The IJHC joins the families of the victims of terrorism in thanking the people with big hearts in Australia and elsewhere who made these small tokens of healing.

This project is intended to offer love, sympathy and emotional support to those families bereaved on Sep 11, to help with the pain and anguish of their losses.

Quilters all over Australia, some in England, and two in Singapore and Sarawak between them anonymously made 1,550 little quilts with healing themes. These are being distributed to the families by the victims' employers, such as United Airlines, Carr Futures, Cantor Fitzgerald, The Pentagon, etc. Some employers are distributing the quilts at 9-11 Memorial Services.

The photos give some idea of the variety of beautiful work done by embroiderers, quilters, cross stitchers, candlewickers and others.

The original aim was to have them very small - about ten inches by seven - and a great many were, but there were a few larger, and, believe it or not, one very cute little one half the size of the others.

The quilters who made them got to hear about it through a quilters' online chat group and an Australian Quilting Magazine - Down Under Quilts.

A few of my personal friends also heard about it because, very cheekily, I put the pattern in my Christmas Card.

I suddenly received an invitation to go to the US Embassy in Canberra to present a token quilt (two, as it finally turned out), to Tom Schieffer, the Ambassador. I was also taken to the Memorial Service in St Christopher's Cathedral, the opening in Canberra of the Joel Meyerowitz Photograph Exhibition, and the candle ceremony on the Embassy Lawns late on Wednesday night (Australian time) to coincide exactly with the timing of the first attack. They lit a candle for every victim - can you imagine how emotional that was. A flickering flame in the darkness for every person whose life-flame no longer flickers.

I was thrilled to be invited, and they had the flights and hotel fixed up before they even asked me. So I was away from Monday till yesterday, and had the sort of experience that happens only once in a lifetime and only then if you're very lucky. I really didn't feel worthy of it when I thought of all those quilters and others who used their talent and skill to produce such wonderful work. But I have moving memories I will never forget.

Jenny Armour