Several weeks ago Sara R posted a diary to collect funds for use on this year’s KOSsack project to donate quilts, crocheted or knitted scarves and hats, teddy bears, and other items to 65 people at the Detroit Veteran’s Nursing Home during the up-coming NN14.
I don’t quilt: never have, never will. Even though I admire it greatly, I am not interested in doing it myself. Instead, I donate my one-of-a-kind, hand-made greeting cards to each of Sara R and Winglion’s Community Quilt Projects which send amazing hand-made quilts to KOSsacks with serious health issues or facing other major crisis. My card-making sister happily fills in when I have not been able to keep up. I also made cards for each of the 35 KOSsack-made lap quilts donated to the Veteran’s Spinal Rehabilitation Center in San Jose, California during NN13, and have made 65 different cards for the Detroit Veteran’s Nursing Home for NN14.
I know cards can’t be used to cover or wrap around you. But that is not their purpose. They are, in my mind, a combination of things: a creative outlet for me; a mini work of art; a tangible way of expressing care, humor, encouragement and connection. That, and it is a way to keep my cats entertained.
The base of a card uses cardstock which is an acid-free, archival-quality cross between paper and cardboard. It’s thickness is similar to construction paper, but of a very different texture and with the ability to absorb ink without bleeding. A design which is stamped, sponged, stenciled, drawn, painted, colored, or cut from other cardstock or patterned paper--or some combination of those or other techniques--is added to the base. Many cards will use additional cardstock or paper mats and frames and other embellishments depending on the effect of what is trying to be accomplished.
I was lucky enough to receive some money donated by generous KOSsacks during one of Sara R’s fundraisers. My heartfelt thanks goes to everyone who donated money or well-wishes. I would have thanked you personally in the diary, but it was posted while I was out of town and did not have internet access for an extended time.
Below is a small sample of the 65 cards I made for the Detroit project. I thought some of you might be like to see what your support helped produce. If anyone would like to see the whole collection of cards, just click on the first photo in the diary and it will take you to an album on my husband Ojibwa’s photobucket account.
Again, thanks to Sara R, Ann, and everyone else.