Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Special quilts - Gifts from the Heart

I've been a member of a small quilt for almost 20 years now. We call ourselves the Tangled Threads. We meet once a week a each other's homes. I've mentioned the group in past posts, so some of you may remember them. This past year we've been involved in making some special quilts, and now that they've all been received I can post pictures.
One of our members has a son who is in the army. He's part of a tank platoon stationed in Iraq. Last fall Kim found some army fabric so she made her son a quilt and sent it to him. He asked her if she could make quilts for the rest of his platoon so she enlisted the help of the Tangled Threads. The quilts were pieced by several of the members and quilted by both me and a couple other people. Kim's son finally had a chance to send her a picture of the platoon with their quilts - I didn't want to write about it until I had that picture along with their permission to post it. They all really liked them - especially in the winter. I guess it gets cold in Iraq in the winter.

We also spent the last several months working on a special quilt for one of our members. I've mentioned her before when I've talked about her battle with ovarian cancer and the program through Blank Fabrics to raise money to fight ovarian cancer. We received some fabrics from Blank Fabrics as a thank you for all the blocks we sent them, so we decided to make a comfort quilt for Peggy from the fabrics. We added some of our own, and each of us made a self portrait by adapting an appliqué pattern from the book Friends Forever Quilting Together by Nancy Smith and Lynda Milligan of Possibilities. One of our members made a block to represent Peggy, and another made a block with two people - Peggy in her kerchief and an unnamed "Thread". (I've posted a picture of that block as well as my "self portrait" in which I'm wearing a jumper - still my favorite work outfit even though they are out of fashion.)Another member sewed the blocks together, I quilted it, and still another member bound it. It truly was a group love project. Peggy was delighted with it, and took it to wrap around her during her next chemo treatment.

One of the true joys of quilting is making love gifts for others - whether they are people one knows or for charity to be given to whoever needs them. The more involved I've become making love quilts the more I want to make. Quilts are truly gifts from the heart.

31 comments:

Silverthimble said...

Nice to see the generosity of your quilting friends, the Threads! Thanks for sharing the stories behind the quilts--I just love them!

Anonymous said...

I am impressed by your generosity and the magnanimous heart you have. Thank you for supporting our troops and providing them with a reminder of the love and gratitude we have for them here at home.

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful story!

kim said...

Thank you for the story. Thank you for helping to remind us to share our love and support for others in ways other people can't. We as quilters have a gift; we can create something tangible, that is made with love, which will continue to remind others of our love as long as they have it. Quilting is gift, and like good gifts, it is meant to be shared. You are a great example to us, Thanks!
Kim

Jenni said...

Great to see those great big guys loving their homemade quilts. What a greatgroup you have.

Anonymous said...

Patti, how beautiful. It's not only a work of art, it's a "labour of love" ! Thanks for showing !

XOXOXOXOXO
NADINE

Anonymous said...

I think it is great to make quilts for others that really apprecaite them. I think it is wonderful you all made quilts for his buddies...
The quilt for Peggy is just wonderful...I love the all the ladies on the quilt !!!!!
I love making baby quilts for the local hospital to give the low income mom's...and seeing them in strollers in the town where the hospital is has made my day.

Carol said...

Patti thank you so much for sharing your gifts of love. This is the first blog I read this morning with my cup of coffee and I must tell you it was the perfect way to start the day. Thank you.

Lily Mulholland said...

I just love that comfort quilt you made for your friend! And the echo quilting is inspired!

Look at the fellas with their quilts in Iraq!!

Suzanne Earley said...

Wonderful quilts and story. Thanks for telling us about it.

Granny said...

WOW! What a great post to read first thing this morning. Your group sounds like a wonderful group of friends. Your generosity on both projects leaves me feeling warm and fuzzy this morning! The quilts are beautiful!

Darlene said...

Incredibly touching story, Patti - thank you for sharing!

Quilts And Pieces said...

You had such great quilts to share today! I love how all the women came out in Peggy's quilt!

Jeanne said...

Thanks for a very inspiring post! Tangled Threads sounds like a wonderful and caring group. Great quilts!

The Chicken Lady said...

OH MY! Those Army quilts ROCK! You ladies ROCK!!! :) I agree with you..quilts are gifts from the heart. They can give an instant hug if you need it, they keep you warm and snuggly and they decorate. Wow! Keep up the good work, and oh, you've been tagged. Do a 7 things about you meme..look at my blog to get the fun details. :)

YankeeQuilter said...

Patty you have no idea how much something like a quilt can mean to a soldier. I spent a year in the Middle East in the Army and still treasure the small quilt I was given my a quilter in West Virginia. Maybe it is a bit of homesickness or just being tired but anything that reminds you of home/America wonderful.

It is great of you all to support those guys.

Libby said...

What very special gifts - there's just nothing like wrapping up in a cozy hug of quilt that is given from the heart.`

Eileen said...

What wonderful quilts! Your Tangled Threads group are some crew!

Helen in the UK said...

What a great way to share your group's talents :)

Leigh said...

Great photos :)

atet said...

Oh my -- what a wonderful story and what wonderful quilts to go with it. Quilts really are gifts from the heart.

Dawn's Daily Journal said...

Hello. My hubby is in the Air Force and we've had many friends who have had to put in their time in Iraq. After reading this entry I had to tell you...you and the other ladies who made those quilts are a class act. Thank you for supporting our service memeber...I have to go and look for some kleenex now.
much love
dawn

Tazzie said...

What a wonderful group of quilters you belong to, and such a lovely story about the quilts you all make. I'm sure those quilts will be treasures forever.
*hugs*
Tazzie
:-)

KC Quilter said...

How beautiful, Patti--both the quilts and the spirit of caring and generosity.

QuiltingFitzy said...

Thank you and your group for supporting our troops! My 20yo daughter is a reservist and still stateside.

I love the quilting on Peggy's quilt, the radiating lines make me feel like huggy marks in the air. The portrait idea was just the best.

Way to go!

Anonymous said...

Thank you to all Tangled Threads for showing your support of our troops in such a lovely way. Thank you for sharing your work with us, Patti.

By the way, you gals (Tangled Threads) do fantastic work -- especially with only three fingers on each hand. Peggy's quilt is fab! I know it gives her great joy.
Vinda

Carol E. said...

Two great projects! I love the quilts, and the lady blocks are super! Who cares if jumpers are out of style (what do Brits call this type of dress? For them a jumper is a sweater.)... they're very comfy and cute, IMO. I had no clue they were out of style, that's how out of it I am.

Beth said...

I'm so impressed! I too come from a long line of military ..thank you for supporting this unit! You have spurred me on to get my Quilt of Valor quilted! its been on the frame for about a month...(bad quilter I am...)

Mary Johnson said...

How neat - I know exactly how you feel about making and giving quilts.

Tracey @ozcountryquiltingmum said...

Love both sets of very special quilts, they look great and achieved the same results, making special people feel appreciated, well done, tracey

Nicole & Phil said...

I relly enjoyed reading about this project! It's wonderful!