Dottie Sends Comfort from Idaho

Dottie has done it again - she has created 11 cheerful, cozy quilts, and is sending them to Seattle Children's Hospital, all the way from Idaho! Here they are:

She makes her own labels and binding. The labels say, "A Kiss from Katie." Isn't that sweet? The fabrics are adorable.

Thank you, Dottie!

In the latest Guild Notes Newsletter, there are announcements of holiday events and activities - if you are interested, check your mailbox or email inbox. If you didn't receive one, please contact the Guild Office and let them know you would like to be on the mailing list! Here are a few items from the newsletter:

Ideas for Holiday Support

Support a Patient Family

Participate in our annual Holiday Program and "adopt a family" by providing gift cards for our Social Work Department to distribute to our neediest patient families. Gift cards of $100 or less are appreciated, and our preferred merchants are: Safeway, Costco, Albertsons, QFC, Fred Meyer, Target, Kmart, Old Navy, Macy's, JC Penney, WalMart or VISA or Mastercard gift cards. Last year, guilds contributed over $12,000 to this incredible initiative. Help us donate even MORE this year! (Katie's Comforters Guild's V.P., Mary Ryan, has organized drop off sites for this in Kitsap County: ChocMo and Bon Cheveux Salon [formerly Kenneth L])

Purchase Ornaments and VotivesLooking for the perfect holiday gift? Support the Friends for Life Guild by purchasing a hand-blown glass ornament or votive for that unique “secret santa” or hostess present! Design is inspired by a Seattle Children’s oncology patient and proceeds benefit cancer research. Ornaments and votives are $25 each.

Did You Know?

• Thanks to your incredible fundraising efforts, the Guild Association raised $11.47 million from projects and membership dues in fiscal year 2013. This was $500,000 more than budgeted and $800,000 more than last year! 
• The FY14 Funding Focus will provide $1.5 million to be allocated across three areas: early childhood mental health care; a fellowship to train physicians to provide care for victims of child abuse; and construction of a rooftop terrace in Building Hope.
• In 2013, U.S. News & World Report ranked Children's Cancer Center 6th best in the country.

More of Linda's Spirit of "Aloha"

Living in a small town has its joys - like a local, independent bookstore such as Liberty Bay Books. 
LBB is a sort of "town hall," where people gather, not only to purchase books and gifts, but for book clubs (including wine & book club), knitting circle, author's events, to buy a hot or cold drink, and to drop off/pick up items left for one another. In other words, it functions a little bit like the post office or telephone switchboard did in days of yore. We are thankful for LBB!

We just received a donation of four more lovely Hawaiian-themed quilts from Linda K-H, which she dropped off for us at Liberty Bay Books. One of the employees, Nathaniel, delivered them to me on his way home from work. Now THAT's service, above and beyond the call of duty! Thank you, Nathaniel!

Here are Linda's latest creations, filled with "Aloha" spirit:

I LOVE that flower-and-leaf-printed flannel which she used for three of the quilts - how great that it comes in a variety of vibrant colors!

Thank you, Linda, Nathaniel and Liberty Bay Books!

A Family's Gift

Last week, I had the privilege of receiving a multi-generational donation from a dear family. Bev and her mother, sister, daughter and grand-daughter have all worked with loving hands on this batch of blankets. These four generations of ladies knitted/crocheted, and tied fleece, to create seven lovely blankets for Katie's Comforters to donate to patients at Seattle Children's Hospital. Here are their gifts:

Cozy, soft and cheerful = warmth and comfort.
THANKS to Bev, Grandma Icel, Aunt Barb, Angela and Olivia!

Lucile & Noble Visit and Donate 23 Quiilts/Blankets

Lucile and Noble came for a visit last week; look at what they brought with them!

The one on the right is a clever use of strips of flannel - Lucile doesn't waste anything!

There are quilts and fleece blankets in this batch

So many different themes and colors, for all ages and interests

That's another 23 quilts and blankets from  

Lucile and Noble - thank you so much!

Fearless Quilters Follow-Up

You have read here about the wonderful ladies of the Fearless Quilters of Rolling Bay. Here they are, meeting at Esther's Fabrics on Bainbridge Island to sew together.

Last week, I had a visit from two of the Fearless Quilters: Sally and Joanna.

They came to sort and select fabric for the Fearless Quilters to use in making quilts for Katie's Comforters. They also helped me to select fabric and assemble kits for those who wish to finish the beautiful quilt tops I have written about here. It was a pleasure to spend time with these generous ladies.

Here are a few more photos of the beautiful quilts made by the Fearless Quilters for donation Seattle Children's Hospital through Katie's Comforters Guild.

We are grateful to the Fearless Quilters of Rolling Bay for their ongoing support of our guild's work!

Announcing Changes to Our Board

We have an announcement! 

Our beloved board member, Maribeth Hinderer, has moved from Washington State to Kansas. We miss her like crazy, but are fortunate that she still travels out to see family and friends in the area several times each year.

Maribeth helped me to found this guild with her encouragement, sewing skills, generous donations and support. She has been a strong cornerstone in our work and we are forever grateful to her for her friendship, love and dedication. However, her relocation has made her job as Vice President a bit difficult.

Enter guild member Mary Ryan. Mary is the mother of Briana, our guild's junior member, and is presently serving as our "Gratitude Ambassadress" - she writes the "thank you" notes for donations, and keeps the spreadsheet current for our reporting to the Guild Association. Mary does all of this quietly and never seeks any kind of credit or thanks. We appreciate Mary and all she does, and now, she has accepted the position of Vice President of Katie's Comforters Guild.  

Thank you, Maribeth and Mary!

Our Board of Directors:

Karen Gerstenberger, Founder and President

Mary Ryan, Vice President

Andrea Cunningham, Secretary

Linda Case, Treasurer

We are so grateful to each member of our board for all that each one does to help us in our mission of bringing comfort to the patients of Seattle Children's Hospital. We couldn't do this work without you!