Thank you, Pat Sloan!

The first #QuiltsforUkraine have arrived!

I believe most of these, if not all, are arriving at my doorstep or at least in Warsaw, because of Pat’s videos and/or blog about this effort.

Thank you so much!

Let me share with you her YouTube channel here.

Here’s one of her videos. Be sure to like it and subscribe!

If you don’t follow Pat already, you should. She shares a lot of interesting information and shows us “how she thinks” as she works and decides on things like layouts of blocks, borders or binding colors/styles. She doesn’t usually sew on line - but rather shares what she has done or is going to do. (I like that!)

Well, I’ve been collecting packages now for just over a week. I got three in about a week ago - by regular post - and also a couple of customs notifications - things I had to fill out. Not knowing what to do, and knowing I’d have more, I just put those forms aside til after Easter.

I went back to the post office yesterday to mail those pieces of fabric back to the ladies who sent me patches for Edek, and I picked up more registered letters (customs forms) since the first day after Easter when things were open, we were very busy getting our guests off on their next leg of their trips - lots of last minute shopping and taking care of this and that things.

I also got another 3 packages.

The envelopes represent one package that they flagged. They want me to fill out a declaration that it is truly a gift and what is in the box, etc. Of course, this is in Polish. The customs forms you all filled out are in English. I have to swear to the best of my knowledge that what I say is in the box is in the box.

Now the funny thing is, I only know what is the box by what you all write. I do not have any sort of supernatural powers to know for sure what is in it.

However, I’m taking your word for it and declaring that in that box are 2 quilts and a baby quilt (in Polish) if that is what you put. Then here comes the funny part. They want me to put a value on them.

Well, for the sake of customs, folks, I’m putting $20 on a big quilt and $10 on a small one - but then I wrote that is humanitarian aid and that “because these things are hand made it is difficult to put a value on them - and that they are really priceless.” I’m hoping that they at least smile when they read that.

I also don’t know how to value anything without at least seeing it.

Just imagine asking an appraiser to give a value of a quilt from a list on a customs form.

Who knows. ???

When those packages arrive to my house or I get them at the post office, then I will know that I filled it all out right.

I did make a second trip to the post office to ask them what I needed to do. Thankfully when I arrived, absolutely no one else was there, and the lady had a moment to help me interpret the instructions to make sure I was doing it right.

But - those are for five OTHER boxes.

These are the ones I DID get!

Note - depending on how many quilts I end up getting, I may not be able to do posts like this all the time - but these first ones get their own post.

With these packages, I got packages from Australia and the Netherlands. The rest came from the USA. Why these came through and others were flagged - I simply do not know. Maybe it’s what one person called the “human factor”. I do know it is wonderful when you put right on the box in big letters - DONATION or for Ukraine refugees in big letters. That is helpful (I think!) :)

These came from Yvonne Phillips (Australia - one of the first ones I got!), Kathleen Pogue, Diane Zybrands, Karen Kiely, Penelope Carpenter, Sharon/Richard Norton, C Sluijs (Netherlands!) - the names are not the order of the quilts shown.

I can’t tell you how excited I am to finally see this part of the Ukraine effort begin to finally come to fruition! I am a bit scared at all the responsibility and in awe of how many of you have put so much effort, time and love into getting these quilts to me/us so we can share them further with the people of Ukraine. Thank you SO much.

Thank you also for the nice notes you have included. The notes are wonderful! You all have touched me incredibly!

I sit here and knowing how much work just ONE quilt takes - and here there are many. I’m feeling a bit like I felt after my first child was born. It was exciting (the thought of a child) but the reality was…sobering, scary and I had moment of “can I do it?” (raising a child)!

Anyway, We’ll get started on getting these measured, packed up and on their way to new homes..

We now have several different possible points of distribution and that is super cool to me.

You all - my heart is full. You have encouraged me so much more than you will ever know!

Thank you again for coming along on this journey with me! Thank you for caring!

Be sure to check back tomorrow for MORE quilts!

Be sure to check out what my sis has for you in the store here!

Here’s one of the beauties we have!