Block Update for California Fire Quilts

Blocks continue to stream in, and I am so excited with the response!  You are all amazing, and I thank each and every person who has sent blocks, some with donations for shipping and other costs, along with large pieces of fabric yardage for backing or binding.  I mentioned the first four packages from readers on the 3rd, from envelopes arriving just the day after the long holiday weekend! Then a few days later, I had a full bag of packages, 17 at once!

I opened all the envelopes, emailed everyone that I could to let them know their blocks arrived. I couldn’t resist playing with the blocks at this point, and laid out one of several designs usually used with log cabins.  Don’t the colors all look great together!  At this point, I was thinking that I almost had enough for the first top, little did I really suspect what was going to happen next, even though a couple of you predicted it.

Over next week, more packages just poured in, and I know even more are still coming. Participation is coming from all over the world too, just awesome!! I have blocks in hand or still to come from New Zealand, Australia, England and Canada!! The week’s pickup from the post office yielded 27 more envelopes and boxes, amazing.

Of course, I had to play with the wonderful blocks in an array of colors and prints, some bright, some muted, some high contrast, some more low volume, all can be used in some way.

Some of my friends will be helping to assemble the quilt tops, and we will likely spend half a day choosing the layout and coordinating the blocks as best we can. I originally asked for 60 blocks to make 2 quilts, planning to add borders to get to the minimum size needed of 72×84. Through your generosity, dear readers, I have 268 blocks with still more on the way!  I can now do quilt tops of 7 x 8 blocks, which will be a full size quilt!! I’ll be making 3 of these with help from friends.

At this point, I have way more than I can use, so if you have made blocks but haven’t mailed them yet, please send them directly to the Ventura Modern Quilt Guild‘s collection address on their website.  I wish I could show you all the blocks, but I had to stop laying them out on the floor and get back to other things.

Thank you to everyone who sent blocks, and double thanks to many of these ladies for the extra help. So many of the envelopes had money in them too, contributions to help with the costs of the project, most with $1-5 and a few had $20!!  If I had an email address, I sent a thank you email, but many of the envelopes had no note inside.  So, if you didn’t get an email from me, and you see your name below, know that I truly do appreciate your contributions of blocks and money!!  I have enough now to cover all the costs, and if there is any left, I’ll put it toward the next Safelight project.

Jeanne S, St Augustine, IL – Heidi K, Henderson, NV, – Liz H, Mahwah, NJ
Shannon F in Durant, OK – Alice, AZ – C W, Lancaster, PA
Brenda H, El Dorado, KS – Molly A, Taylorsville, IL – Nancy S, Riverton WY
Susan C, Chesnee, SC – Celeste D, Seattle, WA – Mary D, Georgetown, DE
Teri K, Palmetto Bay, FL – Roseanne N, Sturtevant, WI – Loris M, Cambria, CA
Elizabeth K, West Columbus, SC – Sharon C, Lexington, NC – Ms M, Gesonia, PA
Ms Fischer, Vacaville, CA – Linda N, Belews Creek, NC – Erin H, Deerfield, MA
LW, Rocklin, CA – Carolyn J., Williamston, NC – Mary B., Bozeman, MT
Darlene S, San Diego, CA – Linda S, Buffalo, NY – Judy R, Marshall, NC
Elizabeth G, Mooresville, NC – Denise F, Charles Town, WV – Val R, Ontario, OR
Ann B, Louisville, KY – JW, Palm Coast, FL – Donna W, Inverness, FL
Nancy F, Yorkville, IL – Amy R, Plainwell, MI – Sue Ann B, Plainwell, MI
Jeanna G, Port St Lucie, FL – Irene D, Leeds, AL – Crystal F, Cedar City, UT
Sharon V, Schoharie, NY – Carol P, Pisgah Forest, NC – Roberta A, Elgin, IL
Deborah C, High Point, NC – Paulette V, Springville, NY – Pat E, Avon, NY
Cheryl B, Newland, NY – Dorothy M, West Chester, PA – Lisa C, So Plymouth, NY
Sherry, Sioux City, IA – Ruth K, Alma, MI – Madeline S, Summerville, SC
Sharon T, Lake Wylie, SC – Clare M, Central Hawks Bay, New Zealand
NB, Milford, DE – Danice G, Florence, AL – Deborah A, Denver, CO
Linda A, Warwickshire, England – Emily L, Charlotte, NC
Karen, New Braunfels, TX – Linda B, Rensselger, NY

Now, here is another way to help if you are just now finding out about this project. The Superbuzzy Quilt Shop and online store located in Ventura is the collecting point for the Ventura Quilt Guild. The guild is interested in any block pattern, orphan blocks, UFO flimsys, extra fabric for backing and binding, thread, batting, anything. See their post Quilts From The Ashes. I’ll be sending all the leftover blocks from our project on to the Ventura Guild to support their efforts when I ship the completed quilts.

I am a FQS affiliate, and may earn a small commission to support the costs of the blog from any purchases you make.  You can use your existing account, and there is no cost to you.  Thank you for using my links when you can!

Quilters are such generous and giving souls, thank you so very much for all your help with this project.  I’ll certainly update again after our tops make a bit more progress.  Isn’t this fantastic?

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