Katrina Quilts:

A member of the guild donated a large amount of fabric to our Service Project Committe.
Another member suggested that we use this fabric to make bed size quilts for Katrina survivors.

In the spring of 2006 twenty-four quilts were taken to the New Orleans Los Islenos Festival in  St. Bernard Parish.

This letter accompanied each quilt:


Spring 2006
Dear Hurricane Katrina Survivors:

We are a group of about 150 quilters in the southeast part of the Houston, Texas area who have had all of the residents of the Gulf Coast in our minds and hearts since Hurricane Katrina came ashore on August 29, 2005. Even though many of the Louisiana residents were evacuated to our city and many have decided to live in Texas permanently, some of you have the hope and vision of rebuilding your homes and returning to your lives as they were prior to this devastating storm.
We cannot imagine what your life has been like since August 29, 2005. We've seen the photographs, images on television, heard some of your stories, and sympathized with your pain and your situation. To those survivors who have returned to the Greater New Orleans area, you are a SURVIVOR and you are there for a reason. Yes, there is much work to be done and there is no doubt the tasks are overwhelming. While some people are eternal optimists there are others that will experience frustration, hopelessness, and physical and mental pain. But we want you to realize that there is HOPE and an end to the destruction and despair.

Observe a potter who molds a mound of clay and through many steps and processes, produces a beautiful glazed flower pot. Look at a loving grandmother who starts knitting with balls of yarn and after many hours and days has crafted a beautiful sweater or heirloom afghan. Imagine an artist who begins painting on a blank canvas and weeks later a prized painting of many colors has emerged.  Beginning with a bare lot of dirt and grass, after several months a builder has transformed brick and mortar, lumber and nails into a house. We quilters begin with yards of cotton fabric. We measure, cut and sew strips, blocks, rectangles, or other shapes into a quilt top. We then layer the quilt top, batting, and a quilt back and stitch thread through all three layers to create a quilt. Then we stitch a binding around the edges to ensure that it will withstand years of use. The flower pot, the sweater, the afghan, the painting, the house, and the quilt have taken much time to make.  They were all begun with a vision and after hard work and time, they were all finished!

You are on a journey which has already begun. With steady progress, encouragement, and many helping hands, you will reach your goal and vision of living in the Greater New Orleans area again and enjoying all that the area has to offer. When you feel like you will never reach your goal, are discouraged and tired, please take a rest. Wrap this quilt around you, look at the fabric and the stitches, and feel the warmth of the hands that made this quilt for you. Our wish is that you will be refreshed and energized to go on. By continuing your journey, how ever long it may be, you will achieve your goal. You have not been forgotten. We think of you, our neighbors, and wish you all the success in re-building your homes and your lives. May God be with you during your journey!
                            Bay Area Quilt Guild
                            10904 Scarsdale Boulevard, PMB 350
                            Houston, Texas  77089








Lisa's letter on her return.


March 27, 2006 

We'll, I just spent one of the most rewarding days of my
life in New Orleans!  I left with 24 quilts in the trunk of my car. 
Friday:
At first glance, arrival in New Orleans seems no different than any other
city.  Traffic was horrible.  Of course we got there during rush hour.
People have diffidently returned. 
We made our way to our hotel.  First advice: be sure you have a
reservation before leaving home.  Even though we had a reservation, rooms
are hardly what they were before Katrina.  What was once a four star
hotel consisted of two full beds with clean sheets and a well worn
blanket.  They are trying to renovate but have few skilled workers.  That
was apparent in the workmanship of the repairs already completed.
Although we had been told to make reservations for dinner, we had no
problem finding a place to eat.  We were welcomed everywhere we went.
Saturday:
The day began with beignets at Cafe Deumond.  Although it wasn't jam
packed as in the past, it was  busy.  The market is open although we were
told there would be very limited produce this year, if any at all.
A driving tour followed.  The inner city has lots of work to be done.  It
looks as though it has been through a hurricane.  We've all been there.
But then we traveled out to the areas hardest hit by water.  The old 9th
ward needs to be completely bulldozed.  I didn't see anything to save.
Farther out, a few people were still try to gut homes with hope to
salvage the house.   Problems getting final decisions from FEMA have left
homeowners unsure what will happen even though they rebuild.  It is
strange to see a for sale sign on a house that needs to be demolished.
We made our way to the Los Islenos Festival.  Now I am in for a lesson on
heritage.  Much of St. Bernard Parish was settled by families from the
Cannery Islands.  They have a huge festival each year with authentic
Spanish (Spain) food and music and dance and.. oh what fun!  Although
greatly scaled down this year, the food was  awesome, the music great and
there was a little dancing.  There were even folks from the islands to
present gifts and best wishes for the Louisiana natives.  The residents
need a break from the heartache they are experiencing.
I spread our quilts (Bay Area Quilt Guild) out on a banister/ porch that
faced the festivities.  It was a temporary home for one of the displaced
families.  They were so gracious and welcoming.  Folks came by to see the
beautiful quilts, asking if they were for sell.  My spill went something
like this, "No they are not for sale, (a look of disappointment followed)
We will be giving them away.  It's easy to qualify for the drawing.  All
you have to do is to have lost your home to Katrina."  Eyes looked
surprised.  Responses varied.  "Oh, yes, I qualify."  Or "Oh no, I was
lucky.  I still have a home."  And I listened to their stories.  They
needed to tell someone. 
Stories like the lady who lost everything to a house fire two years
before.  Her greatest loss was family pictures.  But family members came
through, and she had pictures when Katrina hit.  What did she take when
she evacuated?  Pictures.  But when her brothers, sister, aunts, uncles,
cousins returned, they had lost all family pictures.  Now it's her turn
to provide the family memories to all the others!  Another loss to the
women.. cookbooks filled with recipes handed down from generation to
generation.
Then there was the lady whose husband died in June.  Then Katrina hit.
She returned to find nothing but a slab where her home once stood.  There
was the young couple who had just begun their lives together.  The
sheriff's officer who had been through it all.  Story after story and
gratitude that others seemed to care.  I have never received so many hugs
from total strangers.. but of course that is a south Louisiana custom
even in good times. 
The final announcement to sign up for a quilt came at 4:00.  The last
question,  "Is it just one quilt to be given out?".. "Oh no,  all 24
quilts will be given away! Don't leave until they are all off the porch."
 
I've love my quilts, and I guard my quilts.  But these folks hugged their
quilt.  (and me)  
Along with each quilt was a letter explaining who the Bay Area Quilt
Guild is and our wishes for them.  To those who made the quilts, I say
"thank you" from all the residents of St. Bernard Parish.  You did
something that made a great impact on many lives that day.  Knowing that
there are still folks out there who care and want to help in they ways
that they can, provided encouragement and hope for everyone at that
festival.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL
Lisa


Twenty-eight quilts were taken to Slidell, Louisiana by a group of quilt makers. 
These quilts were given to families whose houses were badly damaged by the storm.







The guild is still making Katrina quilts and more will be delivered soon.