Sunday, May 22, 2016

Hands 2 Help quilts finished


This week marks the end of the Hands 2 Help Charity Challenge.  Sarah has been herding cats for a couple weeks, keeping all us quilters on track to make and donate our quilts. Each year, she selects several charities to receive the bounty. I was so happy to see that Covered in Love was chosen as one of them, and my two quilts will be shipped off to Kat soon.


My two finished quilts are Bright Bento and Scrappy Chili Peppers. They are destined to be given to a person who is receiving end of life care in a hospital. I hope they brighten up the room a little bit during such a sad time.

Kat says the chaplains at the hospital help choose a quilt from their small supply. She has heard many stories of how a quilt can really resonate with the recipient and their family...perhaps because it is in a favorite color, or features fabrics that reflect of love of gardening or bird watching, etc. I'm honored to contribute to a pool of quilts as diverse as the families that will take them home.


The back of Bright Bento used up most of these sweet prints in soft baby blues and pinks. They coordinate surprisingly well with the vibrant Rowan fabrics on the front.


A close up to show some of the crinkly texture after washing. I wasn't sure I'd be able to get this one washed in time to meet the shipping deadline. Kat offered to wash it at her end if necessary. Using the washer and dryer on board the boat requires careful planning. The washer uses a large percentage of our available water, so it's best if we're at a dock where we can refill the tank from a spigot. Since we ended up spending one night in the water at the boatyard, I washed it quickly and then hung it to dry in the engine room. It's nice and toasty in there.


I didn't realize until I started taking photos of them together that they aren't the same size. No wonder it took so much longer to quilt Bright Bento. I also thought it would be calm this morning, but they flapped around so much even on the protected back deck that I was getting nervous they would take flight across the water. Quilts sinking slowly to the bottom of the Manatee River won't help anyone!

It was a real pleasure making these two quilts and I'll definitely participate in Hands2Help again next year. A big thank you to Sarah for coordinating the Challenge!

10 comments:

  1. Both quilts are going to bring lots of comfort to someone special. They are beautiful.

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  2. Lovely quilts that I'm sure will bring quilty hugs to someone.

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  3. Such pretty quilts. I love them both. Yes, many thanks to Sarah for coordinating this worthy event. I also donated a quilt. Oh, and I love your blog header photo. What a unique way to display some quilts :)

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  4. Hi Louise,
    Someone is going to really love getting these quilts. They're beautiful. You really do have your own special set of challenges, don't you? What an adventure!

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  5. What great finishes. These quilts will surely warm hearts & bodies!!

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  6. Love these two quilts. I am sure they will give comfort.

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  7. Two beautiful quilts sure to bring comfort to someone.

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  8. Nice and bright. I am sure they will be loved.

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  9. Beautiful quilts! I especially like how they look in your deck chairs. I never thought how washing them would be a challenge for you. What an interesting "ritual" that the chaplain helps choose the quilts. that just seems so fitting. I'm sure your quilts will strike a special chord with the recipients

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  10. Oh, Louise, how awesome!!! Your quilts are absolutely beautiful! And I have to say I'm very jealous of your living arrangement - even with the restrictions on boat life it must be a lot of fun! Your blog header made my husband smile!!

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