Prayer Quilt Ministry

 I've been asked about prayer quilt ministries and how they work.  I have direct knowledge of only two such ministries, although I know there are many in existence. In this post, I'll talk about the ministry at my church.

Our ministry began seven or eight years ago.  One of the women in our church had recovered from cancer, had a huge fabric stash, and felt it should be used to bring comfort and healing to others.  She went before the administrative board, proposed the ministry, received approval, and began.  I joined the effort within the first several months.  Although I'd been making quilts for several decades, my quiltmaking activities had decreased tremendously in the midst of some weighty life challenges, and the ministry gave me the opportunity to "reactivate" with some smaller, more easily complete quilts.

We began with just four of us making quilts, one of whom was an artist who knew how to sew but had never made quilts.  At this point, she is one of our most talented and most prolific quiltmakers.  We've had other people join us and some people move on.  We've been assisted by people who don't make quilts but who do help with binding and other tasks.

Most of our quilts are about 45 X 60 inches, or thereabouts.  It almost always seems that once a quilt is ready for layering, it needs a back that's wider than 42 inches.  Sometimes we piece blocks or strips to make a backing wider.  Sometimes we piece rectangles or squares of fabric for backing.  Sometimes we make smaller, narrower quilts that will work for people in wheelchairs.  Occasionally, we'll even make a bed size quilt for a predetermined recipient. Right now, I have several pieces of batting that are calling me to make some smaller quilts.

Originally, the quilts were just for people challenged by cancer, but within a year we had decided to make them available to people with other health challenges also.  At some point we had to limit their distribution to people of our church and their relatives, friends, and colleagues.

There were several well-meaning non-quiltmakers who thought we should just hand them out to almost anyone, but that was never the intent of our ministry. Last fall one of our church members told me she had seen some similar textiles selling at an event for $40, and we could be selling ours for $30 to $40 and making money.  I was so shocked that I simply replied that I was not willing to work on something for 10 to 40 hours and sell it at that price!  It's hardly a secret that people who don't sew have no idea how many hours go into a quilt.

Some quilts are made solely by one person.  Other quilts are pieced by one person, quilted by another, and bound by a third. Some quiltmakers use published patterns; others use their own designs.

Sometimes we know from the outset who will receive a quilt.  More often we don't know who the recipient will be.  At all steps of the quiltmaking, we pray for the healing of the recipient. Once we have a supply of finished quilts, our church devotes part of a Sunday service to a dedication service.  In that service we usually share stories of people who have received previous quilts, and then, any members of the congregation who wish to do so lay hands on the quilts as we dedicate them to their healing mission.

To the back of each quilt we add a label.

We try to add the label before the quilting is done, so usually the label is not only sewn onto the backing but also quilted through. Although we began by printing the labels on an inkjet printer, we quickly changed to having Spoonflower print them on yardage for us.  The picture on the label is a photograph of the stained glass window behind our altar.

We photograph each quilt, assign a number to it, and attach an information sheet and a letter that explains the purpose of the quilt.  When people need quilts to give to someone, they fill out a very short information sheet that tells who the recipient is, where the recipient is located, the nature of the health challenge, and the name of the person who is giving it to someone.

Often we receive written thank you notes from the recipients, sometimes with wonderful stories of their healing; often we receive a donation from the person who gave the quilt, a family member of the recipient, or from the recipient.  It is my understanding that these donations are directed back into the ministry for expenses.  Sometimes someone has asked to purchase one of the quilts, and we've had to refuse because once a quilt has been dedicated, it can only go to someone who needs a prayer quilt.

The ministry purchases batting in large rolls, which is our biggest expense. Sometimes we receive donations of fabric.  Most of our quilts are made from our stashes or from fabric we purchase ourselves.  Sometimes we work from donated stash or look through the stash cupboard at church for fabrics to add to a quilt or to use for backing or binding. Over the years I've been given several  monetary donations and have been directed to purchase thread for quilting. Quilters outside our church have donated fabric and some incredibly well-pieced quilts that just needed quilting. We've gradually added several storage units for the quilts and usually have a cabinet or shelves of quilts that have been blessed and are ready to be distributed and another unit for quilts that are waiting to be blessed.  We do meet at the church about once a month for four or more hours of cutting, sewing, basting, etc., and of course, we usually have a snack of some kind or people  bring things for a shared lunch.  Sometimes we meet at a member's home.  In addition, we all work on the quilts at our homes.

Although we didn't realize it when we began, the blessings of this ministry go far beyond the recipients of the quilts and their healing.  When we began, I had no idea that I myself would be so blessed by the time I spent sewing and praying for others.  (Every quilt I make now is made while praying for the well being of the recipient.) In addition, making these quilts has encouraged us to take risks and grow in our quiltmaking.  We've all used colors, techniques, and designs we once would have been reluctant to use, and we've all found our quiltmaking skills growing.

More importantly, we've heard many wonderful stories of healing and of the ways the quilts have blessed recipients.  We've even heard stories of the quilts being passed on to others who have experienced healing.  Sometimes we never hear from the recipients, but more often we do hear about how the recipients experienced healing and comfort.

In another post, I'll share about another quilt ministry in our area that does things quite a bit differently.

In the meantime, happy quiltmaking......

Tresor de la Mer

 Here's another finish for Victory Quilts, our prayer quilt ministry.

 It's full of swirlies.

 A few waves thrown in in honor of various crustaceans.

A variety of thread colors.

 And of course, it has some feathers.

I purchased the Twister Template last summer at the Knoxville AQS show.  The top was done probably before the school year started, but it didn't get basted until February. This quilt began as 10 inch squares with a 10 inch border.

The crustacean/beach fabric was a gift from a friend who tried to help me out because I really like making quilts from girly-girl  fabrics and men need prayer quilts too.  I pulled coordinating solids and a couple mottled fabrics from my stash--and I have quite a few squares of those left.  However, I don't think I'll make another quilt from these colors.

I do think it would be fun to make another of these large twister quilts from a group of rose or flower fabrics.  Hmmmm, maybe I should trade my uncut twister squares with someone who has a bunch of rose themed squares.

It's good to have several small quilts completed this year--although I'm already far, far behind where I was by spring a couple of years ago.

For those who have arrived here via Sara's Whoop, Whoop and Mr. Linky: this is not one of may favorite quilts.  In fact, although there are some things I do like about it, I'll be glad to see it move on. You'll find plenty more elsewhere on my blog.

I also linked to Jo's Country Junction.

Happy quilting, all......

Home to Roost

This quilt has come back home.

 It's "Mrs. Lebo's Kitchen II" and was made in 2009 from one of the first charm packs I ever purchased. Below are photos that show a little bit of the quilting close up.

When I was injured at work a couple of weeks ago, my assistant reminded me to go home and lie under my prayer quilt.  She says she still uses the one she received, even when she is stressed and immediately feels the prayers and love that went into it. She was surprised to learn I didn't have one.  However, in all the years I've been working on prayer quilts, I've had no need for one.

When I went to the cupboard to get a dedicated quilt, this one was still available.  Now I have to say that there have been several times over the past couple of years when I have needed to give a prayer quilt to someone, and this one was not there.  We do encourage our pastor and others giving quilts to take several and let the person choose since at a time when illness or injury changes a life, it seems important to give people a chance to choose.  In any case, when I needed a quilt, this one was available, so it has come home to "roost."  I should say that the injuries I received led the orthopedist to put me on some restrictions for work, but those restrictions  had to do with weight limits.  It was the school principal who refused to allow me to work.  Sadly, I feel that decision translates to "not combat ready," and I really don't think that should be a requirement for teaching.  In the nearly 40 years I've been teaching, I've had only three to five students who were as dangerous as one we're dealing with now, and in all those previous situations the administration took action to keep us safe.

A couple of weeks ago our church had another commissioning service for new quilts.  When we do this, they are placed on the communion railing at the front of the church....

 and this time there were so many that they were also hung on the sound booth at the back of the sanctuary.

During the blessing the people of the church lay hands on the quilts as we pray.  I used to see numerous quilts that I'd worked on.  Now that we've had new sewers join the ministry (we started with just four of us, one of whom had never made quilts and is now expert), there are a lot more quilts from more people.

Below is the altar cloth several of us worked on.  This quilted cloth will be used each time we have a quilt dedication service. I thought I had some closeups of the quilting, but didn't find them.

So, while I'm not allowed to work, I hope to be accomplishing a lot of quilting since quilting and praying provide respite from the excess stress.

Happy quilting, all.....

Tom-Tom's Star

 This one is for my baby brother's teenage son.  It was requested almost two and a half years ago.  I'm shocked at how long it takes me to get things done now that I'm in a horrible work assignment.  Anyway, this is one more finish.
Actually, this quilt got it's beginning when my baby brother was much younger---I think I drafted and hand pieced the star back in the mid 1980s.

 I included more Lincoln's Platform blocks not only because I've always liked them, but also because our family spent generations in Illinois, and Lincoln was one of my heroes as a child.

Yes, it includes plenty of feathers.  Our church held a blessing for our prayer quilts a week or so ago, so this quilt is ready to travel to the Houston area.

Happy quilting to all.......

Bit o'Green--Nathan's Quilt

 This is my nephew's son's quilt.  Nathan likes tractors almost as much as he likes trains.
I've made quite a few John Deere quilts for our prayer quilt ministry and really did not think I'd make another one. Then I found this border fabric shortly before Alco discontinued all their fabrics.

 The windmill blocks were quilted with a variety of patterns, as were all the other blocks, but I liked this little dragon fly the best.

 The yellow row got some leaves, that really don't show up all that well in the photo.  (Some day I'll have a better location to take quilt photos--someday.)

 Despite the fact that it's a tractor quilt, my favorite part is the hogs in the center of the Lincoln's Platform blocks.  The hog fabric is all gone except for several itsy-bitsy scraps--and Nathan will undoubtedly call them pigs or piggies.

Now I need to make a decision about a quilt for Nathan's sister that is bigger than the doll quilt that was my last 2011 finish. I have several quilt tops ready to be layered and quilted, but I'm not sure which best suits her.

One of my friends asked me if I'd quilt a small quilt for her.  She said, "You don't have to do anything fancy like feathers."  I had to admit that I would have a hard time doing a quilt without feathers.  Yes, even the guys get feathers.  Given the many generations of hunters in our family, it never occurred to me that they might not want feathers.

(I linked to Karen't Sew Crafty party.)

Robin's Song

 This began as two of these. The fabrics are Papillon by 3 Sisters for Moda Fabrics.

 The pattern is "A Ritzy Cracker Quilt" by Mary Lane Brown of The Tulip Patch. 

Yes, I know it's unusual for me to use another designer's pattern.  However, I love asymmetrical blocks sometimes--and I'm always looking for patterns that work well with free motion quilting. Mary's pattern will let both the fabric and the quilting shine!

Where Mary used white, I used a robin's egg blue that has much less gray than the blue in this fabric line, so it turned out perfect!

 I love the three butterfly specimen fabrics in this line--one beige on beige, one blue on blue, and one gray on beige.

 However, for the border I'm adding to this quilt, I chose this blue.  Its design is scattered enough to share some of the limelight with the quilting. I ordered the border fabric  and some of one of the gray prints for binding from Somewhere Sewing.

 Since two days ago my yard looked like this, I'm ready for spring.  I sewed this on my treadle, watching this tree, that was not filled with birds today since the snow is gone and they were busy looking for food.

My friend sent me this partial quilt top that she created from a charm pack. She decided she didn't like it--but I'll add a border and will have a great time quilting it.

The Robin's Song quilt is for a tiny little girl, but I'm not sure about the destination of the charm square quilt--although I do know that it will be full of prayers for whoever receives it.

We did have another prayer quilt dedication at church Sunday, but I didn't take a single picture--although my camera was lollygagging in my purse!

Said Goodbye--to My 1919 Singer 66

 I said goodbye to one of my sewing machines last week.  (Amazing, I know.)

 It is a Singer 66 Redhead (sometimes called "Redeye") from 1919.  Singer made literally millions of these machines each year for many, many years.

 It was an absolute mess when I bought it (for too much money). I always had the feeling that someone had intentionally messed up this machine--perhaps because the owner wanted to replace it with a newer electric model?

 I purchased it near the end of 2009 after months and months of searching for a treadle in working order or one I could get in working order.

 Once I got it cleaned up, it was very pretty.  However, it always had tension issues. Clearly someone had partially disassembled the tension and had not gotten it back together properly.

For several months it's been sitting beneath one of my other sewing machines because I removed it from it's treadle and put in a lovely old black Necchi BU.

Last weekend I stopped by Rocky Campos' shop at the Moriarty Flea Market because I was looking for another high shank darning foot for a Necchi BU.  We started talking, and I ended up coming home, getting the 66 as well as several other motors, foot controls, and lights that I had removed from various machines.  I was a bit sad to see it separated from the irons and cabinet which have been its home for nearly 100 years, but I'm not someone who collects old sewing machines just for the amusement of looking at them.  Rocky replaced the broken bottom plate on the foot control of my 1952 Singer Featherweight.  Before I left he said he was going to take the 66 home and put a motor on it.  So, this machine is off to new adventures so that it can be well and truly loved and used by some other sewist.  Still, it was with a touch of sadness that I said goodbye.  It felt a little like when I watch my daughter off to new adventures--excited for her to be trying new things and growing, but still knowing that some good things are behind us.

I'm sure there are many, many landfills across the nation that have consumed too many vintage machines--and I've seen way too many horrifying conversions of these machines into other novelties.  Whatever Rocky does with this machine, it will see more activity fulfilling the purpose for which it was created.  As long as it gets oil, use, and a little TLC, it will continue to sew for another hundred years, probably more!  I do so love vintage sewing machines!

Happy Birthday--and an Easy Recipe

 I came home to the scent of chocolate cake.  Sweet Teen said she was disappointed because she wanted it to be a surprise.  It was a surprise, just not timed the way she would have preferred. I suggested that it would be really, really hard to surprise someone when the house is filled with lovely chocolate cake smells.
The really fantastic thing about this cake, aside from it's great flavor and texture, is that it's a "scratch cake"--a devil's food cake from the Betty Crocker cookbook, made with no adjustments for our high altitude, and it came out beautifully perfect.  I'm thinking it must have something to do with the fact that it was baked in a DeMarle pan. The cake was gorgeous as it came from the pan, but Sweet Teen also made chocolate cream cheese icing, from scratch, of course.

She mentioned later that she had had no idea what "shortening" was--so she looked it up on the internet.

We should probably do more cooking together, but with my long intense days, I'm often not good company after work--just way toooooooo exhausted and need time to unwind from the assaults.

She also made one of our favorite blustery day--or cold day, or both kinds of days--winter casseroles.

Yep, we dug right in.  This is a very hearty casserole, great for a few meals in the cold of winter.

Sweet Teen's Sausage Potato Dinner

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Sprinkle a couple of ounces of grated sharp cheddar cheese in the bottom of a DeMarle pan (Sweet Teen used the Sunflower Mold) or a casserole pan.

With kitchen shears, cut a link of turkey kielbasa (or a similar sausage) into slices about 1/8 inch thick. Scatter a few slices around the bottom of the pan.

Add alternating layers of potato cubes (or frozen hash browns), a couple of ounces of grated sharp cheddar, and potatoes.  (We do use frozen potatoes because our time is so limited.) End with another sprinkle of grated sharp cheddar.

Add enough milk to 1 cup of sour cream to make it "liquidy enough to penetrate the layers.

From the looks of this one, Sweet Teen sprinkled a mixture of Herbs de Provence over the top.  (I usually stir them into the milk/sour cream mixture--but I'm not sure it makes much difference which way they are added.)

Bake for about 1 hour.

We often scatter frozen peas or frozen sliced carrots throughout this dish too.

Since this makes a good sized casserole and since it is so rich, we have a simple salad with it and usually get several lunches from the leftovers.

She made the cake in DeMarle's fluted square mold.  Cakes (and almost anything else) come out of these molds looking as if you worked some magic glazed finish on them--I think she frosted this one so she could write her message to me.

One of the nicest things was that since she cooked, I did the dishes, and since she used the DeMarle pans, it took somewhere between ten and thirty seconds to wash each pan.

A few years ago, I recognized that although most people think I cook because I love to cook, the real reason I cook is to nourish people I love.  The other day Sweet Teen and I both commented that although we enjoy the food [and enjoy it a lot more knowing cleaning up with DeMarle will be so fast], we both cook because we love someone we're cooking for.

A blessing: so far the family and friends who have reported in have reported that they escaped harm from the tornadoes that have besieged so many in Mid-America and the South.  Our prayers go out to those who've lost property or loved-ones, and we thank those who immediately pitched in to help with clean up.