Every Quilt Has a Story

I've made a lot of quilts over the years. More often than not...with a purpose, or a recipient in mind.   Most of the time there is an emotional investment.... a "piece of me"  in each quilt.  Whether it's taking the time to think about what the receiver's favorite colors are or a fabric that might remind me of them...and as I create their quilt...the thoughts about how my quilt might make them feel when I give it to them.

During this project to collect quilts in honor of Kayla Rose, I've thought a lot about the receivers of the quilts we've collected and how their hearts may be touched by receiving these gifts of love.  Adolescents, waging a battle against a horrible disease, given a gift by a total stranger who donated their time and talents to provide a little comfort in their time of need. 

It was also during this project that I thought about trying to create a quilt for Kayla's mom, Bobbi, my former classmate and friend.  An opportunity to give her a quilt of her own to remind her of how we honored Kayla's 25th Birthday.  I knew I wanted it to be something special...more than just her favorite colors, or something that matched the sofa.  I decided on a pixel quilt using a black and white photo of Kayla.  (see YouPatch.com if you'd like to make a quilt like this...can't recommend them enough)

Decision made, pixels arranged into a pleasing pattern, six shades of Kona gray and the color snow cut into 1177 pieces. As I was cutting out the pieces, I happened to glance up and there perched in the bushes outside my studio window was a beautiful red cardinal.  I knew then I was making exactly the right quilt.  

Did I mention there were 1177 pieces? My quilt would finish at 64x64.  Eight inch squares...eight blocks across...eight blocks down. 64 blocks total. A typical block might look something like this.

As I sat stitching late one night I had just completed about the top two thirds of the quilt.  I had that section draped across my longarm frame, right behind my chair.  It was about 1am in the morning...I was tired...and I was convinced that I had just spent a whole lot of time working on a quilt that would be nothing more than a graphic collection of shades of gray because I just couldn't see anything.  Andi, at YouPatch, had encouraged me to take pics and share with her as I worked, so I laid the quilt down on the floor and pulled out my phone.  Clicking the camera icon, I was not prepared for what was about to appear.  There she was ...Kayla....looking back at me with her beautiful smile. 

I heard her say "Maybe you couldn't see me ...but I've been here all along"...and I was a blubbering mess as I realized then that was the story that would go with this quilt.  A reminder to me...to her Mom...we may not see them once they've gone...but they continue to be right there with us.  I sent that pic of to Andi at YouPatch with a message that said "I'm a blubbering mess"...thankfully she's in Australia, so she wasn't sleeping....and wrote me back immediately, sweetly encouraging me to go get some sleep.  I woke up the next morning knowing I couldn't do anything else until this quilt was complete.

The next hurdle was how to quilt it.  I wanted to enhance the beauty that was already there.  Here's a couple of  close  up shots of the quilting I chose...or should I say more accurately...chose me.

                                                        



The hardest part of this quilt was literally wrapping it up into a box and taking it to the post office.  So much of my heart and soul went into this project.  I'm happy to say she arrived safe and sound today and even happier to say that I got to FaceTime with Bobbi as she opened the quilt.  What an experience....both of us in tears. 

This entire project has been such an amazing experience.  On Saturday Bobbi will take all of these quilts to Children's Hospital.  I'm so incredibly thankful for everyone of you who donated a quilt or quilt top. 

Quilts for Kayla! (update)

I am so excited to share these pics with you today!

I'm getting my first box of quilts ready to ship to Kayla's family in PA.  All of the quilt tops I've received so far are quilted, bound and have labels attached!  My original goal was to have a minimum of 25 quilts for the Children's Hospital and I'm still hoping we can make that goal! (this February 14th Kayla would've turned 25) I could not be more thrilled and thankful to all of you who have sent quilts, or are still planning to send them.   I know there are a few more quilts and a top or two on their way to me this week.    Take a look at this beautiful stack of quilted goodness that will be going in the mail!

Kayla's Mom, Bobbi, was presented this quilt from a group of friends (aka: Happy Chicks) on Saturday to be added to our gift collection.  What an awesome quilt and even more awesome friends!

 

 

 

This is the label that I designed to be attached to the back of all of the quilts. 

.

 

I'll post again when I'm ready for the next shipment.

Quilts to Honor Kayla Rose....an update.

Just a quick update on the quilts I'm collecting to honor Kayla Rose.  If you missed that blog post, you can read about it here.

 

 

When I first started this project, February seemed like such a long way away....but it's really right around the corner. 

I want to thank those of you who have sent quilt tops for me to quilt for this very special project....Carol, Sandi, Pam, Bobbi, Marika & Brandi!  (and Michelle, I know you said one may be coming) I'm finishing up a couple of quilt tops of my own as well.   I have a few more to quilt and I have several finished quilts that are on their way to me!  A special thank you to Kayla's Aunt JoAnn for her donation to help cover batting costs. 

Check out this stack of finished quilts!

 

 



Quilts will be sent to Kayla's family to deliver to the Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh in honor of what would've been Kayla's 25th birthday on February 14th.   What a beautiful gift of love!

 

There's still time to send a finished quilt if you've got one to spare and would like to take part.  We're looking for a good lap sized quilt (approx. 60x72) that might appeal to an older child.  You can send me a message at psuebarnes@yahoo.com if you'd like to participate.

 

I'm so excited to wrap these kids up with some quilted love! 

Quilts to Honor Kayla Rose

My friends, you might want to grab a tissue for this post.  I'm going to tug on your heartstrings just a bit....and then I'm going to ask you if you've got one quilt....you might want to just grab the entire box of tissues.

Earlier this week, I was perched in my favorite chair, drinking my morning coffee and sharing peanut butter toast with my pooches when there was a segment on the Today Show about childhood cancer. I was sobbing as I watched the video that Hoda Kotb had orchestrated with music artists Sara Barielles and Cyndi Lauper, combining their songs "True Colors" and "Brave" to create Truly Brave . (click the song title to watch the video...tissues required) A tribute and encouragement to kids battling cancer and the stars of the video were none other than  kids who are currently fighting the disease.   It was so touching...I was a blubbery mess.   I shared the link to the video on my Facebook page and not long after, someone I've know nearly my entire life, commented on the video....someone who knew firsthand just how devastating this disease can be.   

Bobbi (Dombrowski) Thomas and I grew up in rural NW Pennsylvania and started first grade together. We didn't have Kindergarten then at our school.  We're not so old that it hadn't been invented yet, I just like to tell people that we were so smart, we went straight to first grade. 

Bobbi, was my first "Polish" friend.  And no...I don't mean she was a little girl who came to America  from Poland...she simply had the letters "ski" on the end of her name...and if my memory serves me correctly, she told some of the best Polish jokes in Elementary school.  (now this was way before being politically correct was invented...we didn't take life so seriously back then... and we all made fun of ourselves). We were classmates all through school and like most people, after high school we went our separate ways and lost touch.  Thanks to  social media, we have now reconnected through Facebook.  I do remember having a phone conversation with my Mom at some point several years ago, when she mentioned that Bobbi's young daughter, Kayla, had been battling cancer and the prognosis was not good.  I remember thinking to myself then "I just can't even imagine...".  I still can't....but after watching that video,  I finally reached out and contacted Bobbi about an idea that I've had for quite some time and just hadn't followed through...a way not only to  celebrate Kayla's life...but to do something in her memory that would make a difference to other kids facing cancer.  Quilts. Of course Quilts!  What if we collect quilts that could be given to other children facing cancer...to honor Kayla.

I never met Kayla, but thanks to Facebook, I  have seen pictures of her occasionally and I get to feel her family's love for her....as well as their sense of loss.  I asked Bobbi if she wouldn't mind sharing a bit of Kayla with you and here is what she wrote....

Dear Friends,

When Penny first approached me with the idea of gathering quilts as a way to honor the life of my daughter Kayla Rose I was instantly brought to tears. As anyone who has lost a child will tell you, there is a deep fear that your little one will be forgotten, and just the thought of paying tribute to Kayla's life on what would have been her 25th birthday is beyond special.

Most of you never had the opportunity to know Kayla, but through this letter, I am hopeful you will find a sense of the child she was, the young lady she had grown to be, and the woman she never had the chance to become.

 

God presented Kayla to me on Valentine's Day, February 14, 1990.  She came complete with a charismatic smile and deep Bambi eyes filled with the bright lights of life.

 

On Christmas Eve 2002, we would hear the gut-wrenching words, "Kayla has Cancer!" We had never heard of Rhabdomyosarcoma and we didn't know what stage IV meant.  But within hours we knew young Kayla would be facing a fight for her life.

At twelve years old, it was of course difficult for Kayla to adjust to all of the challenges an aggressive cancer treatment would present, yet she stayed strong and full of smiles every step of the way.  Never to be defeated by her diagnosis, Kayla blossomed into an amazing young lady whose courage and determination provided strength to those around her.

 

 

 

 



 

One of Kayla's most treasured possessions was a quilt her Grandmother made her and we never made a trip to Children's Hospital without it.  As Kayla would be getting settled into her room for yet another treatment, I would busily strip the boring white blankets off the bed and replace them with her colorful quilt.  I was obvious to anyone who entered the room that she was wrapped in something made with love which made her room brighter just by its presence.

 

 

Only eleven short months after that fateful Christmas Eve, on the night before Thanksgiving, November 26, 2003, it was time for Kayla to return home to Jesus, and while resting peacefully at home surrounded by those she loved most, she took her last breath.

 

Those of us who Kayla shared her life with will always remember the smile in her eyes and the joy she brought to everything she touched. It's my wish that this short letter will give you a glimpse of the person Kayla was and maybe even an idea of the angel she is now.

 

 So here's where you, my quilter friends, come in to play.  I'm asking you if you have a quilt that you'd be willing to send so that Kayla's family can celebrate her birthday, February 14th, by delivering quilts to other adolescent aged kids who are battling cancer.  I'm looking for a decent lap size, perhaps 60x72ish or larger...in colors and/or styles that might appeal to a teen.  I would also welcome quilt tops that I can finish.  I'd like to have all finished quilts to me by February 1, 2015  so that I can prepare them with a special label honoring Kayla.  If you've got a quit top you'd like to donate that would need to be here much quicker so that I have time to see that it's finished and ready for delivery.

 

A final message from Bobbi regarding this project...

 

As you consider making a donation of your time and talents I want to ensure you that while a quilt given to a young person fighting for their lives may seem like a small gesture, it will provide so much more than warmth, it will give comfort.  Comfort not only for the recipient but also a special sense of comfort to Kayla's family as we have the privilege of delivering your efforts in a true celebration of Kayla's life.

 

 

If you'd like to provide a quilt in honor of Kayla, to be delivered to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, on February 14, 2015...her 25th birthday....a day all about LOVE....please comment on this post with a return email address, or email me directly at psuebarnes@yahoo.com.  I'm also asking that if you send a quilt for Kayla's family to deliver...that you also add a card or note...perhaps some words of encouragement as well as your name and address.  x