Ebby's quilt, just finished today
Leaves on the Current is newly diagnosed with a blood borne cancer that has made painful lesions on her spine. She quickly went into radiation treatment and is now undergoing chemo as well. Teacherken has written tenderly about their adjustments as a couple to cancer treatment -- and so far, things are going well. But we can all help by sending words of love that Leaves can really wrap up in -- in the form of a community quilt.
Ann drew the centerpiece of Ebby's quilt, a portrait of her late kitties, Buddy and Sammy
A community quilt contains messages of love and support from you, transcribed by me onto muslin and sewn together with colorful fabrics by me and my sister, Ann. They are a love letter like no other -- warm and comforting, built to absorb tears, soothe raw feelings and provide restful covering for naps. They radiate love that never, ever washes out.
Ebby's quilt, showing the backing
We have received 53 messages for this quilt so far but need 68 to make a pattern. That leaves 15 messages to be collected! The quilt is paid for up to those 68 messages -- but if you would like to help us collect for some Pootie Pads to send with the quilt, it would be great. This couple has four cats. We'll make one Pootie Pad to match the quilt -- but we think three more would be nice because cats don't like to share Pootie Pads and might fight (as irishwitch just experienced). This would undermine our intention to have Leaves enjoy the sight of happy cats playing on the pads (which is really therapeutic!). We'll need $105 for the three extra pads (no shipping required because they will go in the box with the quilt). Here is a PayPal link for donations of any size to this project -- or message me for an address if you prefer a check. NOTE: Pootie Pads are now paid for -- thanks everyone!
Ebby's quilt, pin basted for quilting
These people have already left messages for Leaves on the Current:
1. bigjacbigjacbigjac
2. One Pissed Off Liberal
3. blue jersey mom
4. 2laneIA
5. commonmass
6. winglion
7. Susan from 29
8. broths
9. side pocket
10. angelajean
11. cfk in the Thumb of Michigan
12. BlackSheep1
13. michelewin
14. JeckyllnHyde
15. navajo
16. Vetwife
17. llbear
18. Kitsap River and Charles CurtisStanley
19. weck
20. 4Freedom
21. suejazz
22. Randallt
23. Louisiana 1976
24. 3goldens
25. Lorikeet
26. Ekaterin
27. CJB/Kelly
28. Catwho
29. Texasmom
30. frosti
31. peregrine kate and ProvokingMeaning
32. Chacounne
33. Esjaydee
34. jplanner
35. Northsylvania
36. Zenox
37. TexMex
38. Avilyn
39. maggiejean
40. sidnora
41. Parthenia
42. DarkHawk98
43. ramara
44. Grannycarol
45. Chun Yang
46. Youffraita
47. Ricochet67
48. MNGlasnant
49. middleagedhousewife
50. Vtgal
51. BeadLady
52. Zen Trainer
53. murasaki
commonmass' quilt messages are all transcribed, ready to sew
Need inspiration? Here are a few of Leaves on the Current's messages so far:
Feel the support from the community
and especially from teacherken himself.
His caring inspired us all. Please heal gently
with all due speed. side pocket
Dear Leaves on the Current, May the love of the strangers, who have become friends, who have become this wonderful family wrap you in comfort. Susan from 29
We walk with you arm in arm.
We'll travel the path together.
This quilt will keep you warm,
through rough and stormy weather weck
A healing quilt that surrounds you with love will make you feel better! Just remember there are many of us keeping you in our thoughts. Lorikeet
"Each one of my thoughts,
With the splendid tint of love,
Has been dyed." We wish you well throughout your course of treatment. We continue to think of you on your journey, with love. frosti
Dear Leaves on the Current sending you the very warmest of wishes for your speedy recovery. When you hear a cricket that's me thinking of you. TexMex
racheltracks' quilt
These are the community quilts we have completed 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)
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 inspects Regina in a Sears Kit House'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)
Oke (severe respiratory infection)
MassHarry's quilt
PAYPAL LINK FOR LEAVES ON THE CURRENT'S QUILT/POOTIE PADS -- THANK YOU!
Boots says, "Thank you for supporting community quilts!"
Namaste.