Within the Depths: For the AAQI

Like a lot of you, I have known both depression and loss, and the absolute paralysis of being frozen in time and space. But I have learned to be 'okay' about even the darkest of emotions, and to not be afraid to experience, or even go deeply into them.

So, when I look and reach inward to feel my own mother's state of being as she is trapped in the deep recesses of Alzheimer's Disease, I can relate to that sense of the inner void, without any seeming progressive movement, or purpose, or sometimes even the simplest ability to express joy.

But I have learned to find my own way through the clouded emotions that I have experienced, as well as ways that can often help others. So, as I created this AAQI art quilt for the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative as part of my ongoing Liberated Quilting Challenge, I challenged myself to try new art quilting techniques in both design, and use of materials that also challenged me to go into the emotions of that creation. I wanted to feel all of the deep, dark feelings, but still find some hope, some joy, and some sense of movement within that place, so as to recreate that movement again, when my own life experiences might require that same manifestation.

I sat with my little table filled with bits and pieces...scraps of fabric, threads and yarns, beads and metallic paints, and without a drawing, or a plan, I just began cutting and pasting, ironing and fusing, twisting and turns the pieces instinctively. I wanted to manifest in expressed design that innate inner feeling.

As a result, this piece first ended up rather murky and dark, and it was only by increasing the light on the finished piece, that the elements even showed up clearly, at all. I added the jeweled and metallic beads, and the dots of metallic gold paint. I added the brightening elements of many layers of couched yarns, and then the tracing and retracing of the swirling eddys of water.

I wanted, and needed, there to still be change, still be more than what first appears to our outward, and not our inner eye. This, I thought is the secret. When we go too deep within our selves, we should gently find our own inner movement, our own way through the waters, until finally....we find our way up and out, once more.

If you suffer from Alzheimer's you cannot do this alone in the beginning, and then you often cannot do it all. But you and I...we can. We can find our way, and we can help others to find theirs.

When you view my art quilt on AAQI's website, it most likely will appear much darker in its photograph, then it does here, or in real life... since they photographed it without realizing the need for more light, as I did, because of the darker light absorbing fabrics.

How like real life, I thought. You truly do have to shine a light onto, into, and within the darkness to still feel the bright spots, any hope, or any joy. You need that same sense of light to find your way to experiencing a sense of movement, instead of feeling 'stuck' or paralyzed. There is still change, there is still growth..it just might not be upwards, it might be change in a different emotion, a difference direction, a swaying, instead of a dramatic uplifting to the surface once again. And to me, that is just how it feels in my own life, when I experience any of the darker emotions.

It ended up taking about six hours to make this little art quilt ...not counting my drifting in creation time, but only my 'in this world' literal time. But in that time, I was able to literally, and figuratively, transport my inner psyche into so many different understandings of that deep process with every movement of the fabric, every addition of a bead, and even the flow of my stitching.

I truly realized for the first time what differentiates an 'art' quilt from a regular one. It is the emotion we put into them, and the emotions that are drawn back out again in the viewer. My own emotions help me to better understand others human emotions and how they are expressed, projected, and mirrored in all that emanates outwardly....and appears to surround us. And they help me to gain new tools in my understandings of my mother's own inner world within the confines of Alzheimer's.

I hope you can feel the lesson in my journey as you gaze into, and travel these depths with me...because while millions of A.D. sufferers are forever paralyzed and stuck by their disease, I am able to come back up again and so will you. My joy, and my purpose are still there. For they never truly left me at all, but simply got buried within the depths...and just for just a while.

Now, I can see not only the beauty, but the movement within the stillest places of perceived darkness. For even if we were to stand at the bottom of the deepest ocean, there would still be flow and current, and changes in being, and our own changes in the perception of them.

So, in that sense, my mother's journey 'within the depths' of this dark process of Alzheimer's Disease is not truly 'only' dark and murky..it is simply a different perception of herself, her life, and her relationship with all of us who surround her. Deep within, she is still there, there is still movement, even of progression and change. It may not be the change we seek, but it is there...as is she.

6077 - Within the Depths has been placed on the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative website and has been priced by AAQI at $80.

Please consider buying this quilt as what it truly is...a 100% donation to fund Alzheimer's research. And when you view it on the website, remember it as not as dark as it may first appear on their site. That which is truly real, always contains that which is filled with light.

Update 11-18-10: Ami Simms said...

Michele, Your wonderful quilt just sold! Thank you so much for making it. You are such a wonderful supporter of what we are trying to do and you speak so eloquently to the world about this disease. Thank you for all you do to encourage others to pick up a needle and thread and work towards a cure. Ami Simms AAQI Founder & Executive Director

1:46 PM

Blessings to Rita! Thank you for buying this quilt and making a generous donation to AAQI in that process. (((A great big hug from Michele)))
Liberated Quilting Challenge
Finn's New Year's Eve Challenge:Quilt #5

My Other Contributions to Finn's New Year's Eve Quilt Challenge:
Finn's New Year's Eve Small Projects Challenge:
Small Project #14: Mulled Wine Mug Mat

Finn's New Year's Eve Quilt Challenge:
Quilt #11: Twilight Dreams
Quilt #10:Far, Far, Away
Quilt #9:Green and Scrappy Love
Quilt #7 and #8: Follow Your Heart 1 and 2
Quilt #6: Stringing Along
Quilt #5: Within the Depths
Quilt #4: Irish Eyes
Quilt #3: Under the Pines
Quilt #2: Hope and Remembrance
Quilt #1 Hop to It!

Finn's New Year's Eve Small Projects Challenge:
Small Project #14: Mulled Wine Mug Mat
Small Project #11-13: Two pillowcases and a senior bib
Small Project #10:Follow Your Heart Potholder
Small Projects #2-9: sr bib, potholders and a bag
Small Project #1: Get Well Postcard


Liberated Quilting Challenge

Get the latest news about the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative on the AAQI BLOG!
For more frequent news follow the AAQI on FaceBook and Twitter.

Michele Bilyeu quilts for AAQI..the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative. Won't you please join us? :)

Thankful for the Littlest of Things

Martha Stewart might not be dining with us this Thanksgiving, and all of the kids may or may not be Welcomed Home for Thanksgiving, but We Still Give Thanks for the littlest of things.

I'm thankful it snowed in Oregon this week, the first time we've had snow in November in seven years, because it was just enough snow that I got to wear my mother's authentic Eskimo wool parka out in public without being embarrassed at its appliqued eskimos and igloo motifs and four sizes too big appearance. I both looked and felt incredibly cozy and warm!

I'm thankful that even if we did not have enough work to have a company gift us with a free turkey, then at least we could afford to buy one ! And while the lines in the stores were already long, I met some of the nicest people as we all waited our turn at reaching the cash registers!

I'm thankful that even though my chickens were terrified by the snow, they still came out and played in it and that made me laugh...and laugh HARD!

I'm thankful that even though my cats shed like crazy all over this house, that they snuggle up and keep me cozy in between all of the cooking and cleaning, sewing, and quilting!

I'm thankful that even though my mother has advanced Alzheimer's, when she hears my voice on the phone she still knows who I am, and how I am related to her! And that is so very much more than most people get in our situation!

I'm thankful that even though I lost my father this year, the memories of good times fill me up to the brim and I am so deeply grateful to have had this man in my life for almost 61 years!

I'm thankful that even though my 94 year old mother-in-law is a bit cranky from being housebound and unable to do all of the things she once did, she still appreciates our all showing up on Thanksgiving Day with the turkey and all of the trimmings..... and cooking every bit of it at her house...and especially, our cleaning it all up before we leave ;)

I'm thankful that I have enough food to eat, a warm house to live in, enough fabric to thoroughly insulate my sewing nook, and lots of fun things to make, and to give away!

And I am ever so thankful, that because of this blog, I have met dear, dear people all over the world, and learned so very much in that process from all of you!!!

And I must admit, I am grateful I didn't laugh too hard, when Finn suggested that we could also add in small items to her New Year's Eve Challenge I forget that I am always making small things just because they are fun, and easy, and nice to be able to give to others!

shown above:
Finn's New Year's Eve Challenge:small projects #2-9
8 completed small projects ...a bag for a dear friend, another senior bib for my sweet mama, and 6 potholders to donate to my quilt guild's monthly "Potholder Project" to raise sewing supplies money for those less fortunate.

Links:
A "Martha Stewart Doesn't Live Here" Thanksgiving
Welcome Home for Thanksgiving

Finn's New Year's Eve Small Projects Challenge:
Small Project #14: Mulled Wine Mug Mat

Finn's New Year's Eve Quilt Challenge:
Quilt #11: Twilight Dreams
Quilt #10:Far, Far, Away
Quilt #9:Green and Scrappy Love
Quilt #7 and #8: Follow Your Heart 1 and 2
Quilt #6: Stringing Along
Quilt #5: Within the Depths
Quilt #4: Irish Eyes
Quilt #3: Under the Pines
Quilt #2: Hope and Remembrance
Quilt #1 Hop to It!

Finn's New Year's Eve Small Projects Challenge:
Small Project #14: Mulled Wine Mug Mat
Small Project #11-13: Two pillowcases and a senior bib
Small Project #10:Follow Your Heart Potholder
Small Projects #2-9: sr bib, potholders and a bag
Small Project #1: Get Well Postcard

1,000,000 Visitors !!!

When I came online early this morning and noticed that my site counter read 997,559...I knew that it would hit one million visitors today. That not only blew my mind, but it gave me this huge rush of both gratitude and a strange sense of responsibility.

I started this blog in the fall of 2006. I had 3 visitors my first week of blogging and maybe 10 for the entire month. I didn't know what to write about, and I certainly wasn't that great of a quilter! But I began blogging in order to have a place to create a social journaling of my life, I desperately needed more of a way to experience a sense of a larger community, and a way of reaching out to share, and in return, to receive back from the world. Most importantly, I wanted to be with more people who felt, or thought, or did the things that I so loved to do! I needed quilting friends!

I had been involved in the fall of 2005, in a phenomenal project where 200 quilters met for 2 days and created 200 quilts to send to survivors of Hurricane Katrina. The energy that was created that day, the absolute and utter joy of joining with others to do something that felt so good and so powerful, was an energy that I wanted to re-create.....over and over, again.

I had to force myself to show up at that first day of that Quiltathon, overcoming an innate sense of shyness since I didn't know a single person that quilted (besides my MIL) and knowing that I had never officially 'signed up.' It turned out that I was the first one in the door, and one of the last ones to leave. I absolutely loved it! I was hooked...not only on quilting, but quilting for a cause.
It was such a joyful experience, two days where absolute strangers brought their sewing machines into small groups and spontaneously formed chains of command.....creating a cutting, piecing, backing, and quilting flow that was wonderful and felt very much like a modern version of an old fashioned quilting bee.

All of our fabric and batting had been collected from donations, and all of us suddenly shared with others anything we might have to share. It was like a potluck, a picnic, a family reunion, and a holy communion, all in one. In those 2 days, my little group of 5 made 6 completed quilts and it was one of the best feelings of giving that I had every experienced.

A number of us created an on-going quilt group that continued to meet every Monday from then on. We made quilt after quilt for years and years with people both coming and going and the flow changing from time to time with group goals changing to personal ones. I set a goal for myself to make, finish, and donate 25 quilts a year...whether they were made from start to finish by me, or taken over at some point from someone else who abandoned them and left the pieces as sad little orphans. And in spite of all of life's challenges, I've continued to meet that goal for the past 5 years. My quilts aren't fancy, some of them aren't very big, and a lot of them are made from other quilter's castoff bits and pieces of fabric or blocks. But I've managed to make them and keep my goal, and that's what matters most to me.

I began to blog about those experiences, in the fall of 2006. I had a need to share my feelings about quilting as a testimony to the joy, the amazing energy, and the passion for helping and giving to others, that I had been so blessed with.

During my first full month of blogging, four women commented on my blog ... Finn, Paula, Shelina and Nellie and it felt so wonderful to find others who loved what I loved and were willing to leave me a comment! I feel so blessed that all of these women are still blogging and still my 'quilting friends' to this day.

So, now 4 years later, when I look at 1,000,000 visitors...I think 'how can that be?' How can that many people have found this little blog in space and in time. When I look at things like google analytics or site meter, I know what it is that brings them here, so yes.....I know...... that people come here for all of the things that I give away for free....and not to visit me ;) But that's ok! You're here, you're part of my community and you're an awful lot of fun!

So, thank you so much for stopping by, for any and all comments you might ever have left, and to all of you who come here today, or any day......thanks for becoming my new best friends :)

shown above:
Welcome: a little quilted wall hanging made spontaneously in 2007. I just cut out the pieces and the letters from cloth, and machine appliqued them on.

The Mental Approach to Sewing

A 1949 Singer Sewing Manual gave fairly explicit instructions as to how to be successful with one's sewing endeavors.

"Prepare yourself mentally for sewing. Think about what you are going to do...never approach sewing with a sigh or lackadaisically. Good results are difficult when indifference predominates. Never try to sew with a sink full of dishes or beds unmade. When there are urgent housekeeping chores, do these first so your mind is free to enjoy your sewing. When you sew, make yourself as attractive as possible. Put on a clean dress. Keep a little bag full of French chalk near your sewing machine to dust your fingers at intervals. Have your hair in order, powder and lipstick put on with care ... if you are constantly fearful that a visitor will drop in or your husband will come home and you will not look neatly put together, you will not enjoy your sewing as you should."

Was my mind too pre-occupied and lacking the necessary freedom, when I attempted the original version of this quilt in 2008 and almost ruined it? Did I forget to wash my sink full or dishes, or leave a bed unmade, when I only checked on my quilting stitches at the beginning, the middle, and the end of my machine quilting process?

Did I sigh too much as I spent 6 solid hours ripping out those quilted free motion stitches that had caught all over the back and that's why I'd never noticed any unusual tension or pulling? No, it must have been that I forgot my clean dress AND my French chalk, when I then washed all of that meandering quilt top, batting, and backing to remove all of the tiny threads I did not have the patience to pick off after my already 6 hours of seam ripper use. I'm pretty sure that my attitude was neither lackadaisical, nor indifferent, when I realized when I saw holes that had appeared everywhere in my backing from the ripping and then the washing!

Perhaps, all of this explains why this poor quilt top was placed in my UFO pile in a corner, its batting cut apart and reused for smaller quilts, and most of the ruined backing tossed into a bale sack. And so the quilt top from this disappointing endeavor sat.....for almost two years.... cast off like a punished child in her corner.

It truly wasn't her fault, poor quilt! It wasn't even my choice of fabric's fault. After all, I had made a another version of a similar quilt in 2006. So, I already knew that the shiny almost decor-like polished cotton fabrics might have some sewing issues. But that quilt,, appropriately named "Good Luck Karma" had been nicely quilted and sent off for Hurricane Katrina relief.

Was it all of that intense 'unquilting' that did me in, and made me procrastinate on trying again? Or perhaps my wait to find some appropriate backing fabrics? Nope, I think I just really needed a nudge from Finn's New Year's Eve Challenge to make up my mind to remake and finish it!

But it's 'Finnally' finished and I couldn't be happier! "Irish Eyes are Smiling" is finally out of that 'to do' pile in the corner. And this time, the 68" x 86" string pieced quilt is now completely tied with white cotton crochet thread and not machine quilted ;) And yes, I prayed over every knot just like I did with my Prayer Quilts. After all of that, wouldn't you ...Please let me be done...please let me be done ;)

I must have finally had the right mental approach...without or without the dress, powder, or lipstick! Thanks, Finn...for helping me with my proper mental approach to sewing. Now, I know it's quite simple really...the way to positive quilting is simply to...Giterdone!

I goterdone: "Irish Eyes are Smiling" Quilt #4 for Finn's Challenge. Tally up my list, Finn!

Tips: String Quilting:Tutorial and Free Patterns



Finn's New Year's Eve Small Projects Challenge:
Small Project #14: Mulled Wine Mug Mat

Finn's New Year's Eve Quilt Challenge:
Quilt #11: Twilight Dreams
Quilt #10:Far, Far, Away
Quilt #9:Green and Scrappy Love
Quilt #7 and #8: Follow Your Heart 1 and 2
Quilt #6: Stringing Along
Quilt #5: Within the Depths
Quilt #4: Irish Eyes
Quilt #3: Under the Pines
Quilt #2: Hope and Remembrance
Quilt #1 Hop to It!

Finn's New Year's Eve Small Projects Challenge:
Small Project #14: Mulled Wine Mug Mat
Small Project #11-13: Two pillowcases and a senior bib
Small Project #10:Follow Your Heart Potholder
Small Projects #2-9: sr bib, potholders and a bag
Small Project #1: Get Well Postcard

Get Well Soon....Fabric Postcard

What do you do when you hear that a quilting group friend has been diagnosed with a serious illness and has just undergone surgery to have a kidney removed?

Send quilted blessings, of course!

Shown here:
My quickly made quilted post card with prayers for her speedy recovery and the hopes for better days ahead. I made this in between other projects and sent it off in the mail. If you've never made a fabric postcard, it's as easy as a 4" x6" pieced top, simple quilting, a stiff backing fabric or card stock. This could have had a real stamp on it and been mailed, but I choose to put it in an envelope, so I could enclose an additional get well note.
How To Make A Fabric Postcard
Finn's New Years Eve Challenge: #1 extra project

Finn's New Year's Eve Small Projects Challenge:
Small Project #14: Mulled Wine Mug Mat

Finn's New Year's Eve Quilt Challenge:
Quilt #11: Twilight Dreams
Quilt #10:Far, Far, Away
Quilt #9:Green and Scrappy Love
Quilt #7 and #8: Follow Your Heart 1 and 2
Quilt #6: Stringing Along
Quilt #5: Within the Depths
Quilt #4: Irish Eyes
Quilt #3: Under the Pines
Quilt #2: Hope and Remembrance
Quilt #1 Hop to It!

Finn's New Year's Eve Small Projects Challenge:
Small Project #14: Mulled Wine Mug Mat
Small Project #11-13: Two pillowcases and a senior bib
Small Project #10:Follow Your Heart Potholder
Small Projects #2-9: sr bib, potholders and a bag
Small Project #1: Get Well Postcard

Under the Pines

The sewing nook has been pedal to the medal all week. The sounds and sights of so many quilts in progress all at one time, has turned 16 year old Willow into a kitten again. She cannot keep off of my quilts, no matter where I hide them.

So, I've decided to "hang them high" and in that process, I discovered it actually super helped to get out the wrinkles that form between each layer of the quilt sandwich. No matter how I taped them or pinned them flat on the floor, something is always wrinkled... somewhere I'm not looking and can't see into.

By hanging them freely, I can pull the layers loose from each side of the batt and readjust them, then re-pin once again. It worked so well on some of my problem quilts!

So, by being a little cat pest, Willow taught this old dog a new trick!

Quilt #3, Finnally Finished: "Under the Pines" in browns, golds and greens with some pine cones symbolizing the seeds of growth and change that will blow in the wind, and then plant, and grow once again.

And another Prayer Quilt, long lap or cot sized for nursing home or hospice. And check out the back I got from my sewing quild donation table...little sheep! It was a sheet, and a bit tricky to hand sew through, but so cute, and free fabric.....that I didn't mind one bit.

I am thinking of all of our Veterans, today on November 11th and while I do not have a Patriotic Quilt in process right now, someone should truly sleep gently under this quilt....and he may end up being a veteran....and that makes me very happy.

Another quilt finished and ready to give away!

Quilt #3: Under the Pines
In honor of Veteran's Day, however:Free Patriotic Quilt Patterns

Finn's New Year's Eve Small Projects Challenge:
Small Project #14: Mulled Wine Mug Mat

Finn's New Year's Eve Quilt Challenge:
Quilt #11: Twilight Dreams
Quilt #10:Far, Far, Away
Quilt #9:Green and Scrappy Love
Quilt #7 and #8: Follow Your Heart 1 and 2
Quilt #6: Stringing Along
Quilt #5: Within the Depths
Quilt #4: Irish Eyes
Quilt #3: Under the Pines
Quilt #2: Hope and Remembrance
Quilt #1 Hop to It!

Finn's New Year's Eve Small Projects Challenge:
Small Project #14: Mulled Wine Mug Mat
Small Project #11-13: Two pillowcases and a senior bib
Small Project #10:Follow Your Heart Potholder
Small Projects #2-9: sr bib, potholders and a bag
Small Project #1: Get Well Postcard

Prayer Quilts

When I make simple quilts with squares or other nine patch designs, I often send forth the intention of their manifestation as prayer quilts. To me, a prayer quilt is simply a quilt in which you tie, rather than quilt, the three layers of the quilt fabric, together.

Tying each double, or even triple knot, gives you the opportunity to direct with the caring power and simple thoughts of blessing, directly from your heart, through your hands, and out into the heart of the person who will receive it. The hope is that the person who ends up receiving the quilt...in a nursing home or perhaps, even in hospice, will end up receiving not only a colorful quilt.... but lots and lots of blessings.

It doesn't matter if the quilt pattern is simple or complex, but the simpler you keep them, the faster you can make them! I like to make mine lap sized or a little bigger. This one is 52" x 75" and could be used for a wheelchair or on a cot. And as I love sending forth many quilts into the universe, I love making ones that can be made in a few days or a week's time, so many can be made and given.

Here, I was given some blocks and all of the strips, borders, and backing fabric by someone who didn't like how 'loud' it was. Well, when it comes to the need for healing energies or blessings or prayer...energizing with color can be a very good thing! And when it comes to how we think of color, pink is a powerful healing color and often used to symbolize hope, and purple is a strong spiritual color and often used for the energies of remembrance. So, I named this quilt "Hope and Remembrance."

And if you want to truly make it personal, or you belong to a church or other charitable quilting group...add a little pocket to the back and tuck in a special note or prayer of healing thoughts of your own. In any case, it is a gift that will be treasured, not only by the recipient, but by their extended family...just knowing that someone out there who didn't even know them..... still cared enough to make them a quilt.

Shown above:
Quilt #2: "Hope and Remembrance" a simple but meaning filled prayer quilt


No time to make a quilt? Make a String Pieced Prayer Pocket Pillow and still tuck in good thoughts and blessing

Modern Versions: Cross Quilts

http://www.with-heart-and-hands.com/2015/04/how-to-make-cross-plus-or-arithmetic.html

Additional information on traditonal prayer quilts can be found at:

Prayer Quilts ...a beautiful Catholic quilting ministry with truly lovely quilts
Making Prayer Quilt from...Visit our Simple Life
A Quilter's Prayer ....shared by Bonnie of Quiltville.com



Pattern ideas can be found among my free pattern lists:

Rail Fence Mystery Nine Patch Four Patch in a Square Cross on the Back Prayer Square Mini Quilt Baptismal Square Military Prayer Squares 3" Pocket Prayer Quilts Prayer Square Pillows/ Covers

This blog post was part of:

Finn's New Year's Eve Small Projects Challenge:
Small Project #14: Mulled Wine Mug Mat

Finn's New Year's Eve Quilt Challenge:
Quilt #11: Twilight Dreams
Quilt #10:Far, Far, Away
Quilt #9:Green and Scrappy Love
Quilt #7 and #8: Follow Your Heart 1 and 2
Quilt #6: Stringing Along
Quilt #5: Within the Depths
Quilt #4: Irish Eyes
Quilt #3: Under the Pines
Quilt #2: Hope and Remembrance
Quilt #1 Hop to It!

Finn's New Year's Eve Small Projects Challenge:
Small Project #14: Mulled Wine Mug Mat
Small Project #11-13: Two pillowcases and a senior bib
Small Project #10:Follow Your Heart Potholder
Small Projects #2-9: sr bib, potholders and a bag
Small Project #1: Get Well Postcard

Just Hop to It...

When my energy is lagging, my mojo feels missing, and my ufo's, wips, whisps, flimsys, and whimsys are piling up in a corner...one thing and one thing only, works to change all of that...

Quilting Therapy.

So...I just "Hop to It"....and that's what I ended up naming the little quilt in the center...the first of 10 to be finished projects for Finn's New Year's Eve Challenge .

My first little finished quilt is in autumnal browns and golds with a touch of blue and some tiny little hopping bunnies in that center square, surrounded by lots of random free piecing strips and strings from the scrap bag, hence, it's name and my new motto..."Just Hop to It"...my version of Nike's "Just Do It".

Small enough to be done in a hurry and lift my spirits. Not too big, not too little...but just right for a mood picker upper and a first project crossed off my list!

Shown above:
Quilt #1, Finnally Finished
My project pieces and parts put into marked bags, or their quilt top and extra fabric wrapped into bundles and tied up with string. Projects in progress yesterday, indicated by cat usage. Projects in progress today...hidden from cats. Click the link to learn about Finn's New Year's Eve Challenge, so you can be 'Finnaly' Finished with some of your projects, too!

Glossary of Terms:
ufo's: unfinished objects
wips: works in progress
wisps: works in slow progress
flimsys: floppy or flimsy quilt tops
whimsys: whimsical bits and pieces not yet to the flimsy stage

Quilting Acronyms: my huge compiled list of quilting abbreviations

Finn's New Year's Eve Small Projects Challenge:
Small Project #14: Mulled Wine Mug Mat

Finn's New Year's Eve Quilt Challenge:
Quilt #11: Twilight Dreams
Quilt #10:Far, Far, Away
Quilt #9:Green and Scrappy Love
Quilt #7 and #8: Follow Your Heart 1 and 2
Quilt #6: Stringing Along
Quilt #5: Within the Depths
Quilt #4: Irish Eyes
Quilt #3: Under the Pines
Quilt #2: Hope and Remembrance
Quilt #1 Hop to It!

Finn's New Year's Eve Small Projects Challenge:
Small Project #14: Mulled Wine Mug Mat
Small Project #11-13: Two pillowcases and a senior bib
Small Project #10:Follow Your Heart Potholder
Small Projects #2-9: sr bib, potholders and a bag
Small Project #1: Get Well Postcard

Quilts! Quilts! Quilts! We Quilt for the AAQI

We have quilt and quilts and quilts...that are now part of the 1,000 Priority: Alzheimer’s Quilts that Ami Simms brought with her to the International Quilt Festival in Houston Texas! As, part of our Liberated Quilters Blog & Liberated Quilters Message Board and the fabulous Liberated Quilting Challenge, I think it is wonderful display of quilting unity for a terrific cause!

The quilt festival at the George R. Brown Convention Center, runs from today, Nov. 4 through Sunday, Nov. 7 and our quilts will all be on display and available for purchase/donation during this spectacular event!

While the Houston Quilt Market is a trade show and not open to the general public, many of us are card carrying licensees (or just lucky friends) if not quilt or fabric designers, suppliers and so forth for the Quilt Market part of the festival that fill this giant hall with their goods. And because many of the famed and famous do attend, our quilts do very well in sales, here. But the Quilt Festval, which opens the very next day, is open to the public, so if you live anywhere near it, take lots of photos and share them with all of us!

These are the amazing quilts and quilters that have been created and are now part of the AAQI Quilts for Houston!


4765 - Patchwork Free Play
Susan Ryan


4842 - Army Mum
Michele Lancaster

4843 - Wonky Beach HouseMichele Lancaster

4808 - Lime Synapse
Kim Brandt

4807 Which Way?
Kim Brandt


4937 - Fading Memories II
Nellie Bass Durand


5372 - Just Because
Julie Sefton

5457 - Grid search
Audrey Sacharkiewicz


5458 - Familiar?
Audrey Sacharkiewicz

5460 - Morning Glory
Audrey Sacharkiewicz

5418 Windows Inside
Wendy Koenig

5419 Summer Garden
Wendy Koenig


5421 Butterfly Garden 2
Wendy Koenig
5422 Home Sweet Home

Wendy Koenig

5450 - Untethered II
Nancy Voegele
5456 - Mondrian Art
Nancy Voegele


4943 Solidly Housebound
Brenda Suderman


4944 Completely Dotty
Brenda Suderman

5549 - Improvisation
Lori DeJarnatt

5747 From Here to Eternity...the Alzheimer's Journey
Sue Brown

5493 What Color is Your Dream?Julie Sefton

5748 Transitions
Julie Sefton

5756 Hold My Hand
Julie Sefton



5757 Rays of Sunshine
Julie Sefton


5548 Dark Ride
Paula Bell Dennee

4946 - Liberated Rose
Michele M. Bilyeu

5626 The Parasol is the Umbrella's Daughter
Michele Bilyeu

5970 Pickled Mushrooms
Michele M. Bilyeu
5969 Fish Tales
Michele M. Bilyeu

shown above, and at the top of the blog post:
1 of my 4 quilts currently on display in Houston: Fish Tales

My artist's Statement for this quilt:
"We all dream of the freedom to do that which we love most. In time, each of us is offered that opportunity...whether it is in our dreams, our hopes and aspirations, or in the lives we've chosen to lead. May each of us have the opportunity to tell lots of 'Fish Tales' with each new experience."

Hurray for all of us! We can only imagine what tales our little quilts have to tell!

Primary Home Page Links:

AAQI Liberated Quilters Blog & Liberated Quilters Message Board


LINKS:
Liberated Quilting
Liberated Quilting Challenge
Liberated Quilting: Free Patterns, Blocks, and Tutorials
Word Play (Quilts)

Michele Bilyeu quilts for AAQI..the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative. Won't you please join us? :)

Quilter's Earrings From the AAQI

AAQI logo earrings and many more now available for sale with all proceeds to Alzheimer's research funding!

Go to the AAQI site to order any of these or many other super cute, super lightweight earrings!

Earring replicas (of the fabulous designer 'Championship' quilts now on auction

Bid on the masterpiece quilts themselves: http://bit.ly/AAQI-Auction...

See how much the bids for the quilts are up to now...no obligation to bid!

or Root for your favorite championship player/creator of these fabulous quilts!

Or check out/ buy a pair of replica earrings made from the auction quilt designs:

Do you make AAQI quilts? Or just want to support AAQI; wear an AAQI Logo Lapel Pint 10 days, too. You may not be able to afford bidding on one of their masterpiece quilts, which inspired the earrings above, but

Others to check out using other quilt blocks not from these auction quilts:

Earrings

Michele Bilyeu quilts for AAQI..the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative. Won't you please join us? :)