So sorry for my very long absence.  I am not sure how life got away from me so quickly.

A quick overlook of what I have been up to since July:

trip to Ontario to see family

daughter #2 off dance camp in the Rockies

prepared daughter #1 for return to university

continued sewing quilts for flood victims in and around Calgary

trip to Vancouver

maintaining my garden

visit from mother-in-law

Back to school

delivery of quilts to flood victims

Finishing a few projects along the way too.

this table runner is gracing my friends dining table.

I am continuing to make quilt tops for 'Quilting for Calgary' as donations to Calgarians affected by the flooding that happened over three weeks ago.  

Many families are still dealing with the devastation.  I am very proud to be a Calgarian these days.  The outpouring of volunteering and community spirit has been amazing.  Strangers helping strangers in desperate times warms the soul.

If you are interested in donating a finished quilt or a top please go to the Facebook page Quilting for Calgary to find out more information. This group was spear headed by Bev Rogan an incredible lady you has a heart of gold. We are aiming for delivery of the quilts for Sept.  

So many agencies and individuals have stepped up to help get quilts to us:

If you are in the US and can get your quilts to Houston, Westfreight Systems  is bringing donations across the border weekly.  See this page for details

Purolator Courier donated 150 free deliveries.  

Air Angles and West Jet teamed up to bring bundles of quilts from across Canada

Tundra Processing has donated warehouse space to house all the donations coming in.

Matt Sparrow of Sparrow Studios has a crew of volunteers long arming donated quilts. 

Not to mention the wonderful ladies at My Sewing Room, Traditional Pastimes, and Addie's Creative Fabrics for their time and efforts coordinating the quilting bees, donations and people power.  

Quilters are wonderful people. 

I am fortunate enough that my neighbour 3 doors down has a long arm machine.  I make the tops, she long arms them and I finish the binding off.  We are our own little factory.  

happy stitching 

Lee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLtGxmwKLaw

Go to Facebook 

Go to the group Quilting for Calgary.  

Bev Rogan is instrumental in getting this group together.  (she was instrumental in getting 1000's of quilts to Japan after the tsunami)

We are most greatful to Westfreight Systems in Houston for their kindness and generosity. Westfreight will be bringing US donations to us (in Calgary) once a week hence eliminating the customs concerns and expense for our US friends in getting their donaitons to us. Please send your donations to:

Westfreight Systems 

16855 Crosby Freeway

Houston, Texas, 77049 

Ph. 281-456-7332 

Attention: Kathy or Randy

For our Canadian quilting friends:

Quilts can be sent to:

"Quilting for Calgary"

38 Rockbluff Close NW

Calgary, AB T3G 5B1

As well, a group of ladies have also been coordinating efforts to get quilts in through My Sewing Room, a LQS.

Check out their newsletter to see DD#2 and I sewing together at a Quilting Bee.

http://www.mysewingroom.ca/enews/index.php?pageref=enews-curr&scrl=Y 

I have signed up to be on the distribution list of the donated quilts. At this point in time we don't have a date for that as there is still a lot of recovery to be done.

My daughter made a poster and hung it at the mail box to have our street donate toiletries for the flood victims. Look what we had donated:

There are many many acts of kindness happening all around Calgary and surrounding areas. Strangers helping strangers; First responders going out of there way; corporations donating $$$; 1000's of volunteers putting in endless hours to get this city back together.

It unbelievable.

It's hard to believe but our beautiful, vibrant city of Calgary (and many other Alberta towns)  is under a STATE OF EMERGENCY!  

We have had a deluge of rain in the last 48 hrs that has made many rivers into lakes, streams into torrents and creeks into devastating rivers.  

The devastation goes beyond our city and into the towns and villages to the south of the city and west in the mountains.  It really is quite unbelievable. 

My family and I are safe and dry because we live on the high side of the Bow River bank, about 5 stories above the water.   However, 100,000 or more people have been evacuated in the city alone. 

Many city iconic buildings, parks, bridges are under water.  And it continues to pour for the last few hours again. All schools were closed today (yes we still have another week of school left)

This is a series of photos starting from Thursday at 4:30pm taken from our bedroom balcony.  The green area with the big trees across the river is all provincial park. 

Please pray for those affected by the water that they are safe in a shelter or with family and friends. 

I know there is going to be a need for quilts.  If you feel so kind and want to donate any I will find out the logistics of getting them out to people in need.   Send me an e-mail lalaslovelys@hotmail.com.

thank you.

Lee