MG Quilts: May 2009

Saturday, May 02, 2009

Art Quilts for Good Causes

Quilters are generous souls and here are three ways to support some very good causes.

Floral Fantasy Postcard Frenzy
Cecila at Unique Stitching has organised the Floral Fantasy Postcard Frenzy as a fundraiser for the Australian Red Cross. She is currently collecting donatioins of "fabric" postcards with the theme "Floral Fantasy". Check out the Unique Stitching website to download more details.

Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI)
Alzheimer's disease is a form of dementia – a term used to describe a progressive decline in mental functioning. A person with dementia experiences memory loss, confusion, and personality and behaviour change.

In Australia, about 70 per cent of people with dementia have Alzheimer's disease, either in pure form or combined with another kind of degeneration such as cerebro-vascular disease (poor circulation to the brain). Other kinds of dementia include vascular dementia (caused by mini-strokes), Pick's disease and alcohol-related dementia.

The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI) is an Internet-driven, grassroots, totally volunteer effort to raise awareness and fund research through art. They are a Michigan nonprofit corporation with tax-exempt status and all profit is used to fund Alzheimer's research. Since the AAQI began, they have raised more than US$285,000 for Alzheimer's research.

This auction has already started with 26 little quilts waiting for your bid. The auction ends on Mother's Day at 10pm EST (midnight on Monday 11 May in Sydney).

Fiberart For a Cause
Virginia Spiegal started Fiberart For a Cause in 2005 and, to date, has her efforts have raised US $170,000 for the American Cancer Society. This final auction will start soon and there are 25 pages of donated quilts to enjoy at Fiberart For a Cause auction web site. Great eye candy if you have a bit of time.