The auction is now at $ 630.00 for this beautiful quilt to support Okiciyap's ("we help") operating expenses. Okiciyap was founded by Georgia Little Shield, as my friend Aji explains in her diary, to save "lives by feeding bodies and spirits" for her people at the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota.
In addition to this auction, we can make donations of $5 and $10, and, similar to President Obama's campaign, our contributions can add up quickly. Today, for each $5 and $10 donation, I will match it, up to a maximum of $100 donation by me, so we can turn $100 into $200 together.
You can donate here online with either PayPal or with credit cards.
You can mail direct donations here:
address for direct donations to the:Okiciyap (we help) Food Pantry
P.O. Box 172
Isabel, SD 57633
Groups are also organizing to make joint bids. If you would like more information, or would like to join a group, please private message glorificus. Check her comments in this diary thread too for more information. For example, Anon-27 is a group with the high bid now.
UPDATES ON AUCTION BIDS:
Anon-27 bids $640, now raised to $740 with my $100.
Aji's diary also discusses the artistic symbolism of this quilt, giving us her interpretation of the "spiritually significant symbolism speaking to [her] from each and every block." Aji then wondered if "we can convince [the quilters] to tell us about how they chose the patterns for the blocks they've created, and the symbolism that infuses each." Coincidentally, two days earlier I told weck that I had finally picked a topic for my diary, asking the quilters about the meaning of each of their blocks.
Quilting is a form of story telling, and the final quilt is a work of art to be treasured by many as quilts are often treasures passed down by family and friends. It's also a labor of love by the quilters. So, I asked each of our quilters for a quote about the meaning of their block or any personal experience when making their block that they would like to share. I thank and honor each of them for sharing their time and skills to make this gorgeous quilt:
Block #1 by Florene
Block #1 is called Blackford's Beauty, and it is a classic block. I chose it because I liked the bold looks with the cross and the star, and it looked like something I could accomplish. It is made up of scraps from my fabric stash. I wish I had something more personal or interesting to contribute, but this is it!
Block #2 by Pam from Calif
My Okiciyap block was the simple Pinwheel. The Pinwheel block is an old quilt block that dates from the 1790s. I wanted to incorporate all the colors of the Okiciyap Logo, which is why most of the triangles are different colors. I chose the Pinwheel block because it seems very joyful & fun to me. It reminds me of the summer pinwheel toys from my childhood. I would love to spin it and watch it rotate. In many of my designs, I incorporate the Pinwheel Block.
Block # 3 by frosti
My quilt block #3 with the totem pole was my first attempt at piecing. I was inspired to try because at the museum where I am a docent we had an exhibit of southern strip quilts. I really had not used a sewing machine for over 35 years. Given the rusticity of these strip quilts and the incredibly good artistry nonetheless, I thought I could do it.
Where I live, there are two quilt stores with incredible choices of fabric. I found the totem pole fabric, and I used it to represent the Pacific Northwest. I am not Indian, but my husband commissioned a totem pole for one of my birthdays and he also bought a mask from a Makah 18 year old who was learning his tribe's cultural background.
I chose the black and yellow fabric to represent basketry, the black, red and white fabric to represent the stars and heavens, and the yellow floral motif on white to represent variously, the sun, a warm place, wheat and plenty, and to me, it looked a bit like a dream catcher.
Block #4 by kitchen table activist
I'm one of the quilters that donated a quilt block for the Okiciyap quilt - my block is the second row, left block - or "The Four Directions" block, as Aji so eloquently described it.
The block pattern I chose is called the Goshen Star. I selected that pattern because the prominent cross reminded me of the Okiciyap logo's central symbol - four hands, coming together from all directions, in unity. Reflecting that symbolism seemed appropriate for this project since many hands, from many directions, united to create this beautiful quilt.
I'm a novice quilter; in fact, the first quilt block I made was for last year's NFTT quilt. Participating in these group efforts is abundantly gratifying, especially for a beginning quilter. While it does take some time and effort to make one individual block, it's wondrous to see the final "big picture" and how your "piece" fits into it. I'm very thankful to be a part of these great group projects, and thank my fellow DKQG members for the opportunity to participate.
Block # 5 by Melanie
This block was the last one made, after I'd received all the others. My block needed to create white space for BeadLady's dreamcatcher quilting, and to harmonize with the others. My bigger role in assembling the top was to create a whole, where before there were just pieces. Our voices together are louder and more eloquent than any one alone. We are better together.
Block # 6 by glorificus
I had the horse fabric (from Laurel Burch's Dancing Horses collection) which I love, but could not settle on a pattern. I was even considering just putting a border around 11 square inches of the fabric, there are many more colorful horses in the pattern. I was talking to my sister, telling her of the palette of colors, and she suggested a nine-patch. So that's what I did.
Block # 7 by leu2500
LOL! I relearned the truth of “Measure twice, cut once.” And that if “It’s not a mistake, it’s a design decision” doesn’t exist, it should.
My block is a 9 patch, and it’s supposed to finish at 12 inches, which means my sub blocks should finish at 4 inches. But somehow when I went to cut fabric I cut for 3 inch sub blocks. So I’m sewing along, thinking how much easier this is than that year. And I’m also thinking: this seems small for 12 inches. I go to square up: it is small for 12 inches, it’s only 9 inches! What to do? I could remake, but that seems a waste of fabric. So I decide to add a red border. Only I didn’t add enough allowance for strips bowing.
My block is still too small. By this time my words are getting really choice. So I add a 2nd border, extra wide to allow for bowing and squaring up. And that’s the story of how the star block I planned to make became a “star in the cabins" block.
Block # 8 by vtgal
I am happy to help in such a worthy cause. The dresden plate block is made by hand sewing called applique. First, the pieces are sewn together by machine. The "plate" is arranged in the center of the block and the outside edge turned under and sewn by hand. Finally, the center circle is applied in the same manner.
I was inspired to do this medallion-type block after seeing the circular patterns of the Okiciyap symbol. The quilting is beautiful and emphasizes the circular swirls of the design.
Blocks # 9 and #10 by winifred3
I did the Darting Bird square. The reason I chose that design was because it looked very much like a stylized Thunderbird, which is a powerful Native American symbol of strength.
I also did the Nine Patch, which I chose because of the strong four quadrants imagery combined with the center square. In my mind, this design symbolizes how we move in all directions while being part of a central larger whole which is symbolized by the center square.
(Note: Many thanks to my friend JekyllnHyde for writing up special coding for these two blocks.)
Block # 11 by Proud of My Bleeding Heart
The thing about a contribution quilt is that the individual blocks have to bring life by themselves. Very little interaction with neighboring blocks, no different perspective up-close vs. far away, so the design is of utmost importance.
The key aspect of the block that captured me was the way the arrowheads chased each other around the block.
I was so pleased to see the quality of each of the blocks, the layout and in particular, the quilting. I'm proud to have been a part of the effort and hope it brings in a large contribution.
Block #12 by Embee
I was happy to contribute to this quilt and thus to this cause. My block is #12 (lower right hand corner),
I'm not sure that I was thinking of any particular meaning when I chose this block - I was looking to challenge myself while contributing to a good cause, but perhaps I unconsciously chose a star. I find myself drawn to star blocks - I recently made a baby quilt full of wonky stars and called it "Reach for the Stars". I think of stars as that goal, slightly out of reach, but well worth striving toward.
The block was also a challenge for me color-wise, as these were not colors I would have thought to use, but I was pleased with the result. And the whole quilt is beautiful, thanks to all the other quilters who contributed blocs, Melanie for putting it together and BeadLady for her wonderful quilting.
And then BeadLady did the quilting or top-stitching on the blocks and the binding.
Quilting is a creative outlet. It's a way to tap into spirit. If it works out, spirit is happy. If it doesn't, the quilt fairies make this great sound in my head. "Rippit, rippit, rippit" and I rip out (or frog as we quilters put it - get it - "rippit") what I've stitched and wait for inspiration. My goal on the Okiciyap quilt was to incorporate a couple Native American motifs along with letting the quilt tell me what to quilt in each square as they were all different. Spirit is definitely in this quilt!
OKICIYAP QUILT AUCTION RULES 2013
1) Auction begins on Wednesday, March 27th. Bids will first be accepted in the diary published that day by GreyHawk. The final day of the auction is Sunday, April 7, 2013, at approximately 7:00 p.m. CT. The last two+ hours of the auction will be held online from 5:00 p.m. central until 7 p.m. central in the DKQG diary. If no higher bids are posted by 7:10 p.m. the best bid before 7:00 p.m. central will be declared the winner.
1.1)The auction will end as soon as no higher bids are posted within 10 minutes of the highest bid received. Final bids will be decided by the time posted on the message. The decision of the judges on winning bid is final.
1.2)After the final bid is decided and the successful bidder notified, the donation to the pantry will be made, and once confirmed, BeadLady will send the quilt to the lucky winner! The pantry is a 501-c-3 non-profit organization, this donation will be tax deductable.
2) Bids will be accepted by making comments in diaries, as well as by kosmailing weck and/or glorificus at any time to make arrangements for anonymous or absentee bidding.
2.1) If you wish to remain anonymous, you may set that up with weck or glorificus in advance, and we will use a number when we post your bids in a diary. (example = Anon-02)
2.2) If you want to leave an absentee bid, you may do that with either weck or glorificus. We will need to know the highest amount you are willing to bid and we will place those bids for you in 10 dollar increments as the bidding progresses throughout the auction. If the bidding goes higher than you first authorized, you may contact the same person again with a new top limit, or bid in the diaries. Absentee bids should be
placed with weck or glorificus as far in advance as possible.
3) Bidding by groups, businesses or organizations is allowed, as long as only one contact name is used. Please let us know the details of your group, business or organization and who is the official spokesperson for the group or organization.
4) Bidding is in minimum increments of $10.00. You may bid in higher increments that can be divided evenly by $10.00.
4.1) Bids must be in U.S. funds.
5) weck and glorificus will do their best to inform all bidders of the newest high bid. To receive this information in you Kosmail box, please ask weck or glorificus to join Daily Kos Quilt Guild Auction Alliance group.
5.1) We will send groupmail to everyone (Each member will be made an editor for the duration of the auction) Reminder*A groupmail won't show up on your main page; you will have to check for messages manually.*
6) A PayPal link will be included for other donations to Okiciyap. While we cherish the thought that you may choose to donate to Okiciyap during the auction, there is no advantage in the auction to doing that. It is not necessary to donate through the PayPal to Okiciyap to participate in the auction. To use the paypal link, click on the link that goes to the Okiciyap Pantry's new website. http://okiciyap.weebly.com/...
7) The winning bidder can make payment arrangements that are not through PayPal with weck or glorificus. We know that some folks don't use Paypal.
8) The winning bidder will have 48 hours to confirm their success. After 48 hours, the judges may, at their discretion, offer the second highest bidder the opportunity to redeem the quilt. The decision of the judges is final.