Sunday, August 14, 2016

FLOODING IN BATON ROUGE HITS HOM

A lot of you that have been with me since the beginning of my blog know that I have a sister in Baton Rouge or maybe know her as the
                                                      Average Quilter

I do not have pictures, well I do but they are on my phone(don't know how to get from phone to computer) but her house is totally flooded.  Her and her husband had to be rescued by boat.  They lost both cars as well.

She had one of those very expensive quilting machines that is computerized and does the quilting for you.  She had a commercial embroidery machine, she had way more fabric than I do and if you have seen my stash then you know she has lost a lot....a lot lot lot.  She just retired and was going to start up her business using both machines.  

As quilters we all feel the loss if our machines or fabrics have been taken from us.  Does anyone know if the fabrics and her million quilts can be restored?  My husband says they can't because of the smell.  One can only hope.  The other things can be replaced but the quilts...

My heart goes out to all those who have suffered flooding in Baton Rouge and there abouts but this truly hits home for sure.

She and her husband are safe and we count our blessings for sure.

20 comments:

Jackie's Stitches said...

Oh Barb! I'm so glad to hear they are safe but so sad to read this news. Your sister must be numb.

I think whether or not the quilts will be ok will depend on how long they are out of the water before your sister can get to them and get them washed. I sure hope she can manage to save some things.

Wacky Woman said...

Oh Barb, I'm so sorry to hear this. Terrible news!

Lace Faerie said...

I am so very sorry to hear of your sister's tragedy! We once lost a home to flooding when I was young.

I certainly wouldn't write off the quilts without a good battle to save them! Invest in some Oxyclean or some Biz color save bleach and soak and rinse, repeat and repeat! I had a jumbo load of towels that was forgotten and left in my front loading washer for the two weeks I was away from home. I washed and washed but couldn't get rid of the musty smell. Then I remembered my Gramma putting smelly laundry out on the lawn while still damp from the washer. Something about the chlorophyll in the grass and the sunshine that finally worked on my towels!

Betsy said...

7our family is in our prayers Barb

West Michigan Quilter said...

Oh, Barb I'm so sorry to hear about your sister. How terrible! I wish I had an answer for you. She is in my prayers.

Tangos Treasures said...

Oh no!! Sending Prayers!!!
You can email your pictures to yourself. Open them on the computer to save them.

Marie said...

Oh Barb I am so glad they are safe. They might can save some of the fabric and try. Several years we had to evacuate and three of our rooms flooded and of course it was the room with all the fabric I had moved down from Ohio. I was able to salvage some but lost a great deal. But we were after several years able to get the house back to normal. I always cringe when their is a storm for more than a day. Prayers for her and I hope they can start over.Keep us posted and we are praying for all that have been in harms way . Hugs, Marie

Gene Black said...

Oh no! I am so sorry to hear that Marth was so badly affected by the flooding. I have no idea about restoring the quilts and/or fabric. If it were me, I would certainly try washing the fabrics with something to help remove the odor.

julieQ said...

Oh no...I am sorry...many prayers!!

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

The story of Louisiana flooding horrified us. I am so sorry for every one who is experiencing flooding this year.

When I take pictures on my phone, I load them to Dropbox (if you have a Smart Phone). You can then access them from any device that you have installed dropbox on. I know I-phones use a cloud storage.
xx, Carol

Jocelyn said...

Oh Barb, so sorry to hear this. I think I remember that Karin from Sew Many Ways had a flood in her basement years ago. She may have saved her fabric. Here is her blog link.
http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/

Also you can download your pictures from your phone by using the cord that you use to charge your phone. It should plug into your computer.

Needled Mom said...

Oh Barb, that is horrible news. I have followed your sister for so long and her work is incredible. It makes me sick to think that it is all gone. Can the fabrics and quilts be washed to save some? I can't imagine what could be done with the machines.

Barbara said...

Safety counts most, but the major losses everyone is suffering are very sad. It's really hard to believe so far inland. Wishing peace.

QuiltShopGal said...

I am so sorry for your sister and her husband. I am glad that they are safe and hope that they are in a good place. I've known quilters to have gone thru major fires, but the company that did the cleaning was able to do a good job removing smoke smells from quilts and fabric, as well as clothing, but not 100%. I would suspect insurance will provide such cleaning for as much as they can and then it will be her decision if the cleaning was sufficient or not. Sending positive thoughts and prayers.

QuiltShopGal
www.quiltshopgal.com

Calicojoan said...

My thoughts and prayers go out to her and her family.

Mary from Arkansas said...

Love your work. Sorry for your sister, glad she is okay. Don't know if you're a christian but I always keep in the back of my head: Matt 6: 19 - 21.

Snoodles said...

So glad she is safe....our prayers are with all of those folks.

Mary Bolton said...

Keep hearing about quilts flying away in tornadoes that are brought "home" covered in mud and then saved. The hurricane remnant rain storms washed away a quilters studio in Vermont a few years ago and her quilts were found down stream and returned. Don't lose hope, keep washing!

KaHolly said...

Bless their hearts! I am so glad they are safe! XO

Wendy said...

So sorry to read this about your sister. Will be praying for them. I know how precious her quilts are as well as the fabric. I would try everything I could to save them. I would use oxyclean to clean the quilts and lysol (in the brown bottle) to put in the wash for any odors or germs that may be on the quilt because of the flood waters. Vinegar is also good at eliminating odors from quilts that are musty.