Quilt Therapy

In the last few days, I have received some very special comments from quilters who read this blog.  It’s evident that this little bit of my therapy means something to others who are seeking quilt therapy as a way to stay sane, as a way to work through life’s problems and as a way to connect with other quilted hearts.

And that makes my quilted heart very, very happy.

Unfortunately, in these tough economic times, not all quilters can afford to fuel the fires that burn in their quilted souls.  So, I thought it’d be fun to put together a group of Quilt Therapy Angels – folks who have fabric, thread, needles, etc. to share with those who don’t have them or couldn’t afford to purchase such items but who really needs them to take the edge off of life – to enjoy some quilt therapy!

I pray that you feel, as I do, that honesty IS the best policy, and that all of those who join as a Quilt Therapy Angel or a Quilt Therapy Angel in Need - are honest in their needs and abilities to help. 

Please visit our Quilt Therapy Angel page and submit a comment if you’d like to be a Quilt Therapy Angel or an Quilt Therapy Angel in Need.  Your email address is private to everyone except me, so no need to worry that the world will get your information.  I will then pair the Quilt Therapy Angels with the Quilt Therapy Angels in Need and leave the rest up to the two of you!

mmmmm, love me some quilted hearts!

My nephew is in jail and today is his birthday.  I feel bad for him, though he really needed to be formally punished for his actions.  But, it’s hard to take – especially given that his dad (my brother) is in prison, too.  I try not to compare the two, as my brother wasn’t around much for Cody (genetic vs. environmental is the question that begs an answer) as he was growing up.  But, it’s hard knowing that the addiction gene that our family has has already shown up in my nephew.

In light of his circumstances, Cody, we wish you a Happy Birthday.  We hope you feel the prayers we’ve been sending up for you and hope you know that we love you, unconditionally.

Aunt Tammy & family

I love Holy week.  I love the music, I love the love, I love the ending of this movie!

Yesterday our whole family participated in the church service, in one capacity or another.  Although I gave the children’s sermon, I asked each of our kids to join me (even though two of them are older than the other kids) and then my hubby was needed for support with a ladder. 

And I will tell you right now, I *cannot* believe I didn’t take photos of this event…and hope that my words can paint you an adequate picture for you.

It was Palm Sunday on the church calendar.  A very special day, indeed.  The kids had already paraded around the church during the opening hymn, waving their palms as they strode throughout the sanctuary.  As I sat on the steps to the altar for the children’s sermon, talking to the kids about Palm Sunday and what it means to us, they all answered with understanding and excitement – they knew that Holy week is important and they knew they wanted to honor the sacrifice that Jesus made for us.

I had a “Bistro” jelly roll (from Moda) that I had brought along, and I put one around the neck of each child, like a stole.  We looked up at the cross that was hanging behind the altar, only to find that someone had draped a purple cloth around it.  In effect, our altar guild put a stole on our cross.  I explained that on the real Palm Sunday, Jesus rode on a donkey and all of the people who believed in Him layed down their cloaks, palms and shawls upon the ground so Jesus would have a clean and dry path upon which He could travel.

Since we didn’t want anyone tripping if we put our own cloaks and palms down in the church, we decided we’d take our stoles and place them upon a worn wooden cross that we had set up in the church – as a symbol of our love for what Jesus had done for us.

After each of the children put their stoles on the cross, I handed them another one – and asked them to go out into the congregation to share that stole with another member and let them lay their cloth upon the cross for Jesus.

The cross was beautifully draped when we were finished.  And there were a number of fellow congregants who had tears in their eyes for the experience and witnessing the innocent love that the children of the congregation shared with their brothers and sisters in Christ.

Then, during the offering, our Sacred Arts children performed a song in sign language.  I find this to be one of my favorite expressions of their faith through music – the flowing of the hands as they speak words that are unspoken, the expressions on the children’s faces as they move to the music and the “dance” that they perform with their hands is just awe-inspiring!

After the service, there was an older couple who has never spoken to us before who came to us, introduce themselves, and thank us for bringing so much to the church.  They were married there 63 years ago and didn’t remember a time when a new family was so involved in participating in so many ways before.  They loved having the children participate in the service and they loved the performances that the youth provided.  There were also many folks who stopped us on the way out the door, to tell us that they loved the children’s sermon and wish someone had thought of it before!

I give all of the glory to God, and am thankful that we have such loving children and such a caring and giving congregation who loves us for who we all are – children of God.

Holy week will continue.  There will be ups and downs and tears and joy.  The culmination of Christ dying for our sins and rising from the dead will touch my soul once again and forever more. 

But, right now – right this minute…I am thanking Him for loving me and saving me.  For loving my children and saving them.  And He has my undying devotion from now and throughout eternity.

I mentioned in an earlier post that one of our quilt group members taught us how to make fabric bowls.  At our last meeting, those who finished their bowls, brought them for show-n-tell.  I was so tickled that others had tackled this project, and their bowls turned out FABULOUS!

Although this isn’t the technique we were taught, I think it’d be so much easier than how we did it – you can see a great tutorial HERE.

Our quilt group had another lesson in Swedish Weaving last week and learned again, the basics of how to pre-wash and prepare your Monk’s cloth, how to baste the centers of your fabric (both left and right and up and down), how to weave and how to follow a pattern.  The following pictures should make a simple visual tutorial for anyone interested in this creative art:

At quilt group last week, one of the ladies had something fun and SIMPLE to make, and I just wanted to share it with you!  She went and purchased a pre-quilted placemat and made a note holder for all of her quilt group info with it!

This is the outside, once the note holder is folded up.  See that she sewed a piece of ribbon to it, to tie it closed?

This is the inside – she sewed straight stitches in various places to make 3 pockets and a pen-holder pocket into it.

I love quilting with what you have – and love this idea! 

I supplied our local quilt group with fabric and the patterns last year, to make the 2009 BOMquilts.com block of the month baby quilt, “Pioneer Sampler.”  Below are some photos of those quilts that members of our local quilt group made:

Original “Pioneer Sampler” BOMquilts.com quilt made by TK Harrison

Made by Donna A.

Made by Joyce K.

Made by Gayle P.

What beautiful quilts!  I was happy to help bring some baby quilts to our local group, and the ladies did a wonderful job in putting them together!

I don’t usually bring much of my private life into this blog, but this topic really hit me.  I was a victim of child abuse in at least one foster home (beatings, locked in the basement, etc.) and successfully survived….but, there will always be terror in me for adults or older-than-the-child who does things to children.

Recently an acquaintance was on trial for indecency with a minor.  He was 16 or 17 when the incidents occurred, with three different girls (ages 12-13). 

After the first day of testimony from one of the victims, he, his family and his attorney decided he should take a plea bargain.

Whether it happened or not isn’t the point – by taking a plea, he admitted guilt and will have a felony record the rest of his life, and he will have to be on the state/national sex registry for the rest of his life.  He really won’t have to worry about a job when he gets out, as his dad owns a business.

My writing here is not specifically about this young man, though he and his family will remain in our prayers.  He will go to prison.  My brother is in prison, and although it’s not where I would choose to live, my brother thrives in such a rigid environment.

After we were told about his plea bargain, the person making the statement said something that really made me stop and give thought.  He said (paraphrasing) that the system is all messed up.  We teach our children to have safe s*x, but we don’t give them the lawful information about who they can do that with.

What?

According to the testimony, one of these young girls (who incidentally are about the age of our second daughter – totally bringing this issue home for me) said that the young man took her home after being at his house with his sister, and he allegedly attacked her in the car. 

I’m sorry.  I just cannot wrap my head around the statement that I heard and the incident that the young girl, under testimony, gave.  A 16-17 year-old doesn’t know to keep his hands off of a girl that is his sister’s age?  And he doesn’t know consent?  It wasn’t a dating or romantic setting or situation – he was driving her home from a slumber party with his sister and he allegedly attacked her in the car!

One of the most basic rules in our house is to keep your hands to yourself.  If you ask my kids, they’ll say the exact same thing.  In case you’re wondering, the other main rule is that they are mind their own business, unless it’s for compassion purposes.

So, I wonder how this statement-making person (who hasn’t known the family very long) can make a blanket statement like that?  Right and wrong, in this type of situation, are pretty basic.  As a parent, our job is to teach our children those rights and wrongs – and we personally do that both via verbal communication and with our faith (i.e the 10 Commandments).  I know this young man went through the same teachings that our children go through at church.  I know they receive instruction in school on the same topic.

This isn’t really my problem.  It’s not my issue – except it’s yet another eye-opening topic that we need to make sure we address, age-appropriately, with our children.

No means no.  And no child of mine will ever be forced to allow anyone else to touch them (even via a hug) if they don’t want them to.  They never have to worry about us sticking up for them, if they are put into that type of situation.

But, to blame the system for this issue is way too much of a stretch for me.  If anyone is to blame, it’s a singular person – one that is going to get his first inmate number in a few days.  If his parents failed him, that’s their business.  If his school failed him, I can’t do a thing about it.  If society failed him, I’d like someone to explain to me how I, as an individual in this society, could have contributed to his behavior. 

I do know that those three young girls who were (allegedly) victimized by him will spend a lifetime dealing with what he (allegedly) did to them.  They have a life sentence.  He has five years.  I’m really having trouble understanding how the system is to blame for a person in this situation.

Please forgive me for being late with this block – my youngest daughter’s birthday was March 10th and I just lost all track of time!

But, the pattern is live now! 

CLICK HERE FOR BLOCK 3 INSTRUCTIONS

Last Wednesday, the youth group at our church was in charge of delivering the meal before our Lenten service.  Our oldest daughter is a part of that youth group.  And since I’ve got the background and experience in feeding hoards of people, I took the bull by the horns and volunteered to rally the troops (and their parents) and get the great feedbag set up.

I asked my husband to make us fresh, homemade bread … while I prepared and put together Taco Soup. 

The significance of the bread took my breath away …

We were able to follow in Jesus’ footsteps and provide bread for our congregation.  What joy!  What a glorious God we have, to have given us the opportunity to feed those who have fed us before.  How trusting He is to give us the means and talent to feed our brothers and sisters in Christ. 

We didn’t do  it alone and had wonderful youth and parents who helped out.  I was touched by the entire feast, and by the small part that we played in a small part of our lives and in the lives of others.