MrsBadger's quilt, basted for quilting. The handstitching of the binding is about to begin. We should be shipping the finished quilt on Wednesday.
TrueBlueMajority has been suffering for some years now of an abiding grief after the death of her mother. She has written about this very touchingly in The Grieving Room many times. After one quilt diary, the beautiful, supportive messages that came in were very healing for our friend -- and although we have 56 messages (certainly enough to make a quilt) I just know that if I did not post a follow up, there would be people who would regret not participating. For our TrueBlueMajority is very beloved... And this is working, dear community. The emotional support of your kind and loving words is helping this beautiful woman.
UPDATE: For the number of messages we have, we are caught up on donations. I will keep this updated!
Detail of Yasuragi's quilt. She requested the yin yang symbol be added to the design -- we gave her four of them.
What is a community quilt? It is a colorful quilt that includes message of love and support from you, transcribed by me in archival ink on muslin. It is a warm blanket that radiates love, love that cannot wash out, ever.
Yasuragi's quilt. It is a little hard to see, but the constellation of Orion is outlined in the center block, the position of the stars marked with crystal beads.
It takes time and material to make a community quilt and it is a living for me and my sister. If you would like to contribute toward the cost of this quilt, here is a PayPal button -- or message me for an address if you prefer a check. $15/message is suggested but some kind people give more to cover for messages from those who cannot afford to donate. All messages are welcome regardless of donation. This is a crowdfunded thing and it always works out in the end!
Cedwyn's quilt -- how we miss her! It was some comfort to us that we were able to get the quilt to her in time for her to enjoy it for awhile before she left us.
Here is a list of the people who have provided messages for TrueBlueMajority so far. If you are not on the list, please leave a message for her in the comments!
1. Glitterscale
2. bluejerseymom
3. Wubgkuib
4. weck
5. Denise Oliver Velez
6. JoanMar
7. Chrislove
8. BeadLady
9. high uintas
10. Damnit Janet
11. smileycreek
12. AnacharsisClootz
13. One Pissed Off Liberal
14. Yasuragi
15. StateOfGrace
16. 2thanks
17. Ekaterin
18. ridemybike
19. Skohayes
20. Jakedog42
21. cfk in the Thumb of Michigan
22. JaxDem
23. llbear
24. raina
25. SisTwo
26. loggersbrat
27. Christin
28. Scamperdo
29. chicago minx.
30. Ruleoflaw
31. GrannyCarol
32. Vetwife
33. Kitsap River (River) and Charles CurtisStanley
34. maggiejean
35. Pam from Calif
36. Aurora Oxymora
37. asterkitty
38. navajo
39. emeraldmaiden
40. wasatch
41. noweasels
42. TMsSpentyouth
43. Samuel Vargo
44. Dharmasyd
45. Angie in WA State
46. Gemina13
47. Onomastic
48. jplanner
49. Otteray Scribe
50. mimi
51. charlotteford
52. brillig
53. 4Freedom
54. Moviemeister76
55. sidnora
56. Shanikka
Another view of Cedwyn's quilt. The center block is called "Butterfly Garden". Cedwyn loved butterflies.
Need inspiration? Here are a few of TrueBlueMajority's quilt messages so far:
You are love, Sis, and loved. May the quilt you receive wrap you in the warmth of us all as you grieve. Denise Oliver Velez
It is forgiven. All is forgiven by those on the other side. They hold no grievance and remember none. Embrace yourself in the love from all of us, knowing your mother is also holding you. No regrets. You gave her your heart and you were there at the end. You are loved. BeadLady
You felt like an old friend
as soon as we sat down
and started talking
and laughing May your heart heal
as you feel our love smileycreek
I mourn my mother everyday. But it’s important that we remember that the depth of our grief is a measure of the love we felt -- that we still feel. You're an inspiration to so many of us. I hope this quilt serves as a tiny bit of inspiration to you. Hugs, love, and strength. Yasuragi
I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness the astonishing light of your own being. Skohayes
I crawled into The Grieving Room and you welcomed me like an old friend. So much compassion, no judgment at all - the love that you are reaches out from every comment like a flowering vine. I wish for you everything that you've given to all of us. May you find healing and peace. Aurora Oxymora
A beaded "meteor blade" from Meteor Blade's quilt -- modeled after an actual 17th century keris knife
This is the body of work of the Community Quilt Project so far:
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, RIP)
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, RIP)
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)
97. commonmass (grieving widower)
98. Clytemnestra (DES daughter, debilitating abdominal pain and bleeding)
99. Oke (survived life threatening pulmonary infection, COPD, depression)
100. shanikka (diverticulitis, intestinal abscess and life threatening infection)
101. Serpents Choice (grief)
102. smarx (caregiver to mother who has dementia)
103. FloridaSNMOM (COPD, chronic pain, anxiety over access to health care)
104. Timaeus (enormous hernia requiring major surgery)
105. paradox (cyclic vomiting syndrome, PTSD, depression)
106. UnaSpenser (Lyme Disease)
107. LoreleiHI (reversals of fortune, homelessness, hearing loss, PTSD)
108. Vetwife (caregiver to husband and other family members)
109. namvetkato (PTSD, Agent Orange related illnesses including heart disease, spinal stenosis, and intense chronic pain)
110. Annalize5 (lung cancer, diabetes and other chronic ailments)
111. The Packhorse (heart disease and diabetes) and irishwitch (caregiver)
112. Phil N DeBlanc (grieving widower)
113. hopeful (breast cancer)
114. 2thanks (caregiver to wife)
115. Unit Zero (throat cancer)
116. triciawyse (childhood abuse survivor, seizure disorder, sadness, reversal of fortunes)
117. newpioneer (grieving the passing of his husband, Juan)
118. high uintas (sister is slipping into dementia)
119. Meteor Blades (a tribute -- there was a heart attack, too but this is really a tribute!)
120. winglion (survived sepsis), quilt made by Pam from Calif
121. edgery (broken ankle and finger, both required surgery)
122. PerfectStormer (renal failure, in need of kidney transplant)
123. Cedwyn (cancer, RIP)
124. Yasuragi (chronic pain and feelings of depression)
See also these three posts about the community quilt project:
KosAbility: A Virtual Quilt for Sara and Ann, from Community Quilt recipients
We Have Something to Say to YOU, Sara R and winglion!
Community Quilt FlashMob Brightens up NN13
Community Quilt Testimonial Videos
remembrance
ramara
paradise50
shanikka
cskendrick
edgery's quilt, showing the backing
These quilts are planned. If you would like to propose someone for a quilt, just drop me a line.
ruleoflaw (kidney failure requiring harsh steroid treatment) LOOK FOR THIS THIS WEEK
byardl (fibromyalgia, pnuemonia, widow)
dangoch (newly widowed)
MA Liberal (caretaker to her mother who has dementia)
Ellinorianne (rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia)
MsGrin (life long heart problems requiring multiple surgeries)
My sister with her quilt, made by Pam from Calif
PAYPAL LINK FOR TRUEBLUEMAJORITY'S QUILT - THANK YOU!
Boots says, "Thank you for supporting community quilts!
Namaste.