The Story Of '1000 Cranes For Peace'

It all started 13 months ago when Griff Ennion met with Sharyn Merrin (VSM Australia) & Judy Newman (Expertise Events) to discuss ways to expand on the charity quilt project which has been running in Townsville successfully for the past 4 years. Griff's vision was to create a nation wide project to raise awareness and support for victims of domestic violence. The original idea was to involve all sectors of the craft industry and bring together companies which would not normally work together under normal circumstances. Griff had a unique passion for cranes, coincidently one of his biggest selling patterns was the Peace Quilt by Margaret Rolfe which he distributed through Logans Patchwork (it has the story of 1000 cranes) which he wanted to be prominent throughout the quilts.

Since Griff's passing several changes have taken place in his memory, his original idea was to create 1000 quilt blocks which has now turned into 1000 full quilts each containing a crane somewhere within the quilt. A close friend of Griff's, Scott Ross from The Craft Cubby has stepped into Griff's boots for the project and is now coordinating the marketing, promotions and website development. Expertise Events who produce the Craft & Quilt Fairs have Jumped on board with full support with space allocated at every Craft & Quilt Fair for customers to create blocks and display the quilts. All the machine companies in Australia were approached and have donated top of the line machines which are now creating the quilts giving everyone a chance to try the newest machines in a real working environment. Griff's influence within the craft and quilting industry was far reaching and as a result 1000 Cranes For Peace has gained massive industry support with countless companies showing their support with just about every need taken care of such as fabrics, materials, tools, transport, show space, communications and much more.

The project was to launch it in Perth this year, but with the passing away of Griff it was put off until the Sydney Show in June as this was Griff's home state and also to coincide with his birthday. The quilts will all be numbered 1-1000 and will be donated to the women's refuge centres in the state they were made for women & children who leave domestic violence with only the clothes on their back. Both Griff and Sharyn are very passionate about this cause. Quilt #1 will be made by Margaret Kirkby (from  Logans & Griff's mother) Quilt # 1000 is the peace quilt which Sharyn is making to be raffled off. By the 2011 Australasian Quilting Convention we will have the full 1000 quilts displayed and we invite you to share with us in creating a quilt or a part of a quilt for this worthy cause.

The Challenge Begins.....