For a few years now Lizzy Curtis Designs has been actively fundraising for worthy causes. I thought we would look closer in this blog post at how this has been evident.
During 2022 and 2023, Lizzy designed patterns, the team helped to make them come to life and loads of followers bought the patterns and made the projects. In 2022 we enjoyed a monthly book cushion pattern with seasonal appliqué. The proceeds of the pattern sales went to Children in Need and if I remember correctly the figure raised that year was around £7K!!
Last year we changed things a little and Lizzy created the Bag with a Heart series. 12 bags, 1 per month, with a small stuffed toy sitting in various shapes and sizes of pocket on the front of the bags. One month we had 2 "hearts" in one bag! Again all pattern sales proceeds went to Children in Need.
So, we come to 2023/24. There was much discussion in the team about how we could raise money and give you, our members, followers and the public, another opportunity to be involved in something fantastic. It was decided that whatever we did, the money raised would be donated to East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH). A charity local to Lizzy HQ that does wonderful work with sick children and their families.
It was then that as a group, Lizzy's Platinum members were given a challenge to make and send to Lizzy, a block which could added to others and made into a quilt. The intention was that Lizzy would make up the quilt and "auction" it off with the proceeds going to EACH. A simple concept which the group members took on board and got stuck in. However, as simple ideas often do, this idea went crazy. I don't remember exactly how many blocks we (Lizzy) received in the post! I'm not sure that the final number of blocks was ever something I knew, only that it was far more than it took to make one quilt. What I do know is that it was phenomenal! The blocks came literally from all over the world. By arrangement, they were sent to The Cosy Cabin, a lovely fabric shop near to Lizzy's home, were they could be kept and collected when we had received a few. We are very grateful to The Cosy Cabin for their involvement and help. I think Lizzy's John and Milly the dog may have had to move into temporary accommodation if the blocks had been sent to their home address!
It was at this point that the decision was made to have a Sew Along, a day when anyone who was able and had a sewing machine, could get together to start making up the quilts. It was very clear that Lizzy would have still been sewing now if the original idea for her to put together the blocks had not been amended. Again, we were able to make use of local facilities local to gather and set to work, organising blocks and making up the quilts. The ladies of the local quilting group were there on their usual weekly get together and many of them got stuck in too.
You may have seen some photos of the Sew Along day on FB but they are worth showing again.
We started the day with hundreds of blocks. They were all gorgeous, every single one.
We soon got to work matching up, trialing the layouts and assigning tasks.
It went like clockwork. We had lots of people helping including Andy and Jo from Crafty-UK. We had backing fabrics and wadding donated and soon the machine were whirring and the quilts were coming together.
This is the first one to be finished that day.
Others were taken home by various helpers to finish, and Lizzy even managed to sneak one or two past John to finish off herself!
Whilst all this was happening, a Just Giving page was created for anyone and everyone to donate money. A total of 16 quilts were made, all absolutely stunning! Every Monday for 15 weeks, names of those who had donated money were added to a "wheel of fortune", and when the wheel stopped on a name it was that lucky person who won that weeks quilt. It was awesome! Everyone watching was on the edge of their seat. Who would have guessed that so many quilts would be made and that we would raise over £2.5K for EACH?
This was the response from the hospice.
There was publicity in the local press too. Fred Olsen the travel people, made a statement about one of their employees being involved in the putting together of the quilts to raise money for charity. This is Lorna, showing us one of the quilts she took home after the Sew Along and finished off. Her employers were so proud of her and so are we.
Here's another quilt put together at the Sew Along by our very own Judy Taylor...
...and here's another, finished at home by admin team member Jackie Grant.
Jackie came all the way from Scotland to Suffolk to be part of the sew along and was given homework too!
But there's more!
Now I know what you're thinking! If there were 16 quilts made and one was given away each week for 15 weeks, what happened to number 16? Or Kath are you just very bad at maths?
Well, here it is...
A couple of weeks ago, Lizzy paid a visit to Milton Hospice in Cambridge, part of EACH.
The final quilt was handed over to the hospice for them to use as they wish. It will, along with all the money raised, be of huge benefit to those using the hospice services. We all know that care is essential but expensive, but projects such as we have been lucky to be a part of, are what keeps the services viable.
So that's it then. We can forget about fundraising now we've raised huge amounts. Oh no!
There's even more...
We're now onto phase 2 of the project. We've had a donation of another quilt!! Nicola, another of our admin team, has made a gorgeous little quilt and donated it to help raise even more funds. So that's what we are doing.
Did you know that Lizzy has opened a new Just Giving page? Here's the new link if you want to donate (again or for the first time) ;-) (I make no apologies for asking)
Here's how it works:
Click on the link above (many have already used this link from Facebook) and donate whatever you can but make sure it's in multiples of £2, e.g. £2, £4, £10 etc.
For every £2 you donate via Just Giving, Lizzy enters your name into her (now very famous) spreadsheet.
By way of example, if you donate £10, your name will be added 5 times etc.
All donations (100%) go directly to EACH and if you're eligible, Gift Aid is available too, which means even more money goes to the children.
At the end of November when the Just Giving opportunity closes, all the entries on the spreadsheet will be added to the "wheel of fortune" again and we are all in with a chance of winning Nicola's delicious quilt.
Here's a photo of the quilt to encourage you. It's a clip from a video with Lizzy introducing the quilt. (Sorry Lizzy I had you cut you off! I'm sure you'll forgive me.)
The quilt is stunning, I think you'll agree.
But! Besides the quilt, there are loads of other prizes which you could win.
Here's a little list of a few:
A book about English Paper Piecing
A quilting book
Another little make of Nicola's - Moffie the pouch
Sewing kits
Fat Quarters of fabric
Etc. etc. etc.
So, please would you add a couple of items to your to do list:
Click on the link and make a donation, every little helps the children and you're in with a chance to win a prize.
Put a date in your diary: November 30th at 6pm on the Lizzy Curtis Facebook Page when Lizzy will be live, spinning the wheel to choose the winners.
Then click on the link below to get you in to the FB page on 30th and watch to see if the wheel chooses you!
Personal statement:
To all intents and purposes, my blogposts are just newsy or reminiscent, no selling, but chatty, reassuring, encouraging and sometimes even a little entertaining (I do try!)
However, this post is all about kindness and love. Charity of this sort is a way in which we can help others. Giving makes me feel so good too: it's great for my feeling of community and worth; it's good for my mental health, and it benefits not only those in need but society as a whole (which of course benefits me). Giving just £2 makes a difference, but so does being part of this project - sending blocks, watching progress, helping out at a sew along, finishing a quilt, making the tea, etc. etc. This has been a very successful campaign and it's not over yet.
Thank you Lizzy for the chance for us all to help others and feel good about ourselves!
Until the next one,
Happy Sewing.
Kath x
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