Anonymous.....

.... heart maker from somewhere in New Zealand (no postmark).
Many thanks for these lovely hearts.

Roll Call.

I am typing my fingers down to (or is it up to) my elbows. The names of every heart maker will be on record.... my handwritten book I used to record hearts as they arrived is a little untidy. I had to make all sorts of notes so I could work out which hearts were from who and have the correct photo number alongside, or hwich hearts needed stuffing etc.... but as a public record??? I think not!
I'm up to the 14th page of names and it is such fun revisiting you all. Lots of meandering down Memory Lane. I am useless at remembering phone numbers but these powerful hearts are etched in my brain and my heart.

I have a little something to show you.... more hearts but also two handmade books into which all the cards and letters have been added. Come back and visit for that....first I must carry on recording you all in a neat and tidy manner!!

From Christchurch, England

Dudsbury Quilters in Winkton, Christchurch have made this selection of hearts. (I visited this Christchurch  when I was tripping about Dorset just a few years ago).
Two hearts missed their photo shoot....I will add them later.
Heartfelt thanks to you all.

Found them!!

 

For some reason....

....Blogger won't allow me to comment in the comments on my own blog! So here I am replying to Pam Day, UK.
You can email me on stitchesn7@yahoo.com

I thought my email address was accessible via the blog but that doesn't seem to be the case.

Still arriving....

Hearts are still arriving! I am still accepting hearts. I will never refuse any!
I have two packages of hearts from the UK to stuff before posting pictures but made slightly difficult as I forgot to buy the stuffing when I went to town! Oh well, they will just need to wait a little longer before their photo shoot.!

Up for a little light reading?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/5468551/Hearts-for-Christchucrh


Soon, they may even correct the spelling of Christchurch!!!!!!!!

In Weobley....

....Herefordshire, England, is a craft group run by Gwen. This band of stitchers, mainly in their 70's have contributed these hearts. The hearts travelled to New Zealand in someones personal luggage and then posted in New Zealand....a very special delivery.
Thank you all very much.

Two from Geelong....

The heart on the left was made by Anne. The other is not named and there was no note in the package which is the same package that Natalie's were in. Many thanks for these lovely hearts.

From Cornwall

These great hearts and lovely stitchery are from Patsy in Launceston.
Check back on this post as there are even more hearts from Patsy to be stuffed and added to the blog.
Heartfelt thanks.

....and there they are!

Natalie has ....

.... been at it again.
I recognised this style of heart when this great package arrived. Many thanks, Natalie (Werribee, Australia) for another fantastic bunch of hearts.

The cat ....

.... came back!
When there were thousands of hearts here, the cat was totally disinterested and went nowhere near them. Maybe the odd, haughty, walk past! Now she seems to have appointed herself Guardian of the hearts!
As I was stuffing and stitching up openings on these hearts, Cleo seemed to think the only possible place for a snooze was in the basket of hearts!

Now we have....

.... 4078 !!!

Slippers

Do you remember the slippers?
Here's a reminder ....

These fantastic Slippers of Soul were knitted by Ondrea and her Mum (Australia). They were taken from Napier to Christchurch by Barbara, a new friend of mine.
They have been disributed through the Methodist Mission in Christchurch. Sixteen pairs went to elderly pensioners affected by the earthquake.
Pair #17 went to Barbara's 92 year old aunt who suffered a broken leg in one of the shakes. I hear she hasn't taken them off !!! Lovely story and hopefully we will hear more.

When they aren't dancing ....

....they are stitching! These hearts come from Middlesex, UK. Sent by Suzanna and made by the members of her Egyptian Dance Class. Also contributing to this selection were boys from Keble School in Winchmore Hill.
Heart felt thanks to you all!

From W Sussex

Four lovely hearts from Angela. Thank you very much.

Just keeping....

....an eye on the mail!

Oh so many....

....lovely hearts have arrived this week. LOTS of them!
There is a whole lot of stuffing to do.
I even thought I was going slightly mad (der)! A Royal mail envelope with NZ stamps on it! How exciting to have a package travelling here in personal baggage by a friend of the maker.
So, I am stuffing hearts and should have pics on here tomorrow.
One of the packages is from a lady without a computer.... just goes to show the written word (as in paper and ink) is still powerful. Or is that the hearts' power?
See you tomorrow!

Thank you....

I read your wonderful comments. When I go to comment in the comment department, 'it' (as in whatever it is) doesn't recognise me! Don't you just love technology!
Anyhoo... thanks for the nice things you say. I was just one lone heart but you all made mine beat really, really fast!
There has been a slight oops for which I must apologise. The group pictures don't include shots of the flat hearts (as in unstuffed). They had moved to private apartments in comfortable boxes.
I soon discovered the more rotound hearts tended to squash their flatter counterparts leading to a bend or two. I was having none of that....all was sorted and the flat hearts were moved. They didn't come out for the photo shoot! I think they snoozed through the whole thing, being of the lying down persuassion!

Celebrate.....

.... all you tremendous hearts makers.

4001 HEARTS!!

The Pick Up...

It happened in a flash. suddenly there was a truck at the gate and packages were being shifted. I ran for the camera and managed a few snaps as they were taken out of my studio, onto wheelie things, slapped with courier labels, zapped with a barcode thingey, loaded (under my watchful eye) and with a slam of the truck door, I waved them goodbye.
All 14 cartons are wrapped....they are, after all,  gifts for Christchurch.

Embroiderers' Association of Canada

The card that came with these said the call went out to EAC members and this was their quick response. If you saw the post a couple below this you will know that the hearts actually were made and mailed in Canada over three months ago and have just arrived!
Heartfelt thanks to these great heart makers....their names are in the photos.

Thirty one fantastic hearts!

Slightly different.

Great heart from Rotorua, NZ.

Many thanks, Elaine.

Unbelievable!!!

Today a package of hearts arrived from the Embroiderer's Association of Canada. They were opened by our biosecurity people on 14th July and arrived here today the 20th July.
The unbelievable bit is the package has a Canadian postmark of 13th April!!
Now that really is slow.

Some need stuffing so once that is done I will post the pictures of these slow but beautiful hearts.

The Journey Begins....

The hearts are now all packed ready for stage one of their journey to Christchurch. It was a lovely 'revisiting' each of them as I packed them into 14 cartons....they are a tremendous expression of caring from all over the world.
They will leave here in the next couple of days....I will miss them.
Keep checking the blog as I have lots to tell you about.
Any hearts that arrive from now on will also make it to Christchurch....just not with this large migration.

The tally now stands at.....

3970 !!!!!!!!!!

846 Hearts . . . .

.... give or take a stray or two, arrived in an envelope. An anonymous sender and all I can tell you is they were posted somewhere in New Zealand. So many thanks to whoever you are.... they certainly are a great addition to the collection!

And now there are.....

.... 3123 HEARTS !!!!

I keep thinking .....

..... that the last hearts have arrived and then I get another package.
What a surprise to find 40 hearts from my friend by association (my friend is her friend so her friend can be my friend too)! Heartfelt thanks to Jan in Northampton, UK.
(Lunch on me when I eventually get to visit Di).

Well Guarded.....

....Double Decker buses from London. Great hearts and many thanks to Christina and Helena from that fine city.

Red stitching ....

.... of Hope on this lovely heart from Purley in Surrey, UK. Many thanks to Mrs Scott.