Category Archives: Living with Multiple Sclerosis

Personal Quilt Records

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Why didn’t I think of documenting who and where my quilts went 30+ years ago when I started quilting?  My answer is that I didn’t think of it back in the days of my early quilts.

After a few years, I did start to take photos of the quilts and afghans I made.  Unfortunately, I didn’t get name the photos so I could remember just who the gift went to.  So I have a stack of photos as a reminder, but I am not sure I could tell anyone who the items were given to.

After I was diagnosed with MS and we realized the extent of the loss of my short- and long-term memory problems, I started asking the recipients of my quilts to take a digital photo and send it to me, so I could refer back to it and know who my quilts went to.  Unfortunately, my request hasn’t always been honored.

There’s also a reason to document your quilts if you ever need to show your work to someone who is interested in purchasing or commissioning a quilt from you.  The stack of photos I have has been passed along to others many times and many quilts have been made based on quilts I had made in the past via those photos.

But, here are a few suggestions for documenting quilts (or any type of handmade gift) that you make and give or gift away:

  1. Photo album:  A photo of the finished quilt before it is sent to its new home, plus a photo of the recipient (if possible) with their new quilt.  But take this one step further and write or type a little note, adding the information on where the quilt went and who it went to.  A date would be great, too.  If nothing else, take a photo of the tag on the quilt, then you could eliminate any further need to write anything.
  2. Write out information about your quilts.  This is a pretty thorough list items to help you:  https://www.reddawn.net/quilt/documnt.htm.  This is even a more thorough form you can print and use:  https://oregonquiltproject.blogspot.com/
  3. “Personal Quilt Registry“, a book written by Lynne Fritz, offers a seemingly excellent opportunity to keep a record of your quilts – not just what you’ve gifted away but also those you have kept.
  4. Make a quilt journal:  https://www.craftsy.com/blog/2014/05/how-to-make-a-quilt-journal/.
  5. There’s also software you can purchase and use on your computer to document your quilts:  https://softexpressions.com/software/organ/index.html#Quilters.

There are many options for you to choose from to help you keep a record of your quilts.  What’s your favorite way?


What a Feeling to Pay it Forward from a Simple Goal!

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I really do not like to call attention to myself for sharing the talents and gifts I have been gifted with & then paying it forward with donations. I believe we are to give without calling attention to ourselves. But a goal was reached this year, despite everything & I am extremely happy that I was able to do what I set out to do. My goal was to make a quilt top a month for our church’s Lutheran World Relief quilt efforts. I didn’t do it alone. Far from it. My secret special person, who has sent me $20 a month since I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease four-years-ago, played a part in this goal. I used most of those funds, from 2014, to purchase fabric with. My foster mother played a part in this goal. She visited our house in November & she pieced three of the quilt tops for me. My family played a part in this goal. They allowed me the time to cut, then sew these quilt tops together & with every single quilt top I pieced—I prayed for whomever & whatever was on my mind—it is always my special time to reach out to God with each stitch I made!

A goal was reached. By me. In the four years since my diagnosis, I have not been able to make a goal and fulfill it. Too many distractions, too many doctor’s appointments, too many extracurricular activities, too many painful days—all of that adds up to not enough time, energy or gumption for me to deal with any goals I may have had.

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One goal down, hopefully many more to follow!

Four Year Anniversary of Living with Multiple Sclerosis

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Today marks the four year anniversary of my MS diagnosis. You can read about my previous yearly updates here, here, and here.

It was recently pointed out to me that whenever I wrote something about my MS, the news was always worse than the previous note. And the previous note was worse than the note before that one.

At this point, I am inclined not to say anything because I do realize people turn a deaf ear (or blind eye) to news that is always bad. Frankly, I have nothing good to say about my MS, either.

This will be my last MS anniversary post and my last post regarding living my life with MS.

MS has broken me. But it has not broken my faith nor my relationship with the man who promised to love and cherish me, in sickness and in health. He and I will weather this storm, with the help of God and prayers from those who pray for me. Always with the help of God!

A No Quilt Gift 50th Birthday

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I turned 50 a couple of weeks ago.  Perhaps I’ll finally be considered wise – by most everyone except my kids.  LOL  I have always preferred a very subtle and low-key birthday.  Not a big party person, more so now than ever before because of my MS blessing.

I rarely ask for much though this year I did have two requests and both of them were gifted to me.  I wanted a Boy Scout Mother’s necklace.  In the world of Boy Scouting, when your child achieves a rank advancement, the mother is also gifted with a pin for their son’s accomplishment.  I have two ribbons, one from our son’s Cub Scout advancements and one from our son’s Boy Scout advancements.  Unfortunately, the ribbons have some pretty thick clasps on the back and they put holes in my shirts.  So, I wanted a Mother’s necklace so I didn’t ruin anymore shirts.  Because I made my request late, my husband ordered it online and it should be in the mail this coming week.

The second gift request was a new wrist tape dispenser.  My youngest daughter used mine and accidentally broke it.  I love those wrist dispensers…even though the tape refills cost a lot more cost than just buying rolls of tape.  But, instead of one tape dispenser, I received two of them!  Now I can keep one in my studio and one in our wrapping paper holder.

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And then I received a very unexpected gift – one that I will use often and enjoy:

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My MIL gifted me with a chair for our deck and a cushion to go with it!  I enjoy sitting outside, watching the kids or the chickens or the dogs or even just the sunsets.  Something I would have never bought for myself but it certainly was needed and appreciated!

I felt really bad for my kids because I had a couple of very bad MS days, to the point that I couldn’t walk without assistance.  And one of those days was my birthday.

There were gifts of money and gifts of cards, too.  But, I must say…having my family together for my half-century mark was the best part of having a birthday.  Well, the brownies were right up there, too!