Yellow Bears Paw

We are back from Chicago now, and I can say it was a nice visit.  My kids were good during 4 days of driving and everyone was happy to see us when we arrived and sad to see us leave.  We were lucky to have beautiful weather while we were there and we got to spend a lot of time outdoors, smelling the suburban spring air that immediately brings me back to my childhood.  I'm glad my boys could experience that too.

The main purpose of the trip was to see my family, especially my mother, whose long-term illness took a bad turn earlier this month after a lengthy plateau.  Many of you contributed both quilts and funds to the benefit held for her in 2012 (past posts are here and here), and I wanted to give a sort of update, as well as show off the quilt I made for her.

Earlier this month my mother went into the hospital for several days.  I was told that low sodium was causing her to become confused and disoriented.  Several times she would wake up in the morning and not know why she was in a wheelchair.  She began having problems with memory and though she has good days and bad, it was a shock to have her ask me what my children's names were, or where we lived.  I was happy I could see her, but now that I'm home again, I'm silently aching for the loss of the mother I knew.  I'm not writing this for anyone's sympathy, just to tell the story of the quilt I made, that I clung to, pouring my love, regret, and grief into each stitch.  That binding took forever!  And I was sad to leave the quilt, knowing that it gave me comfort these past few weeks.  I hope it also brightens her days, helps her remember me, and at the very least keeps her warm in the too-cold air-conditioned house.

 The top of the quilt is made from a yellow woven fabric that I got at my LQS.  The centers of each bear paw came from the 11 women in the 15 Minutes Play Scrap bee from 2011.  I pieced them into bears paw blocks, starting in 2011 and finishing the last 3 earlier this month.  I used wide sashing of the yellow and put the extra Scrap bee blocks as corner stones.  I thought I'd leave it there and back the quilt in the black/off-white dot, but it made a really nice border instead.  The backing is an organic cotton from Jo-Anns.  It's bound in light turquoise, one of the same fabrics I used in samples for Quilting on the Go.  Final size-- I didn't measure, but it's a bit less than twin.  Fits on mom's hospital bed just fine though.

Mom, I don't know if you get on your laptop much anymore, but if you do, I hope you can read this, and if not, I hope someone reads it to you.  I love you so much.  Thank you for believing in me and for letting me follow my dreams.  I hope we can come see you again soon.

Project Patti Recap

On October 28th, while all of the Northeast was preparing for the impending hurricane, 100+ people gathered on the south side of Chicago to attend a benefit for my mother.

It was a huge success, and while I can't get into specifics, it brought in more than double what the family and planning committee had hoped for.  We are all very very thankful to everyone who attended, donated items for the raffle and auction, and made financial contributions online through the website. 
 If you are one of those who made a donation, let me say THANK YOU again.

Patti (my mom) with my sister, Lori.

The money raised will go towards paying for the care that my mom needs.  Mom can finally get an overnight or live-in caregiver and all the family that has sacrificed their time to care for her at home over the past 3 years can go back to sleeping in their own beds.  The physical and emotional stress has been lifted somewhat, and the family is all extremely grateful. 

One month ago, Bonnie Hunter very kindly posted about mom's condition and benefit on her blog, spreading the word much farther than I could have myself, and donations of quilts to be auctioned as well as $ came pouring in.  Thank you, Bonnie!!
Below are the quilts that were auctioned off at the benefit:

The first two were made by the Silver City Quilt Guild in Taunton, MA  (where I served as guild president, 2007-2008, before moving to NY.  You ladies Rock!)

 Both quilts were swiped up by my aunt.
Next up are a quilted table topper and Lime throw made by Janet E. of Janet Ann Creations

 

We also had a very cozy one by Heather B. in Indiana, which I heard there was some fighting over:

This lovely pink and green spinner by Debbie N. of Desirable-Junk in Ohio:

I heard it went home with my cousin's 8 year old daughter.  Perfect!

This blue and white stunner by Lesly of Stitch Literate:
(sorry, no photo, but you can see it on flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wadewoolley/4015476546/in/set-72157622469088329 )
I swiped this one myself, hehe!  Thanks Lesly!  It will be gifted to someone special who has taken care of me a lot recently.

And then the one I made, which you've seen before, but I'll post again:

This one went home with my cousin, Jacki.

Thank you so much to all the quilters that helped make this benefit a success.  We couldn't have done it without you!!

Feeling So Thankful

I woke up this morning to find the most thoughtful email in my inbox from Bonnie Hunter.

Graciela was kind enough to tell her about the benefit we are having for my mom, and Bonnie decided to help out, not only with a donation, but by blogging about it.

 

You can read her very sweet post here: http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2012/10/quilters-lend-hand.html

 

I was in shock, so touched.  I truly appreciate the generosity Bonnie has shared by getting the word out to her readers, and I would like to thank each and every one of you who has donated or spread the word in order to help the fundraiser in some way.  Please feel free to share the link on your own blogs, twitter, or facebook accounts.  Every little bit helps.

 

 

 Bonnie also mentioned donations of quilts for the silent auction, to be held in Chicago on October 28th.  If you have a quilt to donate, we would be very grateful to accept it.  Please email me directly to discuss shipping details.  (jessunderquilts at yahoo dot com)

 

THANK YOU!!!

Can you help my mom?

This post has been marinating for a while.. a bit too long actually and now that I've finally decided to talk about it on the blog, I'm almost embarrassed for waiting too long.

This is my mom:

Her name is Patti and she lives outside of Chicago.  Five years ago she was diagnosed with Alexander's Disease, which is a rare degenerative neurological disorder that has robbed her of ability to move.  It is a terrible, slow moving disorder where the body slowly eats away at the lining of the spinal cord, stopping signals from the brain from being able to get to the rest of the body. 
I don't understand much more about the details, but I do know that for the last 3 years my mom has been confined to her bed or her motorized wheel chair, and has been completely dependant on others to provide all of her basic needs.   For the last 3 years, my dad, sister Lauren, and mom's sisters have taken turns spending the night with mom every night because the family can not afford an overnight caregiver.  Someone gets her into bed and then sleeps on the couch in my grandmother's family room, waking every 2 or 3 hours to reposition mom so she doesn't get bedsores.  In the morning (5 days a week), she has a caregiver come and assist her with bathing, dressing, and getting out of bed and back into the chair.  The caregiver usually makes breakfast and leaves after 4 hours or so. 
Mom can not be left alone, so the family takes shifts to spend part of the day with her, and at night, it's the same routine.

I won't try to describe the guilt I feel at not being closer, not being able to pitch in or offer any help myself.  This post is about mom, not me.  But now it is my turn to do something.. to get the word out.

The family has organized a fundraising benefit to be held in Chicago on October 28th. 

There will be a raffle and a silent auction, where I am donating this quilt:

Because of my work schedule this semester, I will not be able to go to the actual benefit, but if you are anywhere near the south side of Chicago and are interested in dropping by, I encourage you to go.  There will be many nice raffle prizes and the silent auction will be full of valuable items to bid on.  If you would still like to help but can not make it to Chicago that afternoon, I ask that you please visit the fundraiser's website where there is information on how to make direct donations, both electronically (Paypal or credit card) and by check. 

Donate Here

My family and I thank you for any support you can give at this time.  Sometimes life isn't easy, and nobody's perfect, but if we stay positive, work together, and do what we can, we can make it through.