We are all horrified at what is happening across the globe to the Ukrainian people. The images of the destruction, the families being torn apart as men are escorting their families to borders to flee to safety and then turning back to defend and fight for their country will be forever seared into my mind and onto my heart.

I was feeling so many emotions…..heartbreak, horror, helplessness and so much anger. I needed to channel all those emotions into something positive and useful. Pat Sloan designed this block and made the block pattern available for quilters to make either a single block to use as a wallhanging as I did or a tabletopper. She also had instructions for making a full quilt. She offered this as a free pattern but provided a link to donate to help the Ukrainian relief effort. I donated to the relief effort, downloaded the pattern and spent the weekend putting this wallhanging together in the colors of the Ukrainian flag. If you are a quilter and would like to make one of these blocks (or even a quilt) here is the link to Pat’s You Tube posting about the Quilters Stand for Ukraine block.

Bonnie Hunter is also doing something similar and designing a Hearts of Hope quilt. Here is the link to her post about the sew along. I will be gathering my blue, yellow and neutral scraps while I await her introductory post next Friday, 3/18.

I just thought I’d share just a couple of the fundraising efforts I have come across within the quilting community that I follow. I am sure there are many, many others happening. Just be careful as you hear of organizations soliciting funds for Ukrainian relief. Sadly there will be bad players crawling out of wherever they usually reside to take advantage of the situation and line their own pockets.

Stay well.

Bye for now.

Ginny