Meteor Blades' quilt -- we would like to make something similar for CSM in a wild and bright color palette
Everybody knows of Common Sense Mainer as Bill in Portland Maine's beloved life partner. But unless you have been fortunate enough to have met him at a Netroots Nation conference or other meet up, you won't have seen how he lights up a room so that everyone suddenly finds themselves in a good mood. Michael has that rare gift of quiet efficiency that makes things (social situations, logistics, organization) flow with ease but without being in the forefront, himself. He is gracious and giving to a fault as well as being a hell of a lot of fun.
Ann and I want to make a star quilt for CSM to honor him for his huge heart and many contributions to community, especially in light of his role in helping us all feel represented at Cedwyn's bedside. Like Jotter and Jill Richardson, he traveled a long way to see Cedwyn -- and he picked up ericlewis0 and 4Freedom along the way. He kept a lot of us, including the quiltmakers, in the loop on Cedwyn's condition, even when his visit was done -- and it was at his insistence that Ann and I got the community quilt to Cedwyn in time for her to enjoy it awhile. Yes, CSM lit a fire under us, all the way from Portland, ME to Portland OR and we are so grateful for it! Like many, I really admire CSM for all he did for Cedwyn. I know it was not easy for someone as sensitive as he to witness the vital and vibrant Cedwyn so physically diminished by mortal illness and yet rise above the shock to cheer her up (which he did, beautifully). Such things take an emotional toll and you cannot forget them...Ann and I know.
There is another reason we want to make this special quilt for CSM. He has recently had a diagnosis of COPD, a serious medical condition and something he will live with for the rest of his life. Now he is on two inhalers and tells me they are not giving the best relief. Difficulty in drawing breath is a bitter limitation for someone like Michael and is enough to make any bright spirit feel blue. I don't know if a quilt like this can make breathing easier but, filled with love and light and color as it shall be, it should be an effective antidote for the blues.
So, would you like to leave a short message for CSM to let him know how you love and value him? We are looking for 200 short messages to make a star. The messages need to be brief and pithy so they will fit. See MB's quilt for an example of the size limit:
A community quilt is a compilation of loving messages from you, transcribed by me in archival ink on muslin. My sister and I then sew the messages together with colorful fabric to make something very special. This one will be a special celebration of love for a real community icon. Let's lift him up!
ruleoflaw's quilt
It takes time and expense to make a community quilt and it is a living for me and my sister. If you would like to contribute toward CSM's quilt, here is a PayPal link or message me for an address should you prefer a check. $15/message is suggested for most of our quilts although some give more to cover for those who cannot afford to donate. But this will be a more complicated piece and will take considerably more time to make than our usual community quilt. And I plan to quilt it by hand. Michael's quilt will be worth the extra time, I promise! We can only make one such quilt per year.
ruleoflaw's quilt, showing the wildflower backing fabric
We are almost finished with TrueBlueMajority's quilt top. Her quilt will be done within the week. Here is the center of it:
The heart of TrueBlueMajority's quilt
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, RIP)
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)
125. MrsBadger (grieving widow)
126. ruleoflaw (harsh therapy for kidney rejection)
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
MrsBadger's quilt, showing backing
These quilts are planned. If you would like to propose someone for a quilt, just drop me a line.
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)
Cedwyn's quilt -- note the use of Yasuragi's pink, Japanese fabric bordering the center block
PAYPAL LINK FOR COMMONSENSE MAINER'S QUILT - THANK YOU!
From the comfort of Yasuragi's quilt, Boots says, "Thank you for supporting community quilts!"
Namaste.