I think if you even remotely follow the rec list here the past few days you'll know that there is a little fundraising effort going on for our beloved Sara R. If you don't know the background of her health issues you can read about them here. But Timroff said it best:
This lovely, amazing, giving woman is struggling with her own health issues right now, and, lacking health insurance, she is unable to pay for the surgery she requires to keep herself alive. I realize that sounds overly dramatic, but it's simply the truth. Without gallbladder surgery, Sara R will die.
Working with the hospital and her doctors they estimated it would cost $15,000 for her surgery, at least half of which she'd have to pay upfront. KelleyRN2 I am pretty sure told her she had done so much for this community and others in need it was time to ask for help cause she needed it.
Well I am very happy to REPORT THAT LAST NIGHT, SHE REACHED THE $15,000 SHE NEEDED! How cool is that? But I don't think we are done just yet. Below the fold a story, one last plea from me to help, and a something you might not know about Sara (she does sell quilts you know).
Those that know me know I like to tell stories. I think they help people understand my point-of-view. Why I do and say the things I do.
It was 1995 I think. I was working at an ad agency making more money then I ever thought I would make. The owner, this wonderful, super liberal Jewish women had a charity that was very important to her. Each Christmas those that wanted to take part would be asked to buy a coat, wool hat, gloves, and toy for a young child in inner city DC. There were lots of children that were cold I'd learn.
I'd just been given a year-end bonus that would choke a horse. I didn't participate. There were things I wanted. Maybe a few more $3,000 Tom James suits. A few $500 meals. Pretty sure some really good drugs were also in the mix someplace. See it wasn't that long ago I was a selfish SOB.
When my boss saw I wasn't taking part she came into my office and said something close to:
Tommy you should be ashamed of yourself. You might try practicing a random act of kindness once in awhile. You know Karma is a bitch!
I went out and got a coat, wool hat, gloves, and toy. I'd done stuff for other people before, like running a suicide hotline, but that was more to build my resume. I have to say I'd never felt better.
So I try to practice a random act of kindness as often as I can.
That was how I met Sara. I'd seen her Community Quilt Diaries, even donated some. In one Diary I thought to myself, "you know I build web sites for a living, her project could really use one." I mentioned his and she said she couldn't afford to pay me. I explained that wasn't what I was asking. I could find a few hours here or there to help and I'd be happy to be a small part of her project.
Since then we built out the Community Quilt Project site. I've spent a few hours talking to her about the site. But countless hours about this or that. She must be one of the nicest, most caring and wonderful people I've ever met. And even though I am an active member here and read a number of her Community Quilt Diaries I HAD NO CLUE how important, how much of an impact she had on people's lives.
Well that was until I started to put together the testimonial page of her site. Reading the emails and Diaries of people that have received one of her Love Catcher quilts. Well I broke down in tears, tears of joy multiple times. The comments touch my heart and soul. You should read some of them then come back here.
Now, in far too long winded way the main point of this Diary. Everybody here does know Sara sells quilts don't they :)? Heck you can commission a quilt if you want.
Well she does! She has an online store here. I've often thought (cause I do it) folks here skim Diaries and the comments and don't always follow many links off the site. Therefore it has always been my opinion a lot of individuals think Sara just makes these Love Catcher quilts and don't realize you can purchase one yourself if you'd like.
That and Sara is far too polite to promote or sell something here. Well I'll do it for her darn it. Although I beg (yes I said beg) you to donate what you can if you can at her PayPal link, you could also buy one of her quilts.
Now before you say, "wait, didn't you write in all caps she had hit her goal." Yes I did but, it is my experience in working with doctors and hospitals when they tell you something will cost X it always costs more. I think most of us would like her to have more money then she thinks she needs so as she recovers she never has to worry there were cost overruns.
Plus, and although I never asked Sara this, I don't have to. If she has money left over from this fundraising effort I am 110% sure it will come right back to this site for somebody else who needs help!
So onto a few of her quilts, with many more here.
Enlaced Stars
41" x 41" children's quilt featuring the traditional "friendship star" block in shades of aqua, cobalt, white and sunshine yellow. The backing is a yellow, green, and light blue floral pattern. This quilt would also be a lovely table scarf. Price: $145. More pics and you can buy it here.
Citrus Twist
64" x 82" log cabin quilt in contemporary colors. Sunny citrus colors (lemon, orange, lime) are paired with whites and cool, pale pastels around deep blue centers. Set in a "streak of lightning" setting, they look like long twists of fruit colors. The backing is the blue of the coolest swimming pool.
This twin size quilt is hand quilted in fine stitches. The batting is cotton. A pieced border ties it all together. The quilt is sleeved for hanging if you would rather have your sunshine on the wall rather than the bed. Price: $900.00. More pics and you can buy it here
Pansy and Sun
38" x 38" children's quilt featuring a pansy print set with leafy green, sunny yellow, and sparkly cream fabrics. The backing is a soft lavender sparked with bits of green, hot pink, and white. This quilt would be suitable as a table scarf. Price: $125.00. More pics and you can buy it here.
Magic Chain
43" x 43" Irish Chain wall hanging -- with a twist. It features dragons, spells, magic potions, and wizards. A bright and cheerful decoration for a child's room -- or the room of anyone who loves fantasy. Hand quilted with tiny stitches and sleeved for hanging. The backing is an emerald green tone on tone print. Price: $275.00. More pics and you can buy it here.
As a proud owner of one of her wall hanging quilts I can assure you they are stunning and worth every penny and then some. Not to make fun of Sara's photo skills, but none of these pictures do the darn things justice.
Folks that have had one in their hands can't stop talking about them. Heck a Kossack who heard I was going to write this Diary forward me a pic of one he bought to include:
Saying:
Attached is a picture of a quilt made for Emily. It was simply a gift to the daughter of a friend of mine. The quilt has animal pictures on it. Birds, giraffes, tigers ... etc. This is illustrate that quilts are for everyone ... young and old.
So go do some shopping. Buy your child, wife, or partner a quilt. Heck buy your husband/boyfriend one. If you would have told me a few months ago that I'd have a quilt hanging in my living room (on a quilt rack no less) I would have laughed at you.
To steal a line from "The Dude" in the Big Lebowski, "it really ties the room together!"
Peace everybody, and if I disappear in mid-comment in this Diary it is cause I'm supposed to get 18-24 inches of snow today. Now it is coming down at about 3 inches an hour.
UPDATE: Whoops, huge mistake on my part. I didn't include the coffee cozies that Sara has made. Do you go to an office everyday and get a cup of coffee with that ugly, wasteful cardboard cozie? Well Sara has a solution.
$15 each, including shipping. I forget them cause we don't have a lot of pics cause they are all different. Both the backing and the fabric are "scraps" so as not to waste any materials she has used on other projects.
I'd say these are a "perfect" thing to buy to help Sara and not near the price-point of a quilt. I have a few and they make you look "cool" at the coffee shop, you know if you care about that :).
UPDATE II: My gosh this Sara is a task master. She mentioned I could have noted her "Pootie Pads." I was a "beta" tester you might say. Think of a quilt like thing a little larger then a place mat. The center filled with catnip. Her are my cats with it.
[turn down your volume ....]
One cat had claimed it. Rolled around with it. My other, less dominant cat wanted a part, or at least to share. At the very end of the video you will see one didn't want to share. They are $25 (including shipping). You can order one here. I got it like two months ago and Sara let me know there is catnip spray. It is like the "pent house" place to "own" in my house these days.