Betty inspects Alma's quilt, basted for quilting
Our friend, michelewin, has had a number of traumatic shocks in her life in recent years, shocks that she hasn't had a lot of time to recover from before the next one delivers a heavy blow. She lost her job, became a full time caregiver to a very sick mother, buried her mother when her time came and handled her estate, and now she has had to bury her brother under horrific circumstances. And all of this she has had to handle by herself, without help or any acknowledgement. This brave woman needs a hug! She needs a hug and words of love and support. We can give her these in a community quilt!
Betty gives Alma's quilt a closer look. The block pattern is called "Owl"
A community quilt contains messages of love and support from you, transcribed by me on muslin in archival ink. My sister and I sew these messages into a colorful quilt. Michelewin will be able to wrap herself in her quilt and not feel so alone. If she cries into it, it will be like crying on all our shoulders. If she rests under it, she'll feel comforted. All in all, it will convey a warmth unlike any regular blanket, with love that will never wash out.
AntKat with her quilt, just before leaving the hospital. She is in a skilled nursing facility now -- and will not be parted from her quilt.
It takes time and material to make one of these quilts -- and it is our small living. If you can donate toward the cost, we would be so grateful. Here is a PayPal link for michelewin's quilt -- or message me for an address if you prefer to send a check. $10/message is suggested -- although some give more to cover for those who cannot afford to donate. All messages are welcome!
AntKat's quilt
These are community quilts my sister and I have made to date:
othniel (cellulitis and ensuing complications, RIP)
exmearden (cancer of heart and lung, RIP)
MsSpentyouth (brain tumor)
Moe99 (lung cancer, RIP)
Michelle Caudle (ovarian cancer, RIP)
BFSkinner (lupus)
Kitsap River (long wait for kidney donor that ended 2/18/11)
Frederick Clarkson (blood clots)
Dreaming of Better Days (lymphoma)
one bite at a time (lost house and belongings to fire)
Timroff (cellulitis)
Sol Fed Joe (multiple cancers and health problems)
Brubs (AIDS, immune reconstitution syndrome)
rserven (gall bladder infection with dangerous complications)
grndrush (brain tumor, RIP)
ImpeachKingBushII (needs liver transplant)
andsarahtoo (lupus)
Frank Cocozzelli (muscular dystrophy)
luvsathoroughbred (breast cancer)
Predictor (stroke and HIV)
Austex54 (caretaker to othniel)
Theodore Olbermann, RIP
cskendrick (antibiotic resistant infection)
Keith Olbermann (caregiver to father)
Juan (cancer)
Ana (a young horse belonging to Juan, hit by truck)
MA Liberal’s mother (Alzheimer’s)
Charles CurtisStanley (caretaker to Kitsap River)
Lorikeet (cervical cancer)
Dr. Lori (metastatic cancer)
ulookarmless (cancer, heart condition, stroke, RIP)
riverlover (caregiver to husband suffering from liver failure, now widowed)
Melody Townsel (caregiver to dying father, now deceased)
dadanation (AIDS)
Dr. William F. Harrison (leukemia, RIP)
Larry Bailey (sudden loss of partner to heart attack)
ramara (adopted son with fetal alcohol syndrome)
Noor B (herniated disk from car accident)
Louisiana 1976 (fibromyalgia, severe arthritis, depression)
stumpy (MS, stroke, RIP)
bleeding heart's niece (cancer, RIP)
escapee (failure of corneal surgery)
SarahLee (lymphoma, Lyme Disease)
Bustergirl (ovarian cancer)
mimi's niece (cancer)
ZenTrainer (breast cancer)
Miss Blue (severe injury to shoulder, anxiety over coverage for surgery)
Granny Doc (bladder cancer, RIP)
mango (heart attack)
nudger (ovarian cancer, RIP)
DaNang65 (heart condition)
Lt. Choi (exhaustion)
Nurse Kelley (spinal stenosis)
Ben Masel (lung cancer, RIP)
Otterary Scribe (caregiver, grieving grandfather, grieving widower)
Aji (autoimmune diseases incl. fibromyalgia, inflammatory arthritis, & Chronic Epstein-Barr Virus Syndrome)
JaxDem (suddenly widowed)
DavidW (AIDS and other undiagnosed illness)
Jester the Marine (facing amputation of leg)
peregrine kate (endometrial cancer)
mimi (grief due to family illnesses)
alliedoc (endometrial cancer, RIP)
labwitchy (diffuse scleroderma)
Daily Kos (celebrating community)
belinda ridgewood (sudden loss of her mother)
princesspat (blood clots, deep vein thrombosis)
Scott Olsen (severe head injury)
SensibleShoes (caring for sister with brain cancer)
Joanna (cancer)
cany (grieving caretaker of mother with dementia)
Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse (breast cancer)
Scottie Thomaston (intense chronic pain from spine, kidney stones)
paradise50 (throat cancer)
woodtick (caregiver to mother with Alzheimer's)
BeninSC (mulitple fractures from bicycle accident)
Adrian (colon cancer)
Smoh (breast cancer, stroke, depression)
slksfca (sudden onset of arthritis requiring hip replacement)
arizonablue (grief and exhaustion)
Lorikeet (grieving widow - this quilt was a gift from the Rescue Rangers)
remembrance (breast cancer) and Glen the Plumber (her caregiver)
MassHarry (colon cancer)
Regina in a Sears Kit House (severe immune problems from Lyme Disease)
nannyboz (grief for father, crippling back pain requiring surgery)
raina (grief)
earicicle (breast cancer)
AntKat (cancers of the throat)
See also these two thank you posts from multiple quilt recipients:
KosAbility: A Virtual Quilt for Sara and Ann, from Community Quilt recipients
We Have Something to Say to YOU, Sara R and winglion!
Betty on earicicle's quilt. We could not keep her off this quilt -- she just loved it!
Alma's quilt is almost done. Llbear's is on the design wall. We are still collecting messages for DarkHawk98 who has lung cancer -- I'll be posting another diary for his quilt tomorrow.
earicicle's quilt
These quilts are planned:
Carol in San Antonio (cancer)
UnaSpensor (Lyme disease)
MA Liberal (caretaker to her mother who has dementia)
paradox (cyclical vomiting syndrome, PTSD, depression)
Ellinorianne (rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia)
MsGrin (life long heart problems requiring multiple surgeries)
LorelieHI (PTSD, reversals of fortune, depression)
arizonablue's quilt
PAYPAL LINK FOR MICHELEWIN'S QUILT - THANK YOU!
Boots says, "Thank you for supporting community quilts!"
Namaste