Quilt top COMPLETE!!

Just have to share a few photos of the completed quilt top. Lorraine did a brilliant job on the sashing and borders. I really like the small, white border she added between the warm brown fabric.


It's a very bright day here today. This is the best shot I could get with natural lighting. At least this picture gives you some idea of the size of the quilt.

Here is a picture taken inside. The colours and lighting are just right.

Tomorrow I'll be calling Gerene to make plans to drop it off for her to quilt. In just a week or so this quilt will be ready for binding and shipping.

So there you have it! The culmination of all the love and support offered by amazing women to comfort a man they'll likely never meet. This is real power, I think, the power of compassion.

Often I get mildly frustrated when I'm not pleased with a block I'm working on. Perhaps I have to take my time to understand the pattern , or I cut the fabric to the wrong size. My least favourite task is to rip out seams so they can be redone.

All of those small things are nothing; things that will be overcome with time and practice. The aches and pains, perhaps, of the newbie quilter. Whenever I feel at all frustrated I have only to think of this project and the thousands of comfort quilt projects in the world. Then, my perspective is set right again and I'm ready to keep going.

A very special thank you again, and again and again, to all the women who made this work of art, this quilt, this HUG possible.

Thanks a hundred times,
Dawne

Danny's Quilt, almost done!

I just have to share the progress being made on Danny's quilt. Lorraine has done such a good job of adding the sashing. She has 3 of the 5 rows completed already.


These are the top 3 rows. The last row you see on the bottom in this picture is actually the center row of the quilt.

I love how warm, yet subtle the sashing fabric is. It's such a nice shade of brown.

When the sashing is finished borders will be added. At that point the quilt will be off to the longarm quilter to be quilted. When Gerene is finished quilting it we'll add a binding and it'll be complete and ready to be shipped.

Danny's quilt in the planning stages

Well, good news today all around. I was able to drive over to Lorraine's AND I remembered to bring my camera! I'll be sharing photos of the process finally. The end product is likely to be slightly different.


Here you can see the center row. We decided on the center row and then worked outward. The pieces of brown fabric on the right edge of each block is the sashing.

We've tried for symmetry when possible and even looked at colour and fabric details when placing blocks. Part of the fun, though, is seeing what we can make out of so many varied blocks. I think it's the real charm of the quilt, the contributions from so many caring women coming together.

In this picture here we're saving space for two blocks that are on the way. Monday should bring my favourite mail carrier - the one who delivers packages!







This picture gives you an idea of the quilt's size. We added a few blocks as place holders.

There will be horizontal pieces of sashing fabric between each row. The top, bottom, left and right edges will be surrounded by the same fabric as the sashing. Then, Lorraine will add one or two borders as she sees fit.

At that point the quilt top will be ready to be layered with the batting and the backing fabric and handed off to Gerene to be quilted.

Things are really coming together. I love it!

Well, I finally did it

I finally made my block for the project. It took me some time to even choose the fabrics and colours. Thankfully I had the benefit of opinions from 2 other quilters.

This is my second attempt. The first try was good enough for me to keep but I didn't feel it was my best work. I wanted the middle square to be, well square. Having a square block is pretty important in quilting. It's part of the whole 'patience is a virtue' thing. I think my block is humanly, perfectly square ;)

I have to thank my daugther for really nudging me to get out of my comfort zone. The block that I made is called TWIST. I got it from my favourite pattern site.

http://www.quilterscache.com/T/TwistBlock.html

What I love about Marcia's site is how organized it is. Twist is a block rated 2 push pins. 1 push pin would be a beginner block. My daughter really encouraged me to give this one a try because I really liked it. Lo and behold it worked.

We are capable of success when we are encouraged, aren't we?

It's a new year

A lot of things have happened since I last posted. I've been traveling for the holidays and upon returning home promptly injured my left rotar cuff. I'm fortunate that I didn't tear it. I merely strained the tendons in the area of my left shoulder.

Now, 11 days later I'm clearly on the mend. Getting dressed is no longer as painful, I can type pretty quickly and I've begun cooking again. I have to be honest and say that being cared for, and pampered, by my husband and kids has been wonderful. Still, I'm ready to start driving again. I'm hopeful that may happen this week.

My biggest concern was not the pain. I fell and it hurt. That's no big surprise. What really concerned me was getting Danny's quilt top pieced together. In the early days of the injury I had limited range of motion and anything that required the shoulder to rotate was out of the question. Sewing was definately out of the question.

Thank Heaven for friends. Where would any of us be without them? Lorraine will likely do the lion's share of the work piecing together this quilt top. She's happily offered to do it and that is quite a relief. I am going to try to help, at least sitting at the machine, for as long as I can.

Today is an exciting day! We're meeting to begin arranging the blocks. In the next few days we'll be making the creative decisions necessary before we can begin to assemble the quilt top.

This is the part I've most looked forward to. This is the stage in the project when all the individual, lovely blocks sent to me will become a beautiful work of art. The joining together of these blocks is a lot like working with other women. Each strenthens and enhances the other.

And yes, I will be able to take photos because I'm right handed and my camera can be used one handed ;)

Until then I want to share pictures of blocks sent to me by Kathleen. Her blocks are in the mail and should arrive any day.



Here's the other:



Aren't they gorgeous? Very manly and wonderful Earth tone colours. Thank you Kathleen for sending me pictures. I can't wait to receive the blocks and see them up close. Thank you also for your very generous offer of the quilt batting. That's a rather crucial element in quilt making. :)

Dec. 6th brings two more blocks

Two blocks arriving on one day is a pretty good day. Opening the envelopes/boxes as they arrive is a lot of fun. My husband may not admit it but he too has become curious about this project. Looking at the postmark is always interesting because you never know where the block(s) is (are) coming from.

Debra sent another Jacob's Ladder block. You may not be able to see clearly but it's made with fabric that has a camping motif. I love the green fabric and how it picks up some of the green in the camping fabric. My daughter is fascinated by what you can make with squares and triangles. I'm hoping she'll try to make a block like this in the New Year. I think she can do it.

Here's a block from Sandy. This block is amazing. I know to the uninitiated it looks like a bunch of rectangles, squares and triangles and it IS. BUT...if you could see how perfect the seams are on the back and how perfectly flat this block lays you'd be quite impressed. I've decided to give this block a try in the New Year.

I've noticed on this 'quilt journey' that all of the blocks are so well made. You can see they're made with care and attention to detail and just imagine the love that went into each block. These blocks inspire me and always will.

Debra and Sandy, I thank you for caring and for supporting this project.

I'm pleased to have caught up all of the blocks. I'll continue to update this blog as more blocks come in. And more are coming ;) How cool is that?

dawne

December starts on a high note

I've always believed that a person should give only that which they can comfortably give. Looking over the past years I've often given of my time or my money. Usually it's one or the other and always to different degrees. It's all relevant to where you are at that point in your life, what you have, what you need and what you have to spare.

I say that now because each of the blocks I've received are coming at a time when people are busy making Christmas gifts. Many people are looking at Christmas budgets and making gift choices. To make time to create a block and pay to have it shipped really means a lot.

Imagine my surprise when Mary Anne sent 7 blocks! She told me that if any were too feminine to save them and use them at another time. I love them all and I think we can use 6 of them. Who knows? Once all the blocks are assembled Lorraine and I will play around with them and arrange them in different ways until we find what we think works best.


Here are the Jacob's Ladder blocks. There are lots of smaller squares of really cool fabric that do not show enough in the picture. Take my word on it. This is a picture of 4 blocks. It's cool how they come together.

And here are the 3 stars. They were all done by a method called Paper Piecing. I haven't tried that yet but hope to in the new year. Peggy Martin has a book of paper pieced stars that I find fascinating.



Thank you Mary Anne for these wonderful blocks. I appreciate the time and resources that went into each one of them.

dawne

November ends, project in full swing

After two weeks we'd collected 13 blocks when Lorraine called me up and asked to stop by. She had 3 blocks to contribute to the quilt. She and I had been hanging back, waiting to see what came in so that we could decide what we'd make.

I'm still hanging and waiting. "I think I'll be inspired over the Christmas holidays!",she said with optimism.


She brought me 2 very nice blocks done in earthy greens and browns and a pine cone motif. The picture isn't very good. Feels a bit fuzzy but I'm not sure I can do any better with my digital camera. I like how she added blue into one of the blocks. It's masculine but feels soft to me.

Lorraine, thank you for making time in your busy life to wash the backing and border fabrics and for making blocks as well. Your help has been immeasurable.

dawne

A woman's intuition

I mentioned earlier that I really try to follow my gut. There's a feeling you get and it's different for everyone but mine is literally in my stomach. It's a feeling that I only get when something, on some level, is buzzing and needs my attention. Some call it the 6th sense. Whatever it is I believe in it.

Tues., Nov. 27th started just like any other Tuesday in our family. Yet, I had this feeling I would be receiving yet another parcel.

I checked the mail the minute I got home and sure enough the mail had come. Nothing quilting related. Hmmm. This had me puzzled. I couldn't imagine my radar being off but it looked like it was.

It wasn't. Just before dinner that night my daugther brought me an envelope. My address was written on the envelope correctly. It has been delivered to my neighbor by mistake and our neighbor brought it over.

The thing about being a quilter is that often one will stop cooking to look at a block or fabric. I mean, we are blessed to eat three meals a day. Surely one of them can wait for something as important as fabric!

I'm pleased [and so are the kids] that dinner was not burned that night while I opened the envelope from Janet. She sent two beautiful blocks and a contribution toward shipping and other misc. expenses.

What a blessing to be surrounded by such women. These women thank ME for starting this project and allowing them to be part of it. I owe them thanks that they make this project possible.

What does that teach us about women? We need outlets to be creative and we want/need to contribute to something larger than ourselves. It shows me that the strength we have as individuals increases exponentially when we work together.

What would our world be if governements were run by the same philosophy??

Things that make you go "Hmmm".

I love each of the blocks I've rec'd for this project. I hope that has come across loud and clear. So many of them are beyond my current skill level, or perhaps my confidence level, and each one is unique. They are all perfect in my eyes.


Having said that I love this block from Janet in a special way. To me the heart in the center of this block is a visual analogy of the project itself. Love and compassion coming from all sorts of women in many areas, from all walks of life, just like the different colours and patterns in the fabric surrounding it.


Here's her other block.

Thank you Janet for all the help and support in your heart that you're sharing with me and Danny.

dawne

FIVE blocks in one day

It is, perhaps, a bit confusing for the reader to see December dates on all of my blog posts. Had I known how easy it is to maintain a blog I would have started this in mid-Nov. I'll try to be clear because I really want to communicate how it was in the first days of the project. Everything was happening in the blink of an eye, falling into place without hesitation. It's a really great feeling for me to know that others are supporting something that is important to me. It's more than that really. Without them this project would have stalled at square one.

On Monday, Nov. 26th I received a parcel from Agnes and Judy. Four different blocks, each of them quite nice. I had quite a lot of fun photographing them. I was also glad they arrived on a Monday because I would see Lorraine that night and be able to show her. It's really great to have someone else to talk to about something, knowing that it means a lot to that other person too.

That night I received another block by surprise. Five in one day! Unbelievable. The surprise block came from a local quilter, Sandra. Lorraine had mentioned the project to a few women the week before and here she was with block in hand.

Here's the block from Sandra. The picture isn't very good. Don't know what happened there. The colours are ivory and a rust-like colour with hints of pink. The butterfly is really gorgeous set on a purple background.

Here are the four blocks sent from Agnes and Judy. Again, the photos just do not express how nice these blocks are. Makes me wonder if there is a class 'Photography for the Quilter'. I'd sure sign up.

I love the colours, the details of the Maple Leaf block, the vibrant leaves set inside the star and the feeling of movement in the 2 blocks on top.

What I do not like is my photos! Mental note to self: find way to get good pics and post each block seperately.

In the midst of blocks arriving the first cash donation came in from Elizabeth. Before her offer to support the project finacially it had never occured to me to think about money. I was much more concerned with getting the quilt made. And yet, even with donated blocks, batting, backing and border the quilt has to be shipped.

Thank you Elizabeth! Without your generous offer I might have been left with a finished quilt trying to get it shipped quickly. Now we have a plan and we know it'll get there.

Thank you Agnes, Judy and Sandra for adding your distinctive flair to this quilt.

Same week, another parcel

After getting Dale Anne's parcel I called Lorraine, my local friend and project helper, and she came over. It took two of us to handle the large pieces of fabric for the borders and the backing. When I say large pieces I mean LARGE. I took pictures but the pictures are horrible and don't capture the warmth and style of the fabrics.


Once again I was reminded of the generousity of women. We really give with all that we have. We give with compassion. We give our resources and we give with our wallets.


I tried to get back to my daily routine but I found myself looking at the blocks now and again. I think that's another sign of fabric addiction :o) I know my family must have been thinking 'gee, they still look the same'. For me, every time I looked I could tell more about how the block was constructed or I would appreciate some subtle nuance of the colour choice. I came to realize that looking at a quilt block is a lot like looking at any other work of art. Each time you appreciate something new about it.


Two days after the parcel from Dale Anne arrived I received another. Doreen sent two blocks - a Sunbonnet Sue and a Suspender Sam block. The decorative stitching in Sue's dress caught my eye immediately. It takes more time to work with decorative stitches than a straight stitch in a straight line.


Thank you Doreen for reminding me that women give freely of their time and the world is richer for it.

The first parcel arrives!

Eleven days after I asked for help in making a comfort quilt the first parcel arrived.

It's a feeling that's even better than Christmas. That may be one of the signs of fabric addiction.

Dale Anne had sent, as promised, meters of fabric for the backing as well as many meters of fabric to use in the quilt top for borders and sashing. She also sent 4 beautiful blocks.

We had all agreed, at the start, to use warm, comforting earth tone colours. We're making a masculine quilt after all.

The picture really doesn't do these blocks justice.

That night I signed onto my email eager to contact Dale Anne and let her know her package arrived safe and sound and was much appreciated. I had emails from 4 more women who had heard about the project. They were looking for details so they could help.

Thank you Dale Anne for the beautiful fabrics and blocks. It's a great reminder that talents shared benefits us all.

Thank you Wendy, Marilyn, Mary Anne and Susan for being a bright light in a world that is sometimes too full of darkness.

dawne

The origin of Danny's quilt

Last month my husband was watching the news while I checked my email. Personally I prefer my news in the form of a black and white newspaper. Watching news on the tv is often overwhelming because I can't get images out of my mind.

I think I was meant to overhear the news that night. I heard of a tragedy that struck a young man. Something I can't imagine having to learn to shoulder, ever, much less at such a young age. My very first thought as I sat there crying was 'This man needs a quilt'.

To this day it still shocks me that I would think that. Let me give you a simple idea of what a quilt is and you'll see why.

A quilt is made of blocks. A block is made of piece or pieces of fabric sewn together. There are 1000s of blocks to choose from and blocks can be any size.

A friend of mine once said that a quilt is 3 layers sandwiched together. That's true. So making a quilt should be a piece of cake. Right? Wrong!

All the blocks are joined together leaving you with quilt top. It's beautiful but not at all functional. Try to use it and likely the seams will rip. It's also not very warm. That's why you need the middle layer - the batting. Add a piece of material to the back and you've got all your layers of the quilt.

Getting it all together and looking good is a lot more complex than you might think. I have yet to complete an entire quilt by myself in the 6 months I've been quilting.

So why would I want to make a quilt for a man I've never met? The truest answer is because I am a woman, and a mother. I know what pain is and I know what comfort is. I also tend to follow my 'gut', my intuition. It's never steered me wrong. I believed this quilt was possible and it's been a realistic goal from day one.

I strongly believe in the power of women to effect positive change in our world. Quilting is one of the many ways to accomplish this.

I sent an email to a quilting group and called a friend of mine locally. Within three days, only 72 hours, we were a group of 12 women working toward one goal - to get a quilt to a man who needed comfort. We want him to know we wish him well in his healing process.

Think about that. Only 72 hours. That's hardly no time at all. I sent out a call for help and 11 people jumped in with offers to donate supplies, money and quilt blocks.

Remember, I find the actual quilting process still somewhat daunting. It's certainly harder than it looks and one needs time to develop all the skills needed to make a beautiful quilt. These amazing women, 10 of whom I've never met, took the burden of worry from me. Everyone's contribution is what makes the goal reachable. Once I knew I had quilters to contribute blocks and a quilter to actually quilt the 3 layers together I could relax.

A tragedy that is so horrible for one man has become something that has shown me how wonderful humans can be. Life is like that sometimes, really unfathomable.

And thus, this blog is born. This kindness and the efforts of these women should not just pass by like yesterday's weather report. They should be preserved and celebrated.

Thank you Dale Anne, Lorraine, Judy, Sherri, Doreen, Janet, Elizabeth, Kathleen, Agnes, Debra and Gerene for reminding me of one of my favourite quotes.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead