Why Are We Making Bright and Colorful Hospice Quilts?

Candy and Debbie and Linda and I have made several beautiful quilts for Rainbow Hospice. Recently, we decided we need more "Bright and Colorful" Quilts. It cheers up the room of a Hospice patient.

I cut tons of 2 1/2 inch strips in bright colors and we combined it with some beautiful prints.

I quilted both of them with large Paisley Swirl Quilting with a Blue quilting thread. 

I selected Purple for the backing fabric. It works perfectly for both of them!

These quilts are placed on the beds of dying patients and they are enjoyed by the family members while they are with their family members for the end of life process.

Then they are given to a family member afterwards. We all hope that they are comforted by our quilts during and afterwards.  

My Dad died in 1996. Rainbow Hospice was fairly new and we were blessed to have them take care of him and us during the our time of need.

Over the years, starting back in 1996, I have been making comfort pillows  for Rainbow Hospice.  My kids and my Mom and I made them.  See the link for photos and how to make the comfort pillows.

I am sharing today, two quilts that were made by Candy and I. 

Whenever we make them I quilt/stitch in " Made with Love by ..... (Our Names - whoever contributed to that quilt).

Many friends have shared with us.

Our friend, LouAnn donated fabric and we added her name too.  

At a quilt retreat, last year, several people brought us their Orphan Quilt Blocks to add to a quilt. 

Some people brought us fabric and batting. 

All gifts are appreciated.

Do you want to help us by sending us Orphan Quilt Blocks, fabric for the quilt top and backing, or batting or money? Please send me an email at Marcia@craftysewing.com and find our how you can help us give too.

We appreciated any contributions.  Thanks in advance. I will add your name to the stitching for that quilt or quilts. 

You can help us even if you are not a quilter.  Again, Thanks in advance.

Yes --- We use Quilt Patterns? 

The one with more Red and Orange is Pat Sloan's String Bean Quilt. Here is the link String Bean Quilt.

I used Pat Sloan's String Bean Quilt Pattern for a Hospice Quilt earlier this year.

Click here for that post to see the quilt up close.

The other one is a Post Card Pattern that Candy purchased and I will get that information and post it here later this week. Sorry I do not have it right now. Check back later in the week or email me if you are looking for it and I will email the information to you when I get it.

My Mom and I made a Passage Quilt for Rainbow Hospice. Click here to see that quilt.

Last year Candy and I made a Patriotic Passage Quilt for Rainbow Hospice. Click here to see that quilt.

I share to inspire you to create! 

I am not asking for a donation, but I am giving you the information, if you would like to team up with us and join in the fun of giving to others, to comfort others in their time of need, as we know how much it meant to us when we were in need.

According to the News, this week is the week for giving!

Enjoy your day!

Marcia

31 Days of BLog Writing 

2015 Donation Quilt for Rainbow Hospice

Every year since 1997, my Mom and I have been making donation quilts.  The first several years, we made them for Relay for Life and then we started making them for the Rainbow Hospice of Jefferson County. 

It will be on display at the Fireside in Fort Atkinson, starting the week of November 23rd for several months, as they sell raffle tickets on it.  It will be in a window display in the hallway of the theater. You can purchase raffle tickets to win the quilt at the ticket window. Just ring the bell.

I will be showing the Tulip Quilt at my Quilt Trunk Show on Tuesday night (September 15th) in Viroqua, Wisconsin.

The Quilt Trunk Show is for the Vernon County Piecemakers Quilters Guild. Everyone is invited to the September 15th "kick-off" Meeting. They will be inviting new members to join that night, so there may be as many as fifty to seventy-five quilters.  They meet at the Viroqua Area Medical Office Building on 507 S. Main Street in Viroqua in the lower level community rooms. The meeting starts at 6pm.

I will be sharing not only my Tulip Quilt, but a variety of quilts including table runners and toppers, place mats, wall hangings and quilted bags and pocket purses. I will be bringing along my original quilt patterns and showing many examples of my quilt patterns. Plus I will be talking about Long Arm Quilting as that is what I do.

I have 6 suitcases full of quilts to share!

My Mom and I each year select fabric and a pattern for our donation quilt.  This year, we selected solid colors with a solid black for the background.

I rolled it on my quilting machine.

I wanted to have some fun with some whimsical quilting in the tulip blocks. Loops in the border and swirls in the outside border.  It looked so plain.  It needed some bounce!

I selected "Power Purple" for the quilting thread.

I stitched in our names in the bottom right hand corner.

Made with Love by Joanne and Marcia 2015

And then the binding.

Here are a few up close of my quilting.

Remember I take the photos so you can see my quilting.  In "real life" it doesn't stand out as much. 

Here's the backside.

First, I folded it to put in the suitcase and then I decided to roll it. 

After I show it on Tuesday night, I will be taking it to Fort Atkinson to the Fireside.  I plan to take a photo of my Mom and I with the quilt, before I present it to the Fireside for the Raffle to raise money for the Rainbow Hospice of Jefferson County.

My Mom and I enjoy making the donation quilt each year. Some years, we make them together and some years we don't. Click here to see a post from 2012 when were making our green donation quilt --- my Mom and me sewing together. 

Click here to see a post about when I started the Tulip Quilt and my inspiration for the quilt. 

This is the book with the quilt pattern is Jelly Roll Quilts by Pam and Nicky Lintott.

Other information about our Tulip Quilt:

All 100% cotton fabrics

Hobbs 80/20 Black Batting

Free Style (free motion) Quilting by me

All Machine Embroidery Stitched Binding

Quilt is displayed on a King size bed. Photos taken with natural lighting.  

The quilt measures 62" X 87"

Machine washable and dryable


Enjoy your day!

Marcia

Tulips for Rainbow Hospice!

I completed 30 Tulip Blocks at Quilts by Barb's Quilt Retreat.  I have more to make, as you can see. The retreat project this year, was Log Cabin Quilts, but you can select a project of your own.  I chose to work on this year's donation quilt for the Fireside's fundraiser for Rainbow Hospice.

Every year, my Mom buys the fabric and we make the quilt, usually together. This year, I started the quilt blocks at Barb's Quilt Retreat. I have attended the retreat every year for the past 12 years.  I signed up for next year, too!

We originally selected a blue background and only dark solids, but I changed my mind and went with a black background and added light solids.

It looks like a rainbow!

So pleased with the fabrics we selected for our Tulip Quilt.  The quilt pattern is in the book - Jelly Roll Quilts.  I did not use jelly rolls. I cut strips from my fabric 2 1/2 inches wide for the pieces.

At a quilt retreat, you need to take a break and eat a few snacks to energize yourself, so you can sew and sew and sew and then eat again!

I love all the colors with the black background.  Really makes them pop!

One of my friends said she had never taken a "Selfie" so we tried to take an "Us - sie" together! 

If you don't know what I look like .... I am the one on the left and up front holding the camera with the funny smile!

Another wonderful quilt retreat hosted by Quilts by Barb. 

I was inspired by one of my customer's quilts and that is why I selected this pattern.  Click here to see her Tulip Quilt.

Enjoy your day!

Marcia