This is what a shipment of quilts looks like when they are about to be washed, folded, boxed and sent. This batch of 73 quilts was sent last September to Casa Alitas, a shelter in Tucson committed to helping asylum-seekers.
First Crew members get very excited when we receive quilts from people and states that are new to us. Last fall we were able to add two new states: Maryland and New Hampshire. We now have received quilts from Oregon, California, Arizona, Washington, Iowa and Minnesota. One member of First Crew, who is a big fan of Kaffe Fassett fabrics, was extra enthralled when she saw the quilts from New Hampshire. Three quilts were made entirely from half-square triangles, one half Kaffe with the other half white. We estimate that the quilter made well over a thousand triangles for these quilts. In another quilt, she used Kaffe Fassett shot cottons to build rows of colorful African huts. All are flannel backed. Aren’t they wonderful? ~ Rachel Stevens, First Crew, Portland, Oregon
Join quilt activists from around the country at a free virtual program. Quilting for Social Justice: The Cutting Edge and Soft Power of Creative Activism will feature a panel of people who have made an impact in current social justice projects through quilting, including Gale Hall of Welcome Quilts, Gretchen Ginnerty of The Love Quilt Project, and India Aubry and Maggie Urgo of Voices from the Border. The session will be moderated by journalist Melissa del Bosque. The program will also tour the Arizona History Museum’s temporary exhibit Welcome Quilts: Migration, Art and Hope.
All friends of Bienvenidos Quilts are welcome! Secure your spot today!
Quilting for Social Justice: The Cutting Edge and Soft Power of Creative Activism
Live on Zoom
Thursday, March 7, 2024
1:30pm MST; 12:30 pm PST; 3:30pm EST
For details and a free ticket, follow this link.
Bienvenidos Quilts 