A softie and some QAYG blocks for Christchurch

I'm sure you all saw the awful images on the news a couple of weeks ago, showing the terrible destruction and heartbreak following the devastating earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand. This follows on from another big earthquake that happened just a few months ago.
Cat from Catalina's Cottage has been organising 'Quilts to comfort Christchurch kids'. And another blogger, Leonie of Kiwi at Heart is organising 'Softies for the children of Christchurch'. These are both such wonderful projects I felt I could contribute something to both. Above is my 'softie' but first let's have a look at the blocks for Cat's quilt appeal.

Cat wanted QAYG (quilt as you go) blocks to be made up into quilts and handed out to families who have lost so much in the earthquake. Cat has distributed 32 quilts already after the first earthquake, but the devastation of this latest one means she needs more! She pointed us to a great tutorial here. I have never done these before, but they were very quick and straightforward to do. All the fabric came out of my scrap box and the wadding was all scrappy too. As time was limited (all my time is limited at the present...). I only managed 4, but I can always do more soon if there is still a need - but perhaps there won't be after the rest of you have all made some ;).To find out more about how to help with this really worthwhile project, just click the button on my sidebar.

I really wanted a fun project after a fair bit of toiling over my Doll Quilt, and all the time I had put in to preparation for the 'hand sewing pincushions' class I was teaching at my local quilt shop last week (it went very well, thank you!). 

I had really enjoyed making Miranda for the Babies in Brazil project last year. So I decided my 'Softie for Christchurch' could be a rag doll too. 

So let me introduce you too Annalise...

 

I am very pleased with her because I made her from my own pattern. She is very simple and basic (no offence, Annalise) but I particularly like her dress with little puffed sleeves, and her big thick plaits (or 'braids' as some call them).

She is a Scandinavian themed doll and so I picked a Scandinavian name to match. Her dress is made from this adorable fabric that I first saw (in a red version) on the pinnie that Isisjem made for the Scrappy Pincushion Swap. She kindly gave us a link to the UK fabric shop that had this blue version in stock, Fabric Rehab. And even though I am on a serious recession budget at the moment, I just couldn't resist one tiny fat quarter...

Also the red crocheted lace at the bottom of her dress is from Danish company Greengate and the blue embroidered ric rak that ties her plaits was bought in an amazing braid and button shop that we visited in Stockholm a couple of years ago.  So she just had to be blonde with lovely pale skin. 

I always find that dolls are harder to part with than, say, quilt blocks, or even quilts! It must be their little faces. Nevertheless, Annalise will be going on a long journey through the mail as soon as I can bring myself to wrap her up. I am sure she will be well loved and appreciated wherever she ends up.

If you would like to make a softie for this appeal then just follow this link.

And speaking of Greengate, we just took delivery of this season's new goodies from this fabulous Danish version of Cath Kidston. I am always reluctant to use this blog for anything that vaguley resembles 'hustling' and therefore hardly ever flag up the lovely stuff we have in the shop. But this is fabric and therefore different!

 

This is Bella Vintage and the top one is Multi Star (bit unimaginative!). I sell these fabrics by the metre (£22.99 each - I know, expensive, but they are a thick, furnishing quality cotton and also 166cm wide, and it's the bloody Euro!) but also do well cutting them in to fat quarters. This is when I get to pretend I really own a patchwork shop rather than a housewares one, which is such fun!

Here is Kristrine Pale Blue.

The last few weeks have been a real struggle as I have had to work too hard and too often at the shop and have had little time or energy for anything else, hence my increasingly rare blog posts. I do feel like I am finally catching up and can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Expect a bit more activity soon!