Our Guild held a quilt show this weekend. It was fantastic! Lots of quilts and wall hangings. Lots of vendors, a boutique, an auction and results of our quilt challenge. I spent my afternoon viewing the quilts and then manning the admissions table. I managed to get a few photos of the quilts. I will show some more of them later, but for now here is the quilt I entered into the show. It measures about 60 inches by 84 inches.
This is the quilt I started a few years ago when I was in a rehab hospital recovering from a rare neurological disorder. It was an attempt to relieve my depression over not being able to walk any longer. I was given large doses of steroids to stifle my auto-immune system, but even after several months things did not get much better. I was offered mood altering drugs by several doctors, but I didn't think my body could stand even one more chemical. I told them to give me fabric instead of pills and they just laughed at me. But even as they were laughing I turned my hospital room into a sewing studio. Boxes of fabrics, lined my walls. I hand pieced and appliqued during my free time between physio and OT and often far into the night. The nurses were very supportive. They would come and visit my room to see what I had accomplished that day. I based my quilt on one that I saw in the magazine, Australian Country Threads. And guess what? My therapy worked! A creative heart is a happy heart!
I got many compliments on my quilt today and that felt good. A wonderful woman named, Janet Chisholm long arm quilted it for me. She did a wonderful job. I don't think my quilt would have looked as good if she hadn't spent so much time on it.
And now I am off to bed. It's been a long, exciting day!
14 comments:
What an inspiring story and a beautiful quilt. We all call our quilting therapy but you proved it.
It is a beautiful quilt. I'm glad I got to see it in person.
It's a beautiful quilt and a heart-felt story Hetty!
Your heart told you what to do and you did it! Beautiful quilt!
Your quilt is beautiful! And whether the doctors believe it or not I think sewing is very healing.
Oh my gosh, what an awesome and I do mean awesome quilt....I am sure it helped with your recovery!!
What a gorgeous quilt, Hetty and such a heart felt story. For many of us, quilting is our sanity lodestone. Thank you for linking to Hexie Weekend. Go back and link your beautiful hexies - no reason you can't post two. I'm a new follower.
Your quilt therapy produced a beautiful quilt! :-)
Congrats! What an accomplishment
That’s a real inspiring story Hetty! I love that line: ‘give me fabric instead of pills’!
I think quilting is a soothing and healing activity. You proved it!
I love your story...triumph, Hetty!! And your quilt is just the icing on top of the cake...delicious!
Sorry, I cannot reach you
Henk
Dear Hetty,
Sorry, I missed your birthday.
I will write in Dutch:
Zaterdag liep ik even naar de hertenkamp in Sonsbeek.
Daar duwde mijn moeder mij vroeger naar toe in een wagentje, denk ik.
Of ik 'liep' met mijn zusjes.
De Sint Peterlaan no 39 is er vlak bij.
Alleen even de Apeldoornseweg oversteken.
That is the address where my cats are.
I live now in a verzorgings-tehuis.
But I live free. Without 'zorg'.
Please try out my new e-mail address:
henkdeblaauw@outlook.com
Read you soon.
Love, Henk
I saw your quilt at the Pickering Quilt Guild show and it's lovely! nice job! I also noticed a bunch of quilts quilted by the long arm quilter you mentioned: Janet Chrisholm. I would like her to finish my quilt tops, too. Do you have her contact info? Thanks a lot!
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