The Navajo Quilt Project Donation

Thank you for your interest in The Navajo Quilt Project!  We began this project ten years ago when we saw a real need for sewing supplies and fabric in the Navajo Nation.  The quilters and sewers in the Navajo Nation are incredibly thankful to receive gently used and new sewing supplies - including clean fabric in useable condition, thread, rulers, and batting.  Fabric should be no smaller than 1/4 yard please. Batting is always needed - the larger the piece the better - thank you! Sewing machines are also needed. Please consider donating a new or used, fully functioning, sewing machine to the quilters in the Navajo Nation. All sewing machines should be sent directly to Susan Hudson. We are not accepting books or patterns at this time. There is a special request for yarn, particularly white yarn, please send to the yarn donation addresses listed below. For sewing machines and heavy boxes, please ship Fed-Ex Ground to the following address: Susan Hudson 2720 County Road 334 #223 Ignacio, Colorado 81137 Please include a self-addressed envelope for confirmation of your box. If you do not receive a confirmation - do not despair - your box will eventually be delivered to the correct location but this does take some time.   Authorized Mailing Addresses:   Susan Hudson  P.O. Box 223  Ignacio, CO 81137    Tabitha Wildefoot  P.O. BOX 2038  Dennehotso, AZ 86535    Honorable Amber K. Crotty  P.O. Box G Sheep Springs, NM 87364    Lola Woods  PO Box 1633 Window Rock, AZ 86515    Maggie Mae Lincoln  P.O. Box 571  Ganado, AZ  86505    Authorized Yarn Donations Addresses Kristy Dempsey  PO Box 4575  Shiprock, NM  87420    Authorized Navajo Quilt Project Fabric Store If you would like to purchase fabric, a sewing machine or a gift card for the quilters in the Navajo Nation, please give Stitch A Quilt a call and they will be more than happy to help you out. Merci! Stitch A Quilt Store 858 Main Ave  Durango, CO  https://www.stitchonline.net  (970) 247-1085    Watch Susan on Craft in America: https://www.craftinamerica.org/short/susan-hudson-segment How The Navajo Quilt Project Began.... I have been visiting the Navajo Nation since I was a little girl and my mom and dad would take all seven of us out to Arizona and Utah to camp in Monument Valley. I had no idea that seeds were being planted for a calling later in life. Fifteen years ago, when JZ, Sofia and I moved from New York to Los Angeles, we traveled through the Navajo Nation and stopped off at the trading posts along the way.  We bought Navajo rugs at Hubbell, Toadlena and Shonto.  I began meeting the locals and learning about a very simple way of life.  I fell down the rabbit hole.  I sat with weavers and spinners and natural dyers and learned more about history, craft and landscape than I bargained for.  I had no idea of the condition of life in the Navajo Nation. We have continued to visit this Native American territory, covering about 17,544,500 acres, and have found it to be a place of great beauty as well as great need.  The population continues to disproportionately struggle with health problems, unemployment, and the effects of past uranium mining accidents Ten years ago, I met Maggie Mae Lincoln, a Navajo grandma, at Griswold's Trading Post in Shiprock, New Mexico while we were both buying wool.  She asked me if I was a weaver and once we began our conversation, I learned that she was a weaver in the summer and a quilter in the winter.  She told me that she had no access to fabric since there were no quilt shops on the reservation.  I told her I would send her fabric from my collection - and that day, The Navajo Quilt Project began. In 2017 I met Susan Hudson, a Master Navajo Quilter.  Susan and I joined forces and became partners in The Navajo Quilt Project.  Susan is, literally, the boots on the ground, she delivers fabric and supplies to the Chapter Houses as well as delivers finished quilts to the elderlies.  Here is Susan's Artist Statement: Ya a’ tey,  (Hello)   Susan Hudson yii niish yii   (I am Susan Hudson)  Kee yah aa’ niih nish lii’ (I am born of the Towering House People Clan)  Deshchii’ Nii  ii’ ee baa’ shish chiin’   (I am born for the Apache People Clan)  Taabaa ii’ ee’ daa’ shi chei (My maternal Grandfather is from the Water Edge People Clan)  Naaki’ Din na ii’ ee daa’ shi Naah lii’  (My paternal Grandfather is from the Apache People Clan)    I live in Tooh Haltsooi (Sheep Springs, NM) on the Navajo Reservation. My mother taught me how to sew out of necessity, since we were so  poor she  couldn’t afford to buy us clothes. She learned how to sew  while she was at Toadlena Boarding School.      In order to be able to tell many stories with my quilts they have to be able to evoke emotions in people and to speak for themselves. From the very first dream that I have been blessed with, to sew it into reality, to the very last stitch I am able to convey the emotional impact that the quilt had on me. To ensure that our Ancestor’s stories are never forgotten, I have made a mark on the Native Quilting world, and to open the doors for those that will come after me. To show that it has taken generations of Native  quilters to help me become the artist that I am. By taking quilting to another level I have combined Quilting and Ledger Art consequently  becoming a Contemporary Ledger Artist.     By using the best quality materials my quilts are able to withstand the  elements and time and to ensure that our decedents will be able to look  at my quilts.     The honoring of our ancestors, those that lived, cried, shed blood and died so we are able to be here and to tell their stories.  Thank you for your participation and help in this very worthy cause to help keep our brothers and sisters warm and able to create quilts to trade and sell.  Purchase The Navajo Quilt Project Tote HERE
 "Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."  — Robert F. Kennedy ----------------------------------------------------------------------------