UGANDA Orphans QUILTs UPDATE MARCH 10 - six weeks and counting down!

We have a stack of 26 beautiful quilts all set to be packed up to be delivered to Uganda! There are about 4 in transit right now. I mailed out 6 quilt kits to Cuties this week who are positive they will complete and return them. I have local friends who are completing at least 14 quilts! That is 50 and doesn't include all the other quilts lots and lots of Cuties are working on! Many Cuties are waiting to mail their quilts until the second (or more) quilt is completed. Just think, at any given moment, somewhere around our Cute World, someone is probably cutting, stitching, or snipping right now! I have about 3 more kits.

A few Cuties have either already sent, or are making to send, other small, lightweight, and easy to pack little gifts to go with the quilts. These include Sue's little dollies and hand puppets, Chris's little pillow case sun dresses and some shorts for boys. Many little finger puppets are being sewn and knitted, hair clippies, tiny pocket dollies - both boys and girls, little pull string baggies with handmade treasures. I know i am forgetting something, please add on to my list, as I'm sure there are some things I'm not thinking of right now :-)

I'm thinking, and I'd like your ideas here, it would be fun to tuck one of these treasures inside each quilt. One that will match the size/probable gender and age of the recipient. Then all the rest give to Patrick, the director to be used as needed in the orphanages. Any ideas along these lines? I could safety pin or somehow clip the little surprises inside the quilts.... What do you Cuties think?

I have also received other gifts in the form of fabric for others to stitch, and cash to help with postage. Someone has offered to raise some money to help pay the extra charges for Andrea and Pavel on the shipping of the quilts on the plane when they hand deliver them. Andrea estimates there may be as much as $250 in extra baggage charges. I figure any funds raised beyond what they need to get the quilts delivered, we could tell them to use on food, or whatever the orphans need. Does that sound okay? (Andrea and Pavel raise their own money, and have sponsors to help get them there.) When we get closer to the middle of April, I'll let everyone know what the financial needs will be. Maybe, for those who would like and are able to help this way, we can use Paypal even for small donations.

I will try to take pictures of our quilts all together this week. You can see many of them in Projects. I continue to be amazed at the obvious care, attention to details, and LOVE sewn into each and every quilt! How blessed I am to get to see and feel them all!

I'm very encouraged and hopeful we are right on target to complete and have 80 quilts to pack up and send by May 1st. It would be nice to send a few extra for new orphans too. I have three friends who have promised to help the last week of April to do all we need to get all the quilts packed up. We can be stitching right up to the last minute if needed!

One more thing! There will be a second trip to Uganda in August, so we could send any extras on that trip also!

If you, or a friend, would still like to make a small, lightweight quilt (with no batting) to be hand delivered to Uganda, as part of this project, please PM me and I will send you details on what we still need to make sure each child receives this very special and personal gift. They need to be here, in Colorado by the middle of April.

It is amazing how many people have made their very first quilt with this project. Every quilt has turned out wonderful and unique. Thank you, and God Bless YOU for all your hard work, attention to details and most of all for all the love you have sewn into every stitch!
hugs,
Jan

Also, please pray for the safety of all the children in Uganda!

If you haven't seen these videos, be sure to - you'll love them! I hope the links work this time.

This photo is Andrea with one of "our" orphans. Doesn't he look sweet and tiny.