Not So New Arrivals!

Pat in Bowring Park, Liverpool has been really busy and has created four super quilts, tote bags and some hand made toys.

Sincere apologies that these quilts have not been posted on the blog before now so hence the title of "Not So New Arrivals" but they were taken to the unit soon after I received them.

I have had so much going on in my life that I uploaded the photos and forgot I had not posted them. 

My daughters and each set of grandies have each been to stay and I have also been to Germany but the major interruption since then has been a glitch in my health which has really put me down for a while. I'm still undergoing tests and trying to get my head around it all but, rest assured, I'm OK. I'm just not used to hospital visits and being anything other than 100% fit and healthy. Anyhow, less of me and more of the super results thanks to all of Pat's lovely work.

Quilt No 89

Super fabrics to cheer a little girl.

No 90

No 91

No 92

Next post is  a quilt from Redditch from Shaz

Bravery Bead Bags

I have just delivered a batch of Bravery Bead Bags to the oncology unit, kindly sent from Jo in Powys and they were so well received. 

Thanks so much Jo for sending them and they will very soon hold the children's well earned treasured beads.

A wonderful, bright, collection of around 18 bags in many colours and such a variety of designs to suit all ages. My favourite has to be the one with the tabby cat, right in the middle. Some have applique motifs which is a good way for the children to identify their own bag.

Another act of generousity from a Super Star Stitcher ... thanks Jo (Twiglet) 

Three New Arrivals, 88 in a year!

It is around a year since we started the LillyBo Quilt Appeal and, with 88 quilts donated, thankfully, we have reached the point where all the children who were attending the oncology unit for treatment had received a comfort quilt. Now we can slow down somewhat and quilts are only needed for the newly diagnosed children who are just setting out on the long road to recovery and we still have a few in hand. 

Any new quilts will be there ready waiting and we all know, only too well, that week by week, there will sadly be new arrivals diagnosed. 

I hope everyone of them comes through to be a healthy happy child just as my little grand daughter did. She recently had her big, end of treatment, checks and blood tests and I was overjoyed that she came through with the perfect results we had hoped for.  It has been a long journey for her and her parents and I am so proud of the way they faced it all and coped so well.

Thanks to the hospital for their care and treatment.

Thanks also to all the Super Star Stitchers and everyone else who has helped LillyBo Quilt Appeal to provide the quilts shown here to comfort the children who are still going through it all.

  Quilt No 86 

arrived all the way from Wiltshire and was made by LLJ (Jan).

Jan tells me that, whilst she knew that there was no pressure or urgency for quilts,  she made it just because she wanted to and really enjoyed sewing it, and it shows. 

A super quilt in a gorgeous colour palette which will suit either a girl or a boy.

Thanks to Jan it will make a child very happy and become a special treasure, as I know they all do!

No 86

 Here's the soft, cuddly, spotty blue backing and the handy tote it came in.

Quilt No  87

 kindly made by Sally of Wavertree in Liverpool. 

It is quite a bigger one and is ideal for a teenaged boy's single bed. It has an exciting action display of stunt bikers on  the main fabric and the trendy complementary quilted panels pick out the main colours so effectively. 

The lovely backing fabric is more traditional and gives an optional alternative look.

The detail of the action bikers can also be seen here close up.

Here's the bag it will pack into.

Sally also made Quilt No 88

and this is perfect for a little girl in a range of super fabrics in shades of pink, green and lemon.

The lemon gingham on the reverse complements it really well.

and here's the handy bag for it which will make it into a cushion for travelling.

Finally, I've made yet another clutch of bags, in a variety of designs, for the children's 

Bravery Bead Awards.

These are going so quickly, in fact, as fast as I can make them, as each child gains another bead, a different one for each procedure endured and it's important for children coming through treatment to have their own bag to keep their beads safe. 

I try to make not too many from the same fabric so children can readily identify their own bag. A good mix of fabrics for girls and boys from tiny tots to 16 years.

Mega Quilt Delivery from Australia

Here at last are pictures of the mega delivery received from Annette (Voodoo Vixen), who is in Australia. Annette made a few quilts last year whilst she was in her home in Scotland before she moved to Australia after living for a few years in Calgary. I bet she isn't missing this Winter in Calgary and is enjoying the sunshine of the Antipodes. 

It was an utter surprise and such a thrill to receive this huge box of 5 quilts which annette so kindly mailed by sea in October. A long time at sea but so worthwhile.

Just look at the size of that boxful and a huge THANK YOU goes out, back across all that sea, to Annette. 

Another Super Star Quilter with a heart of gold!

Here's a soft "raggy quilt in bright colours.....

No 80

 A pastel scene next with a story on it just waiting to be told about the elephants and that cute little bird up in the branch.

No 81

 I love Annette's detail of the added ribbon like bunting on the branch. Such a good idea as so many children love the comfort of stroking satin ribbon.

 Here's an alphabet quilt with different animals standing for each letter. P for Porcupine, R for Racoon, Q for Quetzal (must look up that one and see if they are regulars in Australia?!!!)

No 82

 A bevvy of butterflies on this square quilt will be so pretty for an older child.

No 84

 Planes and trains and even a fire engine for lots of story lines on this one.

No 85

 They all came tucked into handy totes and had a selection of special extras such as Comfort NooNoos and tiny, cute, drawstring bags.

They will all be so appreciated by the children in the unit and their families will be so thrilled to discover that they have come so far especially for them.

Stars, Owls and Muppets & Teds.

Two lovely new ladies have joined the ranks of the Super Star Quilters and as a result we have received three new quilts for the children.

First up, after meeting me in Abakhan Fabric store, Sally made two quilts  and this one is a quartet of stars.

Thank you so much Sally!

No 78

The backing tones beautifully and it will surely be special for one of the older children and a keepsake. What a treasure.

This one she made for a little'un and the owls, flowers and butterflies will have great appeal.

No 79

The backing matches the border so effectively.

Josie, a friend of my neighbour, heard about the LillyBo appeal and made this super Muppet quilt with bold stripes of toning fabric, which is so effective.

Thanks so much Josie!

 It will be a treasure to comfort a little one whilst going through their treatment.

No 77

It came tucked into this great tote bag and you can see the soft cosy printed backing on the quilt beneath.

Jo Twiglet and Annie Wipso kindly sent another stash of Bravery Bead bags.

Thanks to you both!

Apologies, ladies, that I haven't posted them earlier... but I really thought I HAD! 

I can't say who made which ones as my grandees were admiring them and they became mixed up but there are so many in this photo.

Annie Wispo also sent another huge batch of tiny comfort bears which are so popular with the children and their families. I really think they work magic for everyone who gives a home to one of these special bears.

 This is the perfect little poem that Jo Twiglet wrote to accompany every one. Aaaaah!

Janet Fairythoughts Pink & Blue & More Bravery Bead Bags

The lovely Super Star Stitcher, Janet Fairythoughts from Southampton, kindly sent two quilts which have already been given to the unit. 

One pink and one blue, both with super motifs for play and learning. 

Quilt 66

has a numbers theme with perfect pink images for a baby girl.

This handy tote and book goes with it.

Quilt 67 

with cute jungle animals will be fabulous fun for a special little boy. 

Jungle book with also help pass the time in hospital.

I've been busy making dozens of bags for the Bravery Bead Awards and I keep finding new fabric designs to make them fun and different. 

I try not to make more then couple in the same fabric so the children can easily identify their own special bag but, just in case there is a mix up, I add a label for their names.

More bags including plenty suitable for the boys

Chat & Craft Group Triumph!

Quilts 68 to 76

This lovely group of ladies presented me with several lovely quilts they had made in their Chat & Craft Group in Childwall.

 After meeting Pat (on the right) a while ago during my time at Abakhan, I was invited along to meet the rest of the group and I was astounded when they presented me with the generous result of their group's endeavours. 

Here are a few of the quilt makers with their lovely array of quilts.

Some gorgeous fabrics and one quilt was crocheted and attached by hand to a cuddly fleece backing. 

The long shape is a super stretchy toy ready to go along with the quilt.

Some quilts were hand embroidered with traditional quilting motifs and each one came tucked inside a bag made from a simply perfect fabric which was printed with illustrations of cute little doctors, nurses and patients! 

Some came with these cute knitted soft toys.

The children will love them all.

A special clown panel features on this one.

Here's a close up of the bag fabric and toys.

I delivered these quilts last week to the unit but when I called in to visit the ladies again this week there was another quilt waiting and this time it was a full single bed sized one with Chicks on the yellow fabric.

The bag was appliquéd with sweet little chicks to compliment the quilt.

Thank you so much to all the ladies of Chat & Craft for their wonderful combined efforts and whilst you all have a good natter in your group meeting you also manage to do lots of worthwhile crafting too!

They have now joined the elite ranks of Super Star Stitchers for LillyBo Quilts.

Soon you can see two more lovely quilts, in pink and blue, from Janet Fairythoughts so pop back in a day or so.