Quilts For Fort Mac

Seeing the devastation from the wildfires that have ravaged Fort McMurray, Alberta it has been hard to comprehend what people there are going through. More than 10% of the city burned to the ground and the 80,000+ people that have been evacuated are now desperately trying to cope with this incredible loss and imagine rebuilding their lives and their community. Assuming that the fires remain contained and local infrastructure repaired, they are looking to return home in early June, roughly a month after their sudden exodus. It breaks your heart. So when Dori's note about the efforts of the Ottawa Modern Quilt Guild arrived it was the perfect chance to pitch in and help, even if just a little bit.

Stacey is collecting Maple Leaf quilt blocks to make quilts to send to those who have lost their homes and would be grateful for blocks that you might be able to contribute too. Here's the details:

• 12.5″ square Maple Leaf quilt blocks (unfinished so they finish at 12″) 
• Colours can include blue, yellow, green, red and white but two-colour blocks are preferred (i.e., use two of these colours in combination, like blue/yellow); any mix of print or solid fabrics are fine 
• Use any Maple Leaf pattern you’d like, or make an improvised leaf block - it’s up to you. Here are a few 12.5″ block tutorials:
   
• All Patched Up
• equilters.com
• Stacey's tutorial

Please mail blocks by June 30, 2016 to:
    Quilts for Fort McMurray
    c/o Mad About Patchwork
    2477 Huntley Road
    Stittsville ON, K2S 1B8
   CANADA

If you are in the Ottawa area, you can drop blocks off in person at Mad About Patchwork.

Other ways to help:

• If you have finished quilts that you would like to donate, you can get in touch with the Quilts for Fort McMurray Facebook group, or check out the places collecting quilts on Cheryl Arkinson's blog, 
• Consider donating to the Canadian Red Cross which is responding to this emergency. Text REDCROSS to 30333 to make a donation.

I used the All Patched Up tutorial and three patchwork leaf blocks came together in short order. The makings of more are on the sewing room table and I plan to have at least six to send along, hopefully more....M