#therearenowordsquilt
Showing posts with label #therearenowordsquilt. Show all posts
there are no words cushion
This is a very special make for me. One that represents loss, love, remembrance, friendship, community and compassion.
Last year when my friend Nat tragically lost her youngest son, I put a call out on social media asking for low volume nine patch blocks to make into a quilt. Quilters generously made and sent beautiful blocks from around the world and I was able to make three quilts for Nat and her family. You can read about the 'there are no words' quilts here.
The lovely Sharon Holland contributed a block to the quilt and also sent an extra one, which she said I could use in the quilt if needed or save it to create my own make. I'm actually crying as I remember how it felt to read all the thoughtful cards and notes that were sent, not only to Nat but also to me. The sadness is a fraction of what Nat experienced and continues to experience and that was what compelled me to do the work of providing tangible quilts, to show her and her family the love, comfort and sympathy we all wanted to give.
I decided to keep the block and, although it has taken me some time to come to use it, I will treasure this cushion and all it represents. The life of a precious little boy.
I had some vintage sheet fat quarters that I have had stashed for a long time, after a swap organised by Mary Emmens. I wanted to add something to represent joy, as a celebration of little baby MiH's short life. Also Nat is a big advocate of upcycling and caring for the planet so I thought she would like me using vintage.
I decided to add more texture by creating half circle scallops to trim the edges of the block, for my easy tutorial on how to make them click here.
They feel lovely, the soft vintage fabric was perfect and the florals mix really well with the modern prints.
The border and binding fabrics are from Gossamer by Sharon Holland - the same range she originally used to make the nine patch. I had been saving these prints and using some here felt perfect.
The back is a pretty Yuwa print and I made a covered zip back using this clever and simple tutorial by Adrianne at On The Windy Side.
I am keeping this cushion away from the kids and visitors and the cat. It's mine and will live in our bedroom.
I made my own cushion inner using some stuffing and an old pillowcase. Very simple and easy to do. It has made the cushion very plump and some use will help get it into a better shape!
I used a pale blue perle thread to quilt the nine patch block. I quilted 1/4" away from the seams to make a hashtag pattern, a reminder of #therearenowordsquilt.
I think about little baby MiH and his mum often. I hold them both in my thoughts.
Thank you again to everyone that contributed to making the quilts, to all of you for the kind notes you sent. Thank you Sharon for making it possible for me to create my own cushion, as a remembrance and celebration.
And to my friend Nat, through the grief and pain you have such strength. I see you and the amazing job you do as a mother. I am always here for you and look forward to our always random chats through the crazy and fun times ahead.
The cushion was on my FAL list and is my last finish before quarter 3 starts. There's still a lot of quilts on that list left for me to finish, there will have to be roll overs!
linking up to TGIFF at Celtic Thistle Stitches this week and finish it up friday at crazy mom quilts
there are no words quilts
In October last year my friend Nat devastatingly lost her youngest son. I did as quilters do and reached out to our amazing community to ask for low volume nine patch blocks. I wanted to make her family a quilt to comfort them and wrap them up in our love.
There were so many packages arriving I felt I had to explain to my postman and asked him to treat them with care. The generosity of everyone meant that I was able to make three quilts from the blocks, with the other two going to Nat's parents and her husband's parents. Grandparents play such an important role it feels meaningful to be able to acknowledge them and their grief in this way. On Sunday I was able to meet up with Nat and give her the quilts, along with all the cards you asked me to pass on and a card with everyone's name that contributed.
There are no words to say in the face of such sadness but the actions of you all says so much. Thank you to everyone that was able to contribute a block, for all your touching notes of support for Nat and encouragement for me in what was an emotional project.
I was able to create a double sided quilt for Nat and her family. It was quilted at my work, by long arm quilter Alison of Quilting For Bees. She kindly taught me how to use the machine and do some of the work. I chose a cloud pattern, it felt calming and peaceful and worked well with the neutral palette of the quilt.
The second quilt was quilted on my home machine, simple straight line quilting in a large cross hatch. I used a vintage flannel sheet to back this one.
The third quilt was quilted in the same way and the backing is a single duvet, which I cut up one side to avoid piecing. I also think the pattern on this one works nicely.
I am truly grateful to everyone for helping me support my friend and her family. I know Nat felt the overwhelming love you have sent her. Special thanks to Justine and Lisa of Simply Solids, Lisa of In The Boon Docks, Kelly of Jeli Quilts, Sarah of Narcoleptic in the Cupboard and Helen of Midget Gem Quilts for your generous helping hands.
It is hard to see all the blocks but each and every one is beautiful. People put so much thought into the fabrics choices and there are some lovely fussy cuts, fitting text fabric and prints. As I was hand sewing the binding on I kept noticing elements I hadn't seen before and I really felt the care and grace of the designs.
Thank you for being part of #therearenowordsquilt.
focus ~ FAL Q1 2016
Like many quilters I have lots of projects on the go but rather than list them all in the hopes of finishing them I'm going to narrow it down to keep it realistic and stay motivated!
Here's my Finish-A-Long list for Quarter one:
1, 2 and 3. The three #therearenowords quilts. One for Nat and her family, two for the grandparents. These are in various stages of near completion and will be handed over to Nat in February, after which I will share them here.
4. A magazine commission with an impending deadline - here's a sneak peek:
5. It's all basted (has been for a while) and I am going to hand quilt it with perle - I had a quilting plan but have since forgotten it so I need to have a look again and come up with something!
I would like to check all this off at the end of the quarter and approach them all with great enthusiasm! I keep a copy of this list in my planner so I can refer to it and remind myself of what I said I'd complete.
Have you done your list?
Sweet Marvel ~ Betty and Caroline
This week I made some more blocks for the Farmer's Wife 1930's Sew-along, I picked up quite a bit of fabric to add to my stash and I started trying to help a friend...
#14 Betty
I enjoyed reading this letter, I like the idea of working at something and practising to become better - like with my quilting! Although I haven't hooked my husband on it yet ;) My own Aunt Betty was a wonderful woman, I have fond memories of visiting her in California and eating cinnamon toast for the first time. Her daughter Jackie encouraged me to quilt and so this block was created with memories and love. It allowed me to think about how my life has been "greatly enriched".
I don't have any musical themed fabric so I instead I replaced a musical 'score' with the bowling themed Score Card, Lucky Strike by Kimberly Kight. I thought the Koi by Rashida Coleman Hale that I've used on the outer triangles looks like volume buttons too! I used to be an avid bowler so this felt more personal but I like the nod to the music in the letter.
#20 Caroline
What a thought provoking and beautiful letter this was. I chose fabrics to represent the sunrise, the "soft crystals [that] fall from the heavens" and combined them with the black and white Cotton & Steel print, which I feel represents the universe. To me the block shows the sense of being part of something bigger and of how incredible life is. I am on a journey with my faith but I recognise "the everyday wonders".
There were some fabric hauls this week:
To add in to my Farmer's Wife 1930's quilt I picked up this Three Tone Stripe print by Lakehouse from Patchfinders and Pink Memory, Playful by Melody Miller from Fat Quarter Shop.
I also got this bundle for an upcoming project:
Top row: Butter Churn in Navy, Feed Company by Sweetwater; Subdivided in Grey, Doe by Carolyn Friedlander
Bottom row: Starshine in Nightfall, Rhoda Ruth by Elizabeth Hartman; Lined Grids in Yarrow, Dow by Carolyn Friedlander; Southwest Key in Nature, Rhoda Ruth by Elizabeth Hartman; Crosshatch in Chestnut, Architextures by Carolyn Friedlander; Ant March in Citron, Picnic by Melody Miller and Coming Home in Clay, Bound by April Rhodes.
Then I picked up a 'just for fun' print and a couple of yards for backings from Pink Castle Fabrics:
Left to right: Pets and Crafts in Pink by Kiyohara; Apples in Sky, Oh Clementine by Allison Harris and Non-Pareils Lawn in Warm, Cookie Book by Kimberly Kight.
I haven't used Lawn as a backing before but it's so silky and gorgeous I really want to! If you have let me know and is there anything I need to know before I do?!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have to say a huge thank you to everyone that has contributed to Nat's #therearenowordsquilt. It's been hard getting through the door as the blocks arrive and it is so generous and kind.
There is a donation page to help the family get a memorial bench so they have a place to go, sit and talk to the little one. If you are able to contribute please click this link:
We are currently at 22% and, while I feel uncomfortable asking for money, I am reaching out for help. If you could please share the link above I would really appreciate it.
Thank you xx
heartbroken
This morning I had the saddest news from my dear friend Nat, she very tragically and unexpectedly said goodbye to her beautiful 10 month old boy this morning.
I am still in shock and have cried all day. It's heartbreaking and can't stop thinking about her and her beautiful family. I want you all to know that she is a creative, honest, thoughtful, funny and gorgeous woman, wife, mother and friend. I could write so much about why I admire and respect her but it doesn't really matter. What matters is showing her I care, we care, and trying in a small way to comfort her.
Only when I realised Nat had shared the news herself did I ask on social media for people to help me make her a quilt. She has, in my opinion, exquisite taste so I want to make something neutral and calming. Today is the worst day and there will be more hard days so I would like to be able to send her some peace.
If you would like to contribute to the quilt please make a 9 patch block using 4.5" squares, so the finished block is 12.5". Please use mainly white, cream or soft colours. If you know Nat and have some fabric you think she'd like feel free to use that too.
You can DM me on instagram, send a message on facebook or leave a comment below with your email to request the address to send a block to. I am not adding names to the quilt but if you would like your name adding to a card for Nat and her family please include a note with your name when you send the block.
Thank you for your support and helping me show Nat our love.
#therearenowordsquilt
If there are more than enough blocks for one quilt I will make charity quilts with the extra blocks and find a suitable charity to donate them to.
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