Sandy Hook Memorial Project!

Many of you know that I coordinated the "Hearts and Hands for Sendai" quilt project in the aftermath of the horrific devastation caused by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan two years ago.  The resulting quilts were a culmination of an outpouring of love from around the world by fiber artists in many genre's. 

Sadly, there has been another awful, awful event.....the mass shooting of innocent children, all ages 6 - 7 and 6 adults in Newtown, Connecticut.  I am speechless....  I cannot begin to express, with words, my feelings of loss and sadness for these beautiful souls and their families.  My "means" of coping with these emotions, is to create a memorial that will account for these lives in a lasting, tangible way.  Hence, the Sandy Hook Memorial project has begun.  A memorial quilt will be created of diamonds.  Twenty six plain blocks will be added that have the victims names embroidered on them.  This quilt will go to the Newtown government (the agency to be determined at a later date) to memorialize those lost.  In conjunction, healing heart quilts will be made and sent to the families of the victims.  These will have to be distributed by the police department or a similar agency to protect the privacy of the victims.  At any rate, this post is a call to all who are interested, to participate.  I am putting the guidelines in this post, but would be happy to send them to anyone interested, separately.  I am not able to get the templates for the hearts and diamonds to come through here, so please feel free to contact me!  lehrlich@ymail.com 

Thank you in advance for your compassion and participation!!  My experience with these charitable projects has always been overwhelming with the response received showing the compassion of fellow artists!!

Sandy Hook, CT Memorial project

This project is to be a tribute to those people who lost their lives in the unspeakable shooting tragedy in Sandy Hook, CT in December, 2012.  Members will choose to create either (or both) a diamond shaped block or a heart in memory of a victim.  The diamonds will be pieced into a quilt to be donated to the Sandy Hook, CT government as a tribute and memorial for the victims.  More specific details on the exact agency will be published at a later date.  Others may choose to make a completed heart that will be donated in memory to each of the families of the victims.  The details for each of these items is below:

Quilt blocks

Each diamond block will be created on a muslin type foundation in a crazy quilted style.  Finished diamond to measure 6 1/2 inches long, 4 5/8 inches across the middle. The colors for this project are basic “primary” colors that are found in children’s projects.  Blue, red, green, yellow, magenta.  If you have any questions regarding the colors, please contact me or refer to a color wheel.   Fabric to be used are the tradition “fancy” materials used in cq such as velvet, silk, taffeta, etc.  along with nice quilting cottons. These blocks are to be completely embellished.  Please do NOT add beads or buttons within a half inch of the seam line and please add a basting line at the half inch mark.  The theme will be children’s old fashioned toys. Template for the blocks is below:

Memory hearts

Create a 6 inch crazy quilt heart on an 8.5 inch fabric block.  These are to be pieced in cq style . The colors are to be basic “primary” colors found in children’s projects and toys. Blue, red, green, yellow, magenta.  If you have any questions regarding the colors, please contact me or refer to a color wheel.    Fabrics that may be used, are nice quilting cottons and/or fancy fabrics such as velvets, silks and taffeta’s.   The theme will be children’s old fashioned toys. These hearts are to be completed and then backed with fabric to create a small wall hanging.  Finished size is 8 inches. Please add triangles in the corners for hanging.  I have included a heart template for your use if you so choose to use it.

Due date:  April 1, 2013

PLEASE sign and date the back of your blocks/hearts!!!

A flickr group will be created for the display of these blocks.  Please mail all hearts and blocks to:

Leslie Ehrlich

912 Foothills Ct.

Windsor, CO  80550