Stash Busting

          It’s been a while since my last post, but in my defense I am without a laptop, my email crashed and my desktop while sufficient for embroidery patterns isn’t so great for surfing the net.  I’ve also been making shop samples for the next quarter so I’ve been buried.  If you’ve sent me an email and it’s gone unanswered that’s why.  I’m working from Harold’s desktop now.

          Last Sunday Harold and I went to a fundraiser for his cousin, Sharon Tindall.  Sharon is a master quilter and teacher (G Street Fabrics in Centreville and other Virginia locations) and makes absolutely gorgeous quilts.  She will be traveling to Liberia to teach quilting and sewing June.  In addition to improving their quality of life in Liberia, these skills will provide an income for women struggling to make a difference in their lives.



Liberia is a country in West Africa and was founded by African-Americans, most of whom were freed slaves.  These immigrants established a new country with the help of the American Colonization Society.  African captives, freed from slave ships were also sent to Liberia instead of being returned to their native countries.   In 1847, this country became the Republic of Liberia, establishing a government modeled on that of the United States and naming its capital city Monrovia after James Monroe, fifth president of the United States.  As a result of civil wars in the 1980s the country’s economy was devastated.  Peace was achieved in 2003 and democratic elections were held in 2005.  While Liberia is recovering from the effects of these wars 85% live below the poverty line (roughly $1.25 a day in 2005 purchasing power).  
 

Sharon will be traveling under the auspices of Hinds Feet Ministries, a 501(c ) 3 organization.  (Information is currently unavailable on Guidestar.org, but you can (and should!!) request IRS 990 informatiodirectly from Hinds Feet Ministries.) She is not only raising funds but she needs quilting supplies and here’s where the title of the post comes in.  If you have any of the following extra supplies hanging around Sharon could really use them on her trip.  Donations are tax-deductible and will be more appreciated than we can ever imagine.  Here’s what’s needed:

Backing fabric

Books with Afro-centric designs

Chalk

Cotton Batting

Hoops

Needles – betweens or sharps

Pins and Pin Cushions

Clear plastic rulers

Large Rustproof Safety pins

Fiskars Scissors

Seam Rippers

Tape Measures

Quilting Templates (not template plastic)

Tracing paper and wheel

Thimbles

Thread (all kinds)

I am not going to act as middleman.  Sharon’s email addy is quiltsandmorebysharon@gmail.com.  Please contact her directly for additional information and mailing directions.  Supplies will be shipped by boat so Sharon needs to have them by the end of March.

I can’t say I’m not affiliated, but I have no direct financial interest in this trip or Hinds Feet Ministries.  I do want Sharon’s trip to be productive and successful.  She will be writing a book and lecturing about her experiences and I for one can’t wait.