As you’re aware, we’ve been updating our website as it can no longer support the number of hearts that have been reported as found. We are always thinking of what is best for IFAQH and how to manage our workload of IFAQH. A recent email prompted us to delve into the proverbial rabbit hole, leading The Three Sisters to discover several Facebook pages claiming to be “Branches,” “Affiliates,” “Sister Sites,” “Fan Pages,” “Associated with,” or so on with IFAQH. The Three Sisters wish to clarify emphatically that there is only ONE official IFAQH website (www.ifaqh.com) and only ONE official IFAQH Facebook page (facebook.com/ifoundaquiltedheart). There are NO approved affiliates, branches, sister sites, and the like. Furthermore, there are NO approved state, region, or country-specific IFAQH Facebook pages. If you are involved with one of these groups, we want you to understand that we do not endorse these actions, and they are undermining the very essence of IFAQH. The Three Sisters are not focused on growth or garnering attention; our focus is on the individual who finds a heart.
IFAQH is dedicated to supporting those who find the hearts by providing a space for them to share their stories. Our enduring vision is for the creators of the hearts to remain anonymous. We do not showcase the hearts made by creators, host contests, approve (or reject) members, encourage sharing/gifting of hearts, provide heart making tutorials, ask members to invite friends to join the group, or adopt monthly themes. A counterfeit IFAQH site may be identified if it exhibits even one of these characteristics while claiming to adhere to IFAQH recommendations and guidelines. These sites are promoting themselves and IFAQH, an action The Three Sisters have consistently refrained from. We have refused every media interview and every form of self promoting. We have received request from quilting magazines, major thread companies, pattern companies, various local and national new agencies and more. We have refused every request and asked each one not to publish anything about IFAQH. Our aim is for the project to grow organically: someone finds a heart, cherishes the joy of discovery (as we did), and decides to join. This is what we consider organic growth.
The Three Sisters encourage those interested in joining our project to do so organically. Additionally, we invite individuals who may disagree with our rules or who believe they have a unique way of spreading joy, to actively pursue their initiatives. However, we strictly request that none of the phrases printed on our tags, including “I Need A Home,” “I Found a Quilted Heart,” #ifaqh, or any variation of #IFAQH/Quilted Heart/Found A Heart, etc., be used. Also, our website address www.ifaqh.com, is only to be used for the official IFAQH project. We also discourage using a heart as the central theme of your project or linking to the IFAQH website on your Facebook page or other social media platforms.
A significant amount of time is dedicated to posting found hearts and maintaining the website. Currently, many sites are requesting us to undertake their posting tasks to gain recognition and expand their own pages or groups. Again, this is not what IFAQH is all about! Please consider the launch of your own act of kindness initiative. The Three Sisters hold dear the straightforward mission of the IFAQH project and are disheartened to witness our labor of love being altered into something beyond its original intent. To those managing Facebook groups or pages linked to our mission, we strongly encourage the development of your own website and distinctive project. Drawing inspiration from IFAQH, numerous projects have emerged, showcasing that it is indeed possible to create a unique kindness project that mirrors your own ideals and vision.
The world needs more kindness, so we encourage you to continue to be part of our IFAQH project, create something entirely new, or join another RAK project.
~The Three Sisters