of-my-heart-lordthrough-eyes.html

It isn't a requirement, but I would love to see how many people volunteer to do this and show the world that the quilting community is serious about reaching out to others in love and warmth.

Also here is another blogger collecting quilts and if you live near her she plans on having a quilting bee:
http://onceuponaquilt.blogspot.com/

Operation Blanket Japan -Open My Eyes Lord

My grandchildren are the most kind hearted, generous, gentle, God loving children I and many others have ever known. They accept people for who they are and not what they are and they see circumstances like no other children I know.

Dinner conversation last night:
'Ranny (that's what they call me), you know there are people in Japan who are very cold right now because they don't have any house to live in or any blankets.'

'Yes, sweeties, I know, it is very sad.'

'Ranny, you helped make blankets for the orphans in Sierra Leone and got other people to help didn't you?'

I am beginning to feel a bit squirmy right now as the conversation continues....'yes, it took almost 2 years, but they are all done and I can rest now.'

'But Ranny, if you did that, can't you get people to help make blankets for the people in Japan?'

I launch into an explanation of how there are millions of people and I am only one person and I can't make millions of blankets or quilts and who would we send them to, how would they get there?

'God will send someone there to take the blankets if you make them!'

So, last night I prayed for guidance in this matter. 'Father, you know I hurt and ache all the time, you know I am slower in my quilting than I ever have been, I can't do this on my own, but I will follow where You lead me.'

This morning,I have contacted Convoy of Hope, Save the Children and asked them if they could take quilts to Japan if we could get them to them? I am waiting to hear back and I'm sorry, but I did say we.

Here is what I am thinking....I already know of 2 people I can 100% count on to make at least 2 blankets, plus myself so that could work out to 6 right out of the gate.

According to my followers, I have 203 last time I checked and while not all are quilters, some only became followers to win a giveaway, few contact me, however I know several read me regularly....I will be contacting each one over the next few days and asking them to make a quilt or blanket and ask friends, family and others to do the same.

When I have the information I need from the charities I contacted, I will post it and let everyone know. I am calling this quilting endeavor:
Operation Blanket Japan.

Whose on board with me? Anyone? I only want serious takers and I am not asking for excuses. If you can't do it, I understand but I also do not need a comment left that you can't. I want comments telling me you are on board.

I have seen the babies and children....lets aim for 50 infant quilts, 50 toddler quilts and 50 twin quilts to start.

If you are interested, just use the McLinky here, place your name & blog address and what size quilt or blanket you will make or donate and post this to your own blog. Lets see how many quilts we can make for the people in Japan.

Lets also remember to KISS...Keep it simple sweetie! Remember, the goal here is to make them warm and durable, not fancy...if you already have some sitting around you want to donate...AWESOME!!

I will post here later on where these can be sent to...