2009 news

December 2009
Winners of the 2009 Raffle quilts

Congratulations to the winners of the 2009 raffle quilts!

First place winners are Kim Brosseau Laforest and her husband from Ottawa, Ontario. The quilt they won is Dazzling Dahlia, a queen-size bed quilt featuring a central dahlia motif in tones of teal, pink, and purple, surrounded by fuschia bows, on a pale mint green background. The quilting and binding were done by Hennie Ross Palmer, a Victoria's Quilts Canada member. This quilt was professionally appraised at $1,280.

The winner of the second quilt is Trudy Corvinelli of Russell, Ontario. Trudy took home Radiant Stars, also a queen-size bed quilt, featuring radiant stars in shades of pink and green, highlighted by blue points on a burgundy background, with a blue flowered border. The quilting was done by Karine Chapleau of Karine's Quilting Service, and bound by Hennie Ross Palmer. This quilt was appraised at $1,200.

Jennifer Pagnuttiof Kanata, Ontario won the third prize, Star Bright. This is a lap-sized quilt of blue and green feathered stars on a cheery yellow background, with a blue flowered border. Quilting and binding were done by Ulana Perovic, a Victoria's Quilts Canada member. This quilt was appraised at $450.

Victoria's Quilts Canada would like to sincerely thank all the people who purchased tickets; the volunteers who sold tickets, both publicly and privately; and the people and organizations who allowed us to sell tickets from their locations.

This year's raffle raised over $6,000, which will help us continue providing physical and spiritual comfort to people with cancer in Canada -- one quilt at a time!

We will be holding a raffle in 2010, so please visit again to get the details and make sure you get your tickets.

Again, congratulations to Kim Brosseau Laforest, Trudy Corvinelli and Jennifer Pagnutti.

November 2009
Grants received

While most of our funding comes from private donations, often from the friends and family of quilt recipients, we were very pleased to receive three grants this year.

As they have done for many years, Fabricland Distributors gave us a grant for $10,000. While we are fortunate to receive donations of cotton fabric to make the quilt tops, we must usually purchase the flannelette and batting for the middle and bottom layers, as well as other required supplies. Fabricland's generous gift will help us with these required purchases.

Maxwell House and Kraft Canada Inc. ran a competition during 2008 and early 2009, entitled Brew Some Good, and invited nominations from charitable organizations that strive to improve the wellbeing of their communities. We were very pleased to be chosen as one of Canada's "Brew Good-ers". The $10,000 cheque has been put to good use in purchasing the supplies required to make more quilts. We estimate that an additional 400 quilts will be produced as a result of receiving this very generous gift.

And, we were also very pleased to receive a grant from the Canadian Million Dollar Table Foundation in the amount of $1,611.65. Deborah Wood of Toronto nominated Victoria's Quilts Canada and presented the cheque to Kathy Yach and Heather Hannaford in November. The Canadian Million Dollar Round Table Foundation awards grants annually to a variety of charities in communities across Canada. Funded by top life insurance professionals, the Foundation awards up to $5,000 per request to worthy charitable projects recommended by Foundation members.

To all of the granting organizations, we offer a very sincere Thank you. Without the support of such generous corporate donors, we would not be able to continue to satisfy the demand for our quilts.

November 2009
2009 Fashion Show

We were ooh-ing and ahh-ing at the gorgeous fashions presented at our annual fashion show by Joanne's of Westgate Mall. The show was held on Saturday, October 31, 2009 at Barrhaven United Church in Nepean. This year's show was a great success, MC'd by Joanne, herself, and the fashions were modeled by several fearless models, who were "volun-told" from the ranks of our volunteers.

Besides being treated to coffee/tea and dessert, our 75 guests were also able to bid on art and gift items at the silent auction. All together, the event raised about $1,000, which will help us continue our work.

A special thank you to Joanne's of Westgate Mall for their support in presenting their fashions. Another fashion show is planned for 2010, so check back often for details.

October 2009
2009 Quilt-a-Thon

In answer to your questions, the answer is -- 136! That's the number of quilts that 107 people made in one day, on Saturday October 17, 2009, at the Orleans United Church in Orleans. And, together with the 31 quilts that were dropped off during the day, our shelves were stocked with a total of 167 new quilts that were available for distribution. Our 107 volunteers worked hard (and laughed even harder) through cutting, ironing, sewing and quilting.

We offer our sincere thanks to them all, and to all the people who helped organize the event. We'd also like to thank our many corporate sponsors, without whose support our ongoing work would not be possible.

Stay tuned for information on the 2010 Quilt-a-Thon!

September 2009
Welcome to Harrowsmith Branch in Godfrey, Ontario

A very warm welcome to Harrowsmith Branch, in Godfrey, Ontario. The 11-member group will be led by Laurie Scala, who has been sewing for more than 35 years and who was previously a member of our Bolingbroke Branch. Laurie approached the owner of the local quilt shop, Wilton Fabrics in Harrowsmith, who very enthusiastically offered space and equipment for the group to meet, pin, sew, and store their supplies.

The Branch members, who have been meeting since last summer, have extensive sewing and quilting experience. It has started fundraising and plans to advertise in the local community paper. No doubt, both activities will increase their visibility in the community at large, and will encourage more people to join the group.

Once again, our congratulations to VQC's 23rd branch!

July 2009
Quilt-a-Thon 2009

Our annual Quilt-A-Thon will be held on October 17, 2009 at the Orleans United Church, 1111 Orleans Boulevard, in Orleans, Ontario. If you’ve attended in the past, you know you’ll share friendship, compassion, and a few laughs as we work to make even more than the 130 quilts we made last year. And, if you haven’t attended in the past, please join us – we’d love to see you, and make your acquaintance.

A $12 registration fee will help cover the costs of purchasing quilting supplies for the event and providing a yummy lunch. Places are limited, and will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis. We look forward to seeing you there!

And please let us know if you (or a muscular honey) can help with setting up the room on the Friday evening or dismantling the room on the Saturday, after 4:00 p.m.

June 2009
Raffle 2009

This year’s raffle quilts are stunning. Make sure you get your tickets, available from Victoria’s Quilts Canada members, kiosks, and by contacting us by phone (613) 843-9212. Tickets cost a very reasonable $2.00 each, or 3 tickets for $5.00. All three quilts were pieced and donated by Ann Donaghy of Ann Donaghy Designs. The draw will take place on December 5, 2009.

First prize - Dazzling Dahlia
This queen-size bed quilt features a central dahlia motif in tones of teal, pink, and purple, surrounded by fuschia bows, on a pale mint green background. The quilting and binding were done by Hennie Ross Palmer, a Victoria’s Quilts Canada member. This quilt has been professionally appraised at $1280.

Second prize - Radiant Stars
This is also a queen-size bed quilt which features radiant stars in shades of pink and green, highlighted by blue points on a burgundy background, with a blue flowered border. The quilting was done by Karine Chapleau of Karine’s Quilting Service, and bound by Hennie Ross Palmer. This quilt has been appraised at $1200.

Third prize - Star Bright
This is a lap-sized quilt of blue and green feathered stars on a cheery yellow background, with a blue flowered border. Quilting and binding was done by Ulana Perovic, a Victoria’s Quilts Canada member. This quilt has been appraised at $450.

June 2009
Our newest Branches

Victoria’s Quilts Canada would like to extend a very warm welcome to our two newest Branches, in Drumheller and Rocky Mountain House, Alberta.

The Drumheller Branch will work out of the local quilt store "Bits and Pieces" under the capable direction of Anne Riley. Anne is a quilter and also the chaplain at the local Drumheller men’s correctional facility, where several men will be sewing quilt tops, fulfilling the mandate for "meaningful recreation". Other members include women from the town and surrounding area. This collaboration is a win-win solution for all of us and the men especially are enthusiastic about taking part in this project.

The new Branch in Rocky Mountain House has barely been started, but they have already made several quilts. The enthusiastic group of seven quilters, under the direction of Florence Bott, will meet once a month during the summer, and twice a month starting in the fall.

And our Calgary Branch has been hard at work producing spectacular quilts.

With more Branches being opened in communities across Canada, the number of quilts made and distributed within that community will also increase. And the funds that would have been spent on mailing the quilts from the National Office or another Branch can be redirected into producing more quilts.

Congratulations, and welcome, to Drumheller and Rocky Mountain House Branches. And Calgary, keep up the good work!