My friend and collaborator Daniela Caine and I are working on a new project this week – Quilts for Quake Survivors. We are collecting fabric and materials to make log cabin quilts which we’ll both auction off to raise funds for earthquake relief, and send to those in need in Japan at the appropriate time.

This idea is just a few days old and still coming together, but I’ve made a simple blog to start with and Daniela has created a stunning design for the project (which you can find in different sizes in our flickr pool if you want to repost it). We’re meeting with some local allies to start planning our quilting bees this week and hoping to have lots more to share after that!

We would love for you to join us if you are also hoping to lend handmade and heartfelt support in the wake of this terrible crisis. Our idea is to set up a simple template that anyone can use in their own area to organize local donations and host quilting and sewing bees to make beautiful gifts for those who need them most – which can be delivered to survivors in need over the next few months as a sign of friendship and hope.

A snippet from our blog:

We have all seen the pictures of the devastating conditions after the Quake and the terrible aftermath. A lot of the survivors have lost their homes, their livelihood and loved ones.

The Japanese have given us so much inspiration with their wonderful aesthetics and incredible talent for creating beautiful handmade items. We for sure have been tremendously inspired by Japanese culture in our private and professional lives and were both lucky enough to have traveled to Japan several times and it was always the most refreshing experience.

Why Quilts you ask? Because quilts stand for love, warmth, and comfort. Log Cabin quilting is probably the easiest quilting method, extremely economical and yields beautiful results. It also symbolizes the heart of the home – the center square represents the lamplight or fire in the hearth, surrounded by the “logs” or walls of the log cabin. We’d like to share this feeling of friendship, home and warmth with those who need it most.

Please check the blog for more updates in the next few days – we’d love your help quilting or spreading the word if you’re up for it.

In gratitude for all that we have,
Daniela + Susan