submitted by Vicky McGee

On September 11, 2001 our lives were turned upside down by acts of coordinated terror. As a nation we feel violated. The loss of so many Americans is devastating to each and every one of us. Our sense of security and comfort has been shattered.

The 320 members of the Alex Anderson Quilting Lexies have undertaken a project called the Lexie Love Quilts. It is our goal to make over 300 flannel rag quilts to be sent to the families of the New York firefighters, police and rescue workers who gave their lives saving others. The project is underway, and we are furiously cutting and piecing these love quilts. We have a contact with the NYC Fire Department who will coordinate the distribution of the quilts. A group of east coast Lexies will personally deliver them to the Fire Department. One of our American Lexie members has designed a label to be attached to every quilt. Superimposed over an American flag are the words, "Made by our hands with little pieces of our hearts. In memory of September 11, 2001. The Quilting Lexies of USA/Canada." The label will also have a web address for Alex Anderson Quilts website below our sentiments. One of our Canadian Lexies has designed a quilt care instruction label for each quilt with both the American and Canadian flags on the label.

While Alex and the Quilting Lexies are dedicated to this project, we find ourselves in need of supplies and are asking for your help. We need enough flannel and batting to ensure that each family receives at least one quilt. We are cutting the flannel into 8" squares and the batting into 6" squares. The finished quilts are "scrappy", small twin-sized compiled of 13 rows of 6 blocks each (approx. 36"x78"). Any contribution of flannel or batting you feel you can make to the Lexie Love Quilt Project will be greatly appreciated. If you cannot donate supplies, we would be grateful for a small monetary donation to go towards the shipment of supplies to the Lexies who are sewing, washing the quilts, and shipment of the completed quilts to New York City for distribution. An account has been established for the Project at Rocky Mountain Bank, Plains, MT. Those wishing to contribute monetary donations to the Project anonymously may send their donation directly to: LEXIE LOVE QUILT PROJECT c/o Rocky Mountain Bank, PO Box 788, Plains MT 59859. Any funds from the donations left over when the LLQP is completed will be donated to the NYC Firefighter's Burn Center.

Each and every one of the Quilting Lexies will be notified of your contribution, and a complete contribution list wil be sent with the quilts to the New York City Fire Department and the Mayor of New York.

You can find discussion relating to the project on Alex Anderson's message board. The web address for her site is www.alexandersonquilts.com and then click on the Message Board icon. You may want to go back into Archives, beginning September 11, 1001, to view the entire discussion.

The LLQP will gratefully accept any appropriate quilt donation, regardless of size or technique used in its creation. We have chosen the small twin-sized scrappy quilt pattern because of the beauty and ease of construction for beginning quilters/sewers. If your completed donated quilt does not have the Lexie Love Quilt Project memorial label attached, do not fret! Lexie volunteers will be delighted to attach one to the appropriate corner for you.

Please join us in this worthwhile project. Help us offer a little security and comfort to the families who have lost so much. Thank you in advace for your consideration for our request. God Bless America!

The Quilting Lexies