More Alzheimer's Art Quilts

When I posted my first AAQI quilts in May I received an email from Jean who wrote, "I like your AAIQ quilts and the stories they tell. They should sell fast. I have four in the works, and have more ideas, but I don't have a blog, so when they are registered I'll try to remember to send you the links to them. I was the full time caregiver for my husband who had Alzheimer's. He died in Dec. of 2000."
Jean's and hundreds of other little quilts are available for sale and I am happy to help get the word out. If your life has been changed in any way by Alzheimer's Disease, consider buying a little quilt to help fund research for a cure. Here are Jean's quilts.

14,957 - Hourglasses And X's--Sold--Thank You!

14,955 - Liberty--Sold--Thank You! 

14,956 - A Beautiful Mind Blocked--Sold--Thank You!

14,954 - Happy House/Sad House--Sold--Thank You!

Small Talk

Just another bunch of small quilts here. I really do have some bed quilts to work on, but it has been too crazy busy this summer to focus on them.
I need to post this last batch of AAQI quilts for the sake of the SewCalGal FMQ Challenge deadline. They have been inundated with a bunch of quilts right at the last minute (like mine). These are not available to purchase yet. I will post when they are listed on the "For Sale" page.

Flowers For Market--#15,501 This is dedicated to V. N., a long time acquaintance who raised a very large family and supported them literally with the work of her own hands. Even after this disease had begun its inroads into her mental abilities, she would cut the flowers from her garden every Saturday morning and have her caregiver help her take them to the local Farmer's Market to sell.

These flowers were made with 1/2" hexie papers and the quilting is just "straight line" around the hexies and sashing.

Furrowed Brow--#15,502 In memory of an old friend E.H., with whom I spent many hours, over many years, doing volunteer work in our church and community. For a time she would recognize me, even after her mind was going. But the last time I visited her before she died, as I approached her wheelchair with a greeting, she looked at me with a furrowed brow and worried expression. It was clear I had become a complete stranger.

The FMQ on this  one is shown here.

                                                                                                                            

Justice & Liberty For All--#15,567 Dedicated to all those who have sacrificed to defend our freedoms. Straight line quilting around the pinwheels, stars and stripes finished this one off. 

 Lost Feathers--#15,566 Inspired by this saying...
“A bird that has lost its feathers can no longer sail through the skies. And a person who has lost her memories can no longer find her way through the world she once called home.”
― Sakura
I wrote the saying on a piece of muslin and sewed it onto the back of the quilt.

Obviously, this one was quilted with FMQ feathers.

Here are two other little quilts (not AAQI quilts) that have been finished lately. My "Winter Warmth", a composite of 3 Primitive Gatherings patterns, finally got bound with one of those great P. G. striped fabrics.

This last one was a product of the SewCalGal FMQ Challenge #3. I had already posted my finished project, but I was anxious to try some hyper-quilting. I pulled out a few batiks that struck my fancy and had a go. I really like the final product. I have another batik in a plum color that I am thinking of trying next. The year of the feather continues!

Until next time,

Janet O.

Squeaking under the wire--and some quality family time!

 As is my normal MO, I got my last 4 AAQI quilts registered by the skin of my teeth. Within 48 hours of the deadline, these 4 little quilts got registered and are now awaiting their number assignment so that I can send them in. When that time comes I will post about the meaning behind each quilt.

 If you think you have seen the red one before you are half right. This is a remake of the little quilt in my last post.

You may remember my frustration with the batting poking out the back on my first attempt at this design. I received many good suggestions from readers, for which I am very grateful. It helped me realize that I am still quite a novice at this machine quilting stuff and I have a lot left to learn. I spent time searching online for insight into the possible problems mentioned, and learned that many battings have a top and bottom side--and mine was probably upside down, my needles were too big for the thread I was using, and I needed to tweak my tension adjustment on my bobbin. This second attempt wasn't perfect on the back, but the problems were greatly reduced, and I felt better about sending it off.

Aside from these little pieces, there hasn't been much quilting action at my house lately. There have been some major milestones to celebrate. My father turned 90 last week. He is still active and alert and amazing, helping his neighbors and family members in any way he can.

Four days later my MIL turned 85. Here she is pictured with my 4 children. She is still an independent woman, busy serving others in our church and community. I am surrounded by good examples!
 In between those two events we had a family reunion camp out to attend, where 49 of a potential 60 family members (my parents and their posterity) were in attendance.

DD#1 has been here from NH for the festivities and is staying for a couple of weeks. She was intrigued by the little EPP hexie flowers in the AAQI quilt and is well on her way to making such a quilt herself. I think she enjoys this process much more than I do. : )

This is more non-quilty content than I usually share, but that is what has been happening in my life lately, along with concern for the kind of month my youngest grandson had in July.

He loved sitting on his great-uncle's Harley at camp.
Enlarge the photo to get the full effect of his gaze.

You can read about his record month of tonic/clonic (aka grand mal) seizures on DD#2's blog here. He is such a sweetheart! Hopefully someday there will be help for all those who suffer from this devastating form of epilepsy.

Until next time,
Janet O.

AAQI Quilts

My two AAQI quilts are finally up for sale, if you are interested. You can read about them here.

I was motivated to do these from two sources. Lori, of Humble Quilts, has taken the $1000 Pledge and I have purchased a couple of her little quilts. I had occasionally entertained the thought of doing one myself, but never got beyond the thought. When SewCalGal's FMQ Challenge for 2013 included the option to do an AAQI quilt, that was the nudge I needed.

The FMQ skill from the SewCalGal FMQ Challenge in 2012 that I implemented in the first quilt was  quilting using stencils, which I couldn't do to save me, initially. Practice makes all the difference. Two of last year's challenges involved stencils and by the second one I was starting to believe I could do it. I think it gives a more traditional look to a quilt. The quilt on the left was done entirely using stencils.

On the right I implemented skills learned in Patsy Thompson's challenge about borders. After doing SITD around the pinwheels, I stitched border designs through the sashing and outer border.
I'll be linking this up with SewCalGal's Challenge #2 here.

Early Onset=Early Retirement is available here.  *SOLD*  Thank You!
Role Reversal is available here.   *SOLD*  Thank You!

I'm hoping to get at least one more donated before the deadline. I'l keep you posted.

Sundry Activities

Two little AAQI quilts completed and registered yesterday. Now awaiting mailing instructions.

The black and green quilt is named "Role Reversal". I watched my sister-in-law take care of her mother in their home for several years. The parent becomes the child. Two of the 4-patch units are turned so that the green is where the gold should be, representing this switch of position in a relationship with a parent with Alzheimer's.

The blue and brown quilt is named "Early-Onset=Early Retirement". Many years ago our family doctor, who was a soft spoken, kind man, took early retirement. It was a while before we learned that it was because he had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. The pinwheel blocks represent the cogs that turn, one catching another, causing movement on all of the connecting parts. One thing leads to another--like a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer's led to early retirement.

I've kept Gidget busy this week quilting up a lap quilt that I want finished by the end of the month so that it can be gifted.

Just used an all over pattern, but I think the quilting is too dense--not as soft as I'd like. I'm learning.

Yesterday DD#2 and a couple of her friends came over to quilt. (You knew you'd be on the blog, didn't you?) Lots of quilting, talking and laughing. It was fun--come back anytime!

Can you believe how short this post is? I can't. But most of my current projects are gifts and swaps, so they have to stay unpublished for a while yet.
Happy quilting!
Janet O.