A Quilt - and a Home - For Nathanael

This year has brought a big change in our family's life, and I'm pleased to share the story as part of Blogger's Quilt Festival!  Many thanks to Amy for hosting this wonderful quilt show once again.

In March of 2014, my daughter announced to the family that she and her husband were applying to adopt a sweet little Chinese boy, five months older than their youngest daughter and profoundly deaf just like she is.  

Through the next months, they filled out paperwork, went through home studies, and worked on raising the money necessary for the adoption process.  I made quilts for them to auction, raffle and sell, and slowly the process came to the hoped-for end - the adoption of Nathanael!

In preparation for his homecoming, I made this quilt for his bed.  

My daughter labored long and hard to choose just the right fabrics for the quilt, ordering many different fabrics to audition so she could find the perfect combination.  There are fabrics from Cotton and Steel, Doe, and Connecting Threads basics in this quilt, along with Kona Snow on the front and Kona Indigo on the back.

The pattern is "To The Point" by Cluck Cluck Sew.

The quilting is a tight random meander in the white triangles and 1/4" straight line quilting in the outer border.

The binding is scrappy, made with leftover bits and pieces from the prints on the front of the quilt.

The quilting really shows up well on the back!  

And here is the quilt, in place on Nathanael's bed!

Nathanael has been home for three weeks now and is adjusting to his new life well.  His sisters love him to pieces and although there are some moments when things don't go smoothly, everyone seems to be enjoying the process.  

He doesn't yet have the huge stash of quilts his sisters have, but I'm working on it!!

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Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you'll take time to look around the blog and come back again to visit!  Take a look around and see the quilts that our quilt ministry, Piece*Love*Quilt, makes and gives to people going through serious physical, mental or emotional problems.  Stop by for Whoop Whoop Fridays and link up your accomplishments for the week, or just take a look at all the eye candy that's posted there each week!  

Hugs!

Sarah

One last shot, just because!

Blogger's Quilt Festival - Fly Away Home!!

Hi, all!

Quilt Market has rolled around again, and you know what that means for those of us who don't get to go to Market - it's time for the Bloggers' Quilt Festival!!

This year I want to share a very special quilt with you.  It has humble beginnings, being made with the scraps from this wonderful quilt made from a pattern designed by Karrie Lyne Winter of Freckled Whimsy.

Karrie was a guest blogger for this year's Hands2Help Charity Quilt Challenge, and came up with this fabulous design, which I just had to try out!

The polka dot fabric was originally purchased by my daughter when she was trying to adopt from Ethiopia several years ago.  She hoped to make a quilt for a little boy with them, but due to delays in the adoption process in Ethiopia, they had to drop their plans to adopt at that time.  When they had their second little girl, she gave me the fabrics to use for the quilt ministry, and they became the basis for my version of Karrie's quilt.  But see all those triangle blocks?  They created a lot of waste triangles, which I hated to throw away.  

So I turned them into a big pile of half-square triangles and threw them up on the design wall.  Because of the design of the first quilt, they were a variety of sizes.  This made for some interesting design problems!  

I finally came up with a layout that I liked, but couldn't decide on a background fabric.  I tried grays, creams, white, taupe - nothing was quite right.  Then my sister and her daughters came over and put in their two cents - red, definitely red!  Fortunately I had a big chunk of Chinese red that was perfect!  Lots of measuring, piecing, a little frog-stitching (rip-it, rip-it) and a big dose of perseverance, and the top was complete!

Acres of small random meander quilting - red thread on the red fabric, then cream on the half square triangles.

And a hand-quilted heart in the very center of the quilt.

Cream polka dots on red with a stripe of multi-colored polka dots on cream make up the back.  The same multi-colored polka dots make the binding!

 My daughter and her family are now in the process of adopting a little boy from China that they have named Nathanael.  Nathanael is almost three and is profoundly deaf, as is our youngest granddaughter, Emmy.  This quilt will be his first annual quilt when they finally bring him home. (I make each grandchild a quilt each year for Christmas.)  I've named it "Fly Away Home" because to me, the corners look like birds flying towards the center of the quilt, and the blue center represents the love radiating outwards towards our future grandson.  And of course, red represents his home country, China!  We hope to have Nathanael in his forever home early next year!!  You can read more about their adoption journey here if you want.

 Many people in our family had a part in this quilt - not just my "blood kin" but my quilting family also!  My daughter contributed the  fabric, originally intended for a child to be adopted from Ethiopia; a quilt designed by my blog friend Karrie for our annual charity quilt challenge yielded the basic building blocks for this second quilt; and my sister and nieces came up with the perfect background color!  So it really was a "family affair"!

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If this is your first time visiting my blog, I hope you've enjoyed yourself and that you'll come back and visit often!  We "whoop" it up on Fridays at my "Can I Get A Whoop Whoop" linky party, and each spring I host the Hands2Help Charity Quilt Challenge.  And there are always pictures of the beautiful quilts our church's quilt ministry creates on the blog.  Come join us!!!

Hugs!

Sarah

Make-A-List Monday - Some Successes...

Hi, all!

I hope you had a great weekend!  We had an unusually cool one, at least for this time of year - but it was sunny and pretty on Sunday.  Lots of sunshine makes for happy faces!  

So let’s see how I did on last week’s list....

1.  Finish a beautiful purple ministry quilt pieced by Marie.

Done!  This turned out beautifully - Marie did a fabulous job piecing it.  It’s already gone on to its new home with a young woman who was in a bad car accident.

2.  Mail off prizes, gifts and blocks!

Done!  That was a load off my plate, for sure!

 3.  Write my Blogger’s Quilt Festival post.

Done!  I hope you stopped by to read it - if not, you can click here to see the post.  It's a simple quilt but a great story - and one I haven't share here before, believe it or not! Take a hanky!

4. Finish the block for the AMB Blog Hop.

Done!  I can’t show you today, but come back here on May 28th to see the reveal!  And be sure to check out all the other stops on the hop - it starts today!  You can see the schedule for all the stops on the tour here.  Today is Delaware and Pennsylvania - two great license plate blocks and a couple of great giveaways, too!

5.  Start on the tutorial for that block.

Started but not finished....  

This has got to get finished today or tomorrow!

6. Make a back for Nathanael’s Ladder.

Nope.  Didn’t get to this one!

7.  Make a baby quilt for a friend.

Done!  I made this from a pattern I was testing for a friend, so you'll see more of this quilt when she releases the pattern!

8.  Keep up with any ministry needs that arise.

Done!  I made and quilted this quilt for a young man who was hit by a car, 

and quilted this donated top for another young man who was in a head-on collision.

So what’s on tap for this week?

1.  Finish the tutorial for the AMB blog tour.

2.  Finish proofing a quilt pattern for a friend.

3.  Start organizing prizes for the H2H participants.

4.  Quilt at least two quilts ahead for the ministry.

5.  Make a back for Nathanael’s Ladder.

6.  Quilt Nathanael’s Ladder.

7.  Keep up with any ministry needs that arise.

Looks like it will be another busy week this week, with company in town and granddaughters to take care of - but it’s all good!  

So now the question is - - - what are YOU working on this week?

Hugs!

Sarah

PS - remember to check out all the stops on the American Made Brand blog tour - you won't want to miss any of these great blocks, made to commemorate each of our fifty states.  And there are giveaways, too!!  Hope to see you back here next Wednesday, May 28th for my stop on the tour!!

Can I Get A Whoop Whoop? A Very Good Week!!

Hi, all!

It's Friday again - and time to get your whoop whoop on!  It's also the start of Blogger's Quilt Festival - are you entering a quilt?  You can see my entry on the post just before this one.  It's a good story, but you'll need a hanky, I think…

But now let me show you all the things I'm whooping about this week!  First off, there's this…

Yes, FINALLY, those are new needle plates for Jolene!  I cornered the Tin Lizzie rep at the quilt show in Paducah and asked her why I was having to wait so long to get a replacement part for a machine her company manufactures - and she told me she could have one to me in a week!  Well, actually, it took about two weeks, but at least I have them!  WHOOP WHOOP!!

And look - Kate Spain bedding for my bed!  Kate posted about the new bedding that Macy's was carrying with her designs last week, and I went to check it out.  I got a super deal on it - I'm so excited! Such pretty summer colors - it's a print from Sunnyside...

And then there's Marie's whoop whoop - she made this beautiful Carpenter's Star quilt for a young woman who had been in a very bad car accident.  Marie did a great job!

And now my final whoop for the week - remember Karrie's great design that she shared with us on her guest post last Sunday?  Well, I just couldn't wait to try it, so when I found out I needed a quilt for an 11-year old boy, 

I decided to give it a whirl!

Didn't it turn out pretty?  It was very easy - Karrie wrote a great pattern.  I did alter it a bit, making the blocks bigger to bring it up to 60" square instead of 40" square. 

Can I get a whoop whoop??

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And now it's your turn!

What's making you dance the happy dance this week?

Share with us - we want to dance along with you!!

The party will remain open until Sunday at midnight.

Hope to see you there!!

Hugs!

Sarah

Blogger's Quilt Festival - Shine On, Sadie!

Hi, all!

Wow, can you believe it's time for Blogger's Quilt Festival again?  If this is your first time visiting my blog, welcome!  I hope you'll take a little time to look around - I hope you'll find lots of quilt-y inspiration as I chronicle the quilts created not only by me, but by the members of Piece*Love*Quilt, our church's quilt ministry.  We hope to give away our 1000th quilt this year, so there's plenty to see!  I also host the Hands2Help Charity Quilt Challenge each year, which is actually in progress right now.  You can learn more about these two causes by clicking the Page button for each in the bar above.  But enough about me and this blog - let's get to the quilt!

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I will warn you up front - this story may tear you apart.  But it is a story that will also brighten your life if you take the time to read it.

Our church has a quilt ministry called Piece*Love*Quilt that has been sending quilt-y hugs to people in need for the past four years.  

In November 2012, a young woman working in a local day care requested a quilt for a little girl who was having unexplained seizures.  A simple charm quilt was sent, along with many prayers for her safe recovery.  Soon after, my husband came home and told me that a co-worker’s 17-month old daughter had just been diagnosed with leukemia.  We didn’t know until a few days later that these two little girls were one and the same.  Here’s a short video showing Sadie lying on the quilt that was made for her....

Sadie was diagnosed with leukemia in early November 2012 and went home to her Heavenly Father on December 21, 2012.  Only six terrible, sad weeks. But that isn’t the end of the story.

In the months since, Sadie’s parents, Amber and Tim, and her big brother Eli, began an organization called Shine On, Sadie with the intention that through sharing her story, there would be lots of ways to love big and spread sunshine to children and parents in a “Pay It Forward” kind of way.  Saturday, May 17th marks the beginning of the second annual Sadie Smile Toy Drive.

Reading the Shine On, Sadie Facebook page or Amber’s personal blog shows just how far-reaching Sadie’s impact has been on this world we live in.  Stories of families who have held birthday parties for their children where all the toys were given, not to the birthday girl or boy, but to local charities or hospitals.   Amber's celebration of her own birthday earlier this year when she went to a local Starbucks and gave the drive-thru attendant a $150 gift card (the combination of gift cards given to them by others while Sadie was sick) to pay for people's purchases behind her in line.  She wanted to do something with her girl that day, and since she couldn't have Sadie there with her, she did something that would make a good memory of Sadie making a difference in the lives of others.

Children who run lemonade stands and send the money to help buy toys for the toy drive.  A little 4-year old girl who sent the $5 she found in an Easter egg to help little children who are sick.  I am constantly amazed by how this family has taken a potentially life-shattering tragedy and turned it into a powerful witness to the greatness of God.  

I have only met Sadie through the pictures and videos posted by her mother.  I love to know that we were able to give some small comfort to Sadie and her family by providing a quilt in a time of need.   When I asked a mutual acquaintance to ask Amber if we could use the video of Sadie on the quilt in this blogpost, she said “Awwwww, absolutely, that quilt is still under her…”  

Here, in her own words, Amber shares an amazing testimony...

I will forever be changed by having the chance to be Sadie’s mommy.  I honestly believe that God allowed her to be here for a short time for a specific reason.  And although His plan is not exactly what I would have chosen, I have to trust that He knows a little more about life than I do, and that He has something big He wants to accomplish through her sweet little (big) life.  Sadie is leaving her mark in big big ways, and I’m honored (in a weird kind of way) to be a part of it.  I love you all dearly, and thank all of you who have chosen to take this journey with us.  Your words, prayers, encouragement, smiles, hugs, tears, and everything in between have absolutely meant the world to us.  

One thing we know is that we are not alone.  

Love big, guys.  

We only get one shot at this. 

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Shine on, Sadie!

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I know this isn’t a big fancy quilt, 

but it is the one that touched my heart most deeply this year.  

Thank you for taking the time to read the story.  

I hope you’ll check out the links and 

become part of helping Sadie shine on!!

Hugs!

Sarah

PS.  If you'd like to read the story of the woman who pieced Sadie's quilt, click here.  It's an amazing story, too - and was last year's May Blogger's Quilt Festival entry!

Can I Get A Whoop Whoop? It's All Thanks To You! (My Blogger's Quilt Festival Entry)

Hi, all!

Here it is, Friday again, the end of October, only 62 days until Christmas, AND the beginning of the Blogger's Quilt Festival!  (Not to mention a little thing called Quilt Market, but since they didn't invite you and me, we won't talk about that, will we?)  Are you ready to get your whoop whoop on?  Possibly, like me, you are whooping about a long-completed quilt as part of your Quilt Festival entry - feel free to link it up here too!

So now, I'd like to welcome those of you who are popping over here from the Blogger's Quilt Festival!  We are so glad you're here - feel free to join in the whooping if the linky is still open!  We whoop it up every Friday, so come back and join in the fun!

And now, for my Blogger's Quilt Festival entry...

Earlier this year, I realized that our quilt ministry, Piece*Love*Quilt, was going to give away its 500th quilt this year.  So we asked all of the people who had participated in the ministry, whether by making quilts, donating fabric, quilt blocks, flimsies or finished quilts, or doing any of the many administrative chores, to create a "hand block" to be made into a commemorative quilt.  We called this "The Helping Hands Project".

Many months later, this is the quilt that we created from the blocks provided by both our local members and the many people across the country and around the world who have joined us in ministry.

We even created hand blocks for those people who didn't hear about the project - if we could find a record of you participating, you are represented in this quilt!

It was so neat to see the personalities of each person come out in their block.  The only requirement for the block was that it have a hand on it - there were no specifications for color, size or style.

We also worked in these beautiful little paper pieced hearts that were donated to us by a longtime quilt-y and bloggy friend!

I really want to know how this quilter created her handprint in print!  She incorporated many words that represent our ministry, including the name of the ministry!

Here's the current logo for our group, designed by my beautiful niece, Rachel!

I had a lot of fun quilting this quilt - so many different blocks gave lots of places to try out new quilting designs!

I really like this block - her hands are threading a needle!

I experimented with negative space quilting on this block, putting a heart in the background.

Tried out some feathers - - - I'm please to say my feather stitching has improved since this was done! 

Joanna put a little tiny quilt on her block!

See Sharon's block in the upper left?  It has a beautiful garden fabric on it (unfortunately I cut it off in the picture) and I have always thought of her as connected to gardens!

And P.'s block is so - - - well, P.!  All bright colors and peace signs!

So many different, beautiful blocks...

...all colorful and creative...

...representing so many helping hands!  We could never have done all the good that this ministry has done without the help of each and every one of the many hands that have helped create it!!

Just for fun, here's a shot of the back - the quilting was so pretty to see on the reverse of the quilt!

And one final shot, the "artsy" one!

The new part of the story of this quilt is that we presented it to our church this past Sunday, to commemorate our 500th quilt and to honor all the many people, both in our church and around the world, who have been a part of reaching that milestone.  The following is a video of our presentation to the church.  In interview format, we talk about how our quilt ministry started and other things related to it.  It's a little bit long (you've been warned) so I won't feel bad if you don't watch it!

Ministry Spotlight: The Piece*Love*Quilt Ministry at The Glade Church from The Glade Church on Vimeo.

So that's my whoop whoop for the week, and my entry into the Blogger's Quilt Festival!!  

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And now it's your turn!

What are you whooping about this week?

Do tell us - we want to whoop right along with you!

For you new folks, it doesn't have to be a finish - 

Just something that made you dance the happy dance!

The linky party will remain open until Sunday midnight.

Hope to see you there!

Hugs!

Sarah

PS.  Be sure to go check out all the other beautiful quilts that have linked up to the Festival - there's tons of inspiration out there!!!