commonmass' quilt top, detail
Our friend, Oke, is suffering in body and spirit. Her body is badly wounded. She recently had a brush with death from a severe respiratory infection, one that landed her in the hospital, connected to a ventilator. Her lungs are now permanently damaged from that experience and she will live with COPD for the rest of her life. Oke's spirit is also very low. It's not just because of her health. Life events have rocked her and caused a deep depression to set in. We can help her by wrapping her in loving words, stitched into a community quilt. Let's lift her up! She needs the arms of her friends around her.
commonmass' quilt top
What is a community quilt? It contains loving messages from you, transcribed by me on muslin in archival ink. My sister and I then sew these messages into a colorful quilt that holds great meaning and support for its owner. Oke will be able to wrap herself up in the love of her friends. As she is feeling pretty isolated right now, this is no small thing. She can rest under the quilt, cry into it, and hold you all to her heart.
Leaves on the Current's quilt, detail
Please leave a message below for Oke! It is not necessary to donate to do so. But if you can help with the cost of making the quilt, here is a PayPal link -- or message me for an address should you prefer a check. $15/message is suggested although some people give more to cover messages from those who cannot afford to donate. My sister and I make our living from making these quilts and we so appreciate your support.
Boots tests Leaves on the Current's quilt for comfort. It's good!
We are ready to layer commonmass' quilt. Clytemnestra's messages are transcribed and her block pattern chosen. Messages are being collected for shanikka.
Carol in San Antonio's quilt
These people have left messages for Oke so far:
1. weck
2. Otteray Scribe
3. palantir
4. Slksfca
5. winglion
6. princesspat
7. wader
8. broths
9. cfk in the Thumb of Michigan
10. Pam from Calif
11. RadicalParrot
12. Cedwyn
13. maggiejean
14. Onomastic
15. Aji
16. side pocket
17. ericlewis0
18. gchaucer2
19. Zett
20. noweasels
21. Travn Texas
22. opperculum
23. webgenie
24. Alicia
25. Louisiana 1976
26. Ojibwa
27. mimi
28. Sidnora
29. Kazoo of the North
30. Translatorpro
31. 4Freedom
32. ramara
33. Alma
Carol in San Antonio's quilt, showing backing
Need inspiration? Here are a few of Oke's messages so far:
Take it from one who has been there - nothing helps depression like taking all of us with you on your journey through it. All good wishes to you. ramara
She who makes room in her heart for others, will herself find accommodation everywhere.
You have such a huge heart, always so ready to help others, it's high time for a love-catcher quilt to show how much your warmth and kindnesses are appreciated. Translatorpro
You are part of our hearts. Now may our hearts be part of you. sidnora
Remember the beauty and spiritual power
of the flowing waters
of the snow capped mountains
healing comes with beauty held in the mind Ojibwa
May you have a warm spot always and know that you aren't alone Travn Texas
May peace of mind and healing of body come to you. You especially deserve it for all the good you have done for others. Zett
Ebby's quilt, detail
These are the community quilts we have made to date:
1. othniel (cellulitis and ensuing complications, RIP)
2. exmearden (cancer of heart and lung, RIP)
3. MsSpentyouth (brain tumor)
4. Moe99 (lung cancer, RIP)
5. Michelle Caudle (ovarian cancer, RIP)
6. BFSkinner (lupus)
7. Kitsap River (long wait for kidney donor that ended 2/18/11)
8. Frederick Clarkson (blood clots)
9. Dreaming of Better Days (lymphoma)
10. one bite at a time (lost house and belongings to fire)
11. Timroff (cellulitis)
12. Sol Fed Joe (multiple cancers and health problems)
13. Brubs (AIDS, immune reconstitution syndrome)
14. rserven (gall bladder infection with dangerous complications)
15. grndrush (brain tumor, RIP)
16. ImpeachKingBushII (needs liver transplant)
17. andsarahtoo (lupus)
18. Frank Cocozzelli (muscular dystrophy)
19. luvsathoroughbred (breast cancer)
20. Predictor (stroke and HIV)
21. Austex54 (caretaker to othniel)
22. Theodore Olbermann, RIP
23. cskendrick (antibiotic resistant infection)
24. Keith Olbermann (caregiver to father)
25. Juan (cancer)
26. Ana (a young horse belonging to Juan, hit by truck)
27. MA Liberal’s mother (Alzheimer’s)
28. Charles CurtisStanley (caretaker to Kitsap River)
29. Lorikeet (cervical cancer)
30. Dr. Lori (metastatic cancer)
31. ulookarmless (cancer, heart condition, stroke, RIP)
32. riverlover (caregiver to husband suffering from liver failure, now widowed)
33. Melody Townsel (caregiver to dying father, now deceased)
34. dadanation (AIDS)
35. Dr. William F. Harrison (leukemia, RIP)
36. Larry Bailey (sudden loss of partner to heart attack)
37. ramara (adopted son with fetal alcohol syndrome)
38. Noor B (herniated disk from car accident)
39. Louisiana 1976 (fibromyalgia, severe arthritis, depression)
40. stumpy (MS, stroke, RIP)
41. bleeding heart's niece (cancer, RIP)
42. escapee (failure of corneal surgery)
43. SarahLee (lymphoma, Lyme Disease)
44. Bustergirl (ovarian cancer)
45. mimi's niece (cancer, RIP)
46. ZenTrainer (breast cancer)
47. Miss Blue (severe injury to shoulder, anxiety over coverage for surgery)
48. Granny Doc (bladder cancer, RIP)
49. mango (heart attack)
50. nudger (ovarian cancer, RIP)
51. DaNang65 (heart condition)
52. Lt. Choi (exhaustion)
53. Nurse Kelley (spinal stenosis)
54. Ben Masel (lung cancer, RIP)
55. Otterary Scribe (caregiver, grieving grandfather, grieving widower)
56. Aji (autoimmune diseases incl. fibromyalgia, inflammatory arthritis, & Chronic Epstein-Barr Virus Syndrome)
57. JaxDem (suddenly widowed)
58. DavidW (AIDS and other undiagnosed illness)
59. Jester the Marine (facing amputation of leg)
60. peregrine kate (endometrial cancer)
61. mimi (grief due to family illnesses)
62. alliedoc (endometrial cancer, RIP)
63. labwitchy (diffuse scleroderma)
64. Daily Kos (celebrating community)
65. belinda ridgewood (sudden loss of her mother)
66. princesspat (blood clots, deep vein thrombosis)
67. Scott Olsen (severe head injury)
68. SensibleShoes (caring for sister with brain cancer)
69. Joanna (cancer)
70. cany (grieving caretaker of mother with dementia)
71. Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse (breast cancer)
72. Scottie Thomaston (intense chronic pain from spine, kidney stones)
73. paradise50 (throat cancer)
74. woodtick (caregiver to mother with Alzheimer's)
75. BeninSC (mulitple fractures from bicycle accident)
76. Adrian (colon cancer)
77. Smoh (breast cancer, stroke, depression)
78. slksfca (sudden onset of arthritis requiring hip replacement)
79. arizonablue (grief and exhaustion)
80. Lorikeet (grieving widow - this quilt was a gift from the Rescue Rangers)
81. remembrance (breast cancer) and Glen the Plumber (her caregiver)
82. MassHarry (colon cancer)
83. Regina in a Sears Kit House (severe immune problems from Lyme Disease)
84. nannyboz (grief for father, crippling back pain requiring surgery)
85. raina (grief)
86. earicicle (breast cancer)
87. AntKat (cancers of the throat, RIP)
88. Alma (breast cancer)
89. DarkHawk98 (lung cancer)
90. llbear (brittle diabetic)
91. michelewin (grief and trauma)
92. Dave in Northridge (grieving widower)
93. racheltracks (complications from knee surgery)
94. Ebby (grief and stress)
95. Leaves on the Current (cancer)
96. Carol in San Antonio (cancer)
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!
Ebby's quilt top before we quilted it -- you can see the whole pattern here
racheltracks' quilt, detail. Did you see the review of her book?
These quilts are planned:
Serpent's Choice (grief)
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)
Dave in Northridge's quilt
PAYPAL LINK FOR OKE'S QUILT - THANK YOU!
Boots says, "Thank you for supporting community quilts!"
Namaste.