Ball Horticulture employees donate seven additional quilts to QFK Illinois Chapter
   Cathy Halfpenny along with some of her coworkers at Ball Horticulture in St. Charles, Ilinois made a second donation of seven quilts to QFK Illinois Chapter. Their donation total is 17 quilts. Many thanks to all who worked on these quilts. Click here to see pictures of the donated quilts in the photo gallery.  
      (Posted 5/03/11)

Original Sewing/Quilt Expo sponsors
QFK Illinois Chapter as Chicago show charity
   The 2011 Original Sewing & Quilt Expo was held in Schaumburg, IL March 31 thru April 2 at the Schaumburg Convention Center. QFK Il. Chapter was the show's sponsored chairty. Booth space, furnishings and electricity were provided by the event producers.
    Our booth, complete with three Pfaff Select 3.0 sewing machies donated by Linda Zs, was set up so expo attendees could drop by, rest their feet and sew for as long as they desired. A total of 18 quilt tops were completed and 11 of these were longarm quilted on an APQS Lenni loaned by Deb's Quiltery. Deb also donated all Pellon cotton batting and Superior threads used during the expo along with her professional quilting talents.
    There were nearly 100 volunteer hours donated by workers in the booth over the three-day event. Ninety one new volunteers signed up to sew/quilt for the local chapter. Our booth had over 500 attendees stop and chat.
    Hopefuly with our new volunteers, more donations of fabric and other supplies we will be able to achieve our goal of 50 quilts per month for the oncology unit at Children's Memorial Hospital.
    For more information please visit www.sewingexpo.com, or click here to go to our Expo Page.
   For web links to other donors/supporters please visit our donor page.                                                                                                     (Updated 3/26/2011)

















Presbyterian Homes donates quilts
   On Friday, January 14, 2011 QFK Illinois Chapter received its largest single quilt donation to date -- seven quilts. The donated quilts are the handiwork of the residents of Presbyterian Homes in Evanston, IL.
    Chapter Director Bob Urquhart said, "this donation of seven quilts will help us meet our January quota of 50 quilts."               (Posted 1/16/2011)

Chapter Director to appear on Sewing with Nancy
-- Nancy's Corner Segment
   Chapter Director Bob Urquhart taped a "Nancy's Corner" segment for the first episode of the 2011 Fall Season of Sewing with Nancy, featuring Nancy Zieman. The taping took place on December 16 in Madison, Wisconsin. The show segment Nancy's Corner highlights organizations and causes of interest to quilters and sewers. The episode will begin airing August 14, 2011 and will be repeated through July 2013.  The segment will help spread the word about Quilts for Kids IllinoisChapter as well as the national and other local chapters of Quilts for Kids. Check local PBS listings for airing dates and times. Sewing with Nancy also airs on the Create network.
   Sewing with Nancy, featuring Nancy Zieman, is the longest running sewing and quilting show on Public Television. The show is beginning its 28th season. www.sewingwithnancy.com.           
Click here to view video of segment            (Posted 12/17/2010)
Quilters Haven Quilt Shop of Rockford, IL to partner with Comfort Quilts for Kids
    Director Bob Urquhart announced that Quilters Haven Quilt Shop located at 4616 E. State St. in Rockford, IL would be partnering with Comfort Quilts for Kids, Inc.to help get more quilts to children suffering from cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Store co-owner, Stephanie Gauerke, said that local hospitals do not treat children with cancer so by working with our chapter she knows the quilts will go to children battling cancer being treated at Children's Memorial Hospital oncology unit.
    At present they have donated more than 50 quilts. The shop will be sponsoring a second two day sit and sew event June 8-9 to create even more quilts. More information can be found by calling the shop at (815) 227-1659. Visit them at www.quilterhaven.com                                           (Posted 5/30/12)

Quilters Plus of Glennwood, IL donates 37 quilts and 26 wheelchair bags to QFK IL Chapter
   Quilters Plus Quilt Guild held a day of sewing for chairty as their February meeting on February 15. The members of the group created and donated 37 quilts and 26 wheelchair bags for donation to the oncology unit at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
    A guild member, Joan DeNaut, presented the idea after receiving a kit from QFK IL in January. The guild's members also create and donate quilts, pillow cases and caps to the pediatric units at local area hospitals.
    The group invited Chapter Director Bob Urquhart to their event to meet the members and be presented with their donation.                            (Posted 2/17/12)















Members of Quilters Plus display some of the quilts created and donated to Ch. Dir. Bob Urquhart at their recent Sewing Day for Chairty.

QFK Illinois Chapter donates 60 more quilts
   On February 9, 2012 Chapter Director Bob Urquhart and Chapter President Randy Hanssen presented Mary FioRito, Patient Services Coordinator of Children's Memorial Hospital oncology unit, with 60 quilts. The donation would have been larger but with the upcoming move they have requested more frequent deliveries of fewer quilts since they will not be able to take anything from the old hospital to the new facility.  Thanks to all the volunteers who continue to help bring joy to the lives of the patients being treated at this wonderful institution.                                                                  (Posted 2/17/12)

QFK Illinois Chapter featured on Quilty episode
    Chapter Director Bob Urquhart recently taped a segment of the online-based quilting show Quilty hosted by Mary Fons. The segment began airing December 21, 2011. The weekly, 10-minute episodes which change every Wednesday are a light-hearted look at the world of quilting. Be sure to check out every episode. The URL of the Quilty website: http://www.heyquilty.com/index.html
To watch the Quilts for Kids episode click here.                   (Posted 1/17/12)

QFK Illinois Chapter participates at 2011 WPT/Nancy Zieman Productions Quilt Expo






















Bob Urquhart, Chapter Director with Nancy Zieman, host of Sewing with Nancy at the WPT/Nancy Zieman Productions Quilt Expo held in Madison, WI Sept. 8-10. The show was attended by nearly 16,000 sewers and quilters from across the U.S. and many foreign countires.                              (Posted 9/10/2011)
Coal City Library Group donates 21 quilts to QFK Illinois Chapter--largest donation to date!
















Members of the Coal City Library Quilting Group along with Bob Urquhart and Randy Hanssen at recent 21-quilt donation.           (Posted 6/22/2011)



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Last Updated: August 8, 2012
If you have any news or would like some publicity for your quilting group please send an email with the details and we'll post it here.
Bob Urquhart, Ch. Dir. of Quilts for Kids Illinois Chapter  with Nancy Zieman, host of Sewing with Nancy during the taping of Nancy's Corner segment to begin airing in August 2011. (Sample quilts donated by Linda Bebej.)
Volunteers worked to piece and quilt during the 2011 Sewing & Quilt Expo.
QFK Illinois Chapter makes first direct donation
   Recently a call was made by the mom, Rose, of her nine-year-old son, Sebastian asking if QFK Illinois Chapter could donate a quilt to him, Rose said that he had been battling a blood borne cancer for several years, had gone into remission but then the cancer reappeard. After another round of treatments at Children's Memorial Hospital he had just passed the 100-day mark of being cancer free once again.
    Rose's Mother's Day was made very special when Bob Urquhart, chapter director, along with board president, Randy Hanssen and treasurer, Ron Stewart delivered the sports-themed quilt and presented it to Sebastian.
  (Posted 5/14/2011)
Sebastian is given his new sports-themed quilt by Bob Urquhart


Upcoming Events Calendar

Aug. 26 1-4 p.m.  Linda Zs Sit 'n Sew for Quilters Comforting Kids
Sunday      Free, but registration is required (847) 394-4590. Free pre-cut
kits will be provided if you need them, sewing machines will be
provided if you don't wish to bring your own. Linda Zs is
located at 1216 E. Central Rd., Arlington Heights, IL.
Comfort
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Chapter News, Notes & Upcoming Events. . .
QFK Illinois Chapter, Inc. no longer affiliated with National Quilts for Kids organization
    Effective, Friday, June 1, 2012 Quilts for Kids Illinois Chapter, Inc. is no longer affiliated with Quilts for Kids national of Fairless Hills, PA.
    This decision was made so that 100 percent of all donations would remain with the local organization, an Illinois non-profit, Quilters Comforting Kids, Inc. Federal 501(c)(3) status is filed and pending..
    Our mission remains the same -- to continue to serve children suffering with life threatening illnesses and we look forward to the support of all our partners, sponsors, donors and volunteers.
    The new website address is www.quilterscomfortingkids.org. Any and all questions/comments should be directed to bob.urquhart@quilterscomfortingkids.org.                        Updated July 1, 2012