As I sat glued to the flood coverage on tv I started to feel a desperate need to being doing something constructive to help, to be making a difference. It's one thing to donate money, it's another to be doing something constructive and active, even if you live outside of Queensland.

Quilters Making a Difference

As a quilter I got thinking I could be getting involved in a quilting bee to make quilts that offer love and support. So I called the NSW Quilters Guild and put my name on a list. The NSW Guild President told me that the QLD Quilters Guild President suggested fundraising method to directly help small quilting shops that have been flooded as well as getting fabric to women who have lost their stash.

So quilters around the country can not only make quilts to send to flood victims but also fundraise to build gift vouchers from independent quilt shops who have had their business impacted by the floods. The gift vouchers are given to women who have lost their quilt stash with the floods. This simple approach is such a brilliant idea as it puts money directly into the small businesses that have been so harshly knocked around as well as letting women choose new fabrics for their own stashes.

This direct support idea can work for any craft and art hobby - scrap booking, painting, beading, spinning and weaving, knitting as well as quilting.

Quilt Bloggers Making a Difference

We love the power of blogging and here's a great example of what's happening so quickly in the blogosphere with fundraising for the Queensland Flood Appeal with the Make It Perfect blog.

Toni from Make It Perfect approach is simple:

"Here's the plan. On Monday 17th January, I will have a master list of bloggers who will be running auctions from their blogs, selling products that they make or from their stores. You will have one week to bid on these auctions, and hopefully be the lucky winner of these great products. Auctions will be open for 1 week, and will close at midnight on Monday 24th January. All of the money raised at these auctions will go directly to the Queensland Government Flood Relief Appeal."

 Some of the blogs involved:

Jeanette's Patch

Jeanette's Patch Blog

ZigoZago Craft

Posie Patchwork blog

Ballarat Patchwork

Rosalie Quinlan Designs

Melly and me

Nic Quiltz

Sew Little Fabric

Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild

Cookies and Cream Craft

Serendipity Patchwork

Be Creative with Amy

The Craft Hive

I Fonly I had chocolate

Inspired by other Flood Relief Auctions

When we were having a good old look around we found these auctions too that got us talking so we thought you'd enjoy them too:

Etsy Australia Disaster Relief

We are a collective of Etsy Sellers who have donated items from their shops to raise money to donate to The Queensland Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal.
100% of the proceeds from this shop (less Etsy and Paypal fees) will go go directly to this fund.

Lets talk pigeon talk

A pidgeon auction- enough said.

Horse Breeding Australia

Four of Australia's leading studs have donated stallion nominations for the 2011 breeding season to aid victims of the Queensland flood disaster.