NIGHT OWLS OPPORTUNITY QUILTS

The Night Owls chapter of the Arizona Quilters Guild has produced two quilts to raise money for Arizona Charities.

Stars of Hope I

In the Winter of 2005/2006, the Night Owls constructed a beautiful paper pieced star quilt for The Quilt for A Cause Inc. Auction which was held in Tucson, on October 14th, 2006. The paper pieced stars were sewn in a variety of bright fabrics, and appeared to float on a black sky (see attached picture.) The AQG mini-grant program money was used to purchase the fabric used in the quilt. Background fabric was provided at cost by Quiltz and 35^th Avenue Sew and Vac provided the backing at a discounted price. The beautiful custom quilting was donated by Sharon Brooks in tribute to those in her life who have been touched by breast cancer.

The Stars of Hope I was displayed at the 2006 AQG Chapter Chair meeting and received the $50 award. The quilt was one of 545 quilts donated from all the United States. These quilts raised approximately $120,000 for women’s cancer research. Wanda Seale, the project sponsor, and Perri Krum, Chapter Chair, attended the event and reported that the Stars of Hope I quilt sold for $700.00.

Stars of Hope II

The Stars of Hope I was so successful, the Night Owls decided to replicate it to raise money in support of the fight against abuse of older women and child abuse. The $50.00 cash prize from the 2006 AQG Chapter Chair meeting and the 2007 AQG mini-grant money was used to purchase fabric to make a second paper pieced star quilt. Members made the brightly colored stars and the committee assembled the quilt on the black sky background. Quiltz and 35^th Sew and Vac provided the fabric at a discounted rate. Tami Baldi donated the custom quilting that brought the quilt to life.

The quilt has been displayed at several Arizona Quilt stores and packets of tickets have been sent to other quilt stores and chapters of AQG. A website has been created, www.users.qwest.net/~wrseale/, to view the quilt and find the information on how to purchase tickets. The drawing for Stars of Hope II will take place at the Spring meeting of the AQG. Tickets are $1.00 each or six for $5.00.

All proceeds will be donated to DOVES (Domestic Older Victims Empower & Safety) and Childhelp. DOVES helps older victims of domestic violence and elder abuse regain their well-being and independence by providing them with safe, affordable housing and critical support services to help them overcome emotional trauma and become self-sufficient.  For more information, call 602-264-4357 / 888-264-2258. Childhelp exists to meet the physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual needs of abused and neglected children. They do so by focusing efforts in the areas of treatment, prevention, and research. For more information call 888-767-2445, or visit www.childhelp.org.

If you would like to purchase tickets or can help us promote the sale of tickets, please visit the website or contact Wanda Seale, wrseale@qwest.net.