Another Fidget Quilt

Just finished this fidget quilt.  It is machine pieced and mostly machine quilted.  I did have to do some hand quilting from the back to be sure the pocket areas stayed functional.  It measures approx 27 in X 29 in.  There are many fabric textures -- cottons, linen, burlap, ribbons, sateen, velvet -- as well as zippers, buttons, beads.

In this section you can see the velour rickrack, wooden beads, working shirt pocket, and zippered pouch.  The pockets are working pockets. 

Here is a working pocket from a pair of old jeans.  I fused and then embroidered around the sateen heart.  I also used yarn and twine to macrame the ring/key holder.

This burlap bag is freely open so that candy or tissues could be placed inside it and the opening pulled closed.

The shirt "unbuttons" here.  I placed fabric behind the shirt tabs to hide the quilt batting.  The beads are on a string so they can be "worried" and played with.

Fidget Quilt for a Friend with Alzheimer's

The Christmas card from my college physics professor was the spark for this quilt for his wife.  I knew she had some dementia problems but now they have moved from their home in Alexandria, VA to North Carolina to be near their daughter and her family.  So I wanted to make her a quilt and had read that fidget quilts were good for those with Alzheimer's.  After looking through stuff in my sewing room this is the quilt I made for her.  It is machine pieced and quilted.  It is 26 in square.  

 This area has a working button from an old pair of jeans waistband.  The waistband loop was used to hold the strings of beads that can be "worried" or used as prayer beads.  The red button is sewn on to the green velvet ribbon which covers a velcro strip.  I placed a bracelet there that can be removed or simple fiddled with.

 I took an old name badge holder and sewed it onto the center square (after all the quilting was done) which can be used to hold photos of her friends/family.  I had a ribbon strip with the words "timeless treasures" that seemed appropriate for that area.  A working zipper has been placed here as well.

 I found three old wooden thread spools that I strung together on a piece of heavy cord.  The cord is attached only at the ends so the spools can be moved back and forth.  All the pockets on the quilt are working pockets and can hold items such as tissues or more photos or pieces of candy.

 I attached a piece of silk ribbon to this block that can be untied and retied.

 I know she isn't lucky to have Alzheimer's but she is lucky in the sense that she has a loving family.  Again the buttons from the jeans work.

 These pockets work.  I sewed a strip of red velvet ribbon along the bottom here and sewed a cat button for another "texture/tactile" element.

Scrappy Coin Quilt

This scrappy coin quilt is machine pieced and quilted.  It measures approx 37 in X 52.5 in.  I donated it to the Alzheimer Quilt Project.

 These next two photos show some of the fabrics used.

 The back is pieced featuring an old fabric calendar from 1975.

Happy New Year!

Purple Bubble Shawl

This is a delicate triangle shawl, knitted from Artyarns Silk Mohair using the pattern Bubble Shawl Kit by Iris Schreier.  The yarn color is a deep purple. I am willing to "sell" it to anyone who will make a donation of at least $100 dollars to the Alzheimer Association.  You can either pay me directly and I will make the donation or you can make the donation and send me a copy of your receipt.  Contact me at rlbatesmd at gmail DOT com.  You may want to contact me before you make your donation to be sure the scarf is still available.  Update:  scarf has been taken.

The scarf measures 47 in x 19 in

Scrappy Strippy Quilt

A few months ago I received two quilt tops from Kate.  I recently finished quilting this one.  It is a scrappy strippy quilt.  The quilt top was machine quilted.  I did the machine quilting.  It measures 47 in X 54 in.  When I finish quilting the other top I plan to donate the two quilts to the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study.

Some lovely fabrics were used.

Here you can see more of the fabrics used.

I found some lovely gold snowflake fabric in my stash to use for the backing.

Forget-Me-Knot in Vase

I made my friend @organicgreendoc a small "bonus" quilt for his auction.  It is machine appliqued and quilted.  The glass beads are sewn on by hand.  It is 10.5 in X 12.4 in.

I used the applique forget-me-knot pattern from the book Mountain Mist Quilt Favorites, page 68.  I used my quilt stencil (the one used in the memory lane quilt lavender blocks) for the heart-shaped vase.

And here's the back.  I used the “quick triangle” method for the “sleeve” to allow hanging.

Memory Lane Quilt Finished!

The "Memory Lane" quilt is finished!  As you may recall I made it at the request of my friend & medical school classmate  @organicgreendoc asked me to make a quilt for a silent auction.  He has early Alzheimer’s and blogs about it here. 

I named the quilt “memory lane” as a play on the quilt pattern I used called country lanes from the book Mountain Mist Quilt Favorites, page 121.I added 3-dimensional leaves and forget=me-knots after I finished the quilting.  My first layout meant to represent a path did not work.  I ended up placing 42 flowers around the border.  It works much better.  The finished quilt measures 54 in X 72 in.

I added 3-dimensional leaves and forget-me-knots after I finished the quilting.  My first layout meant to represent a path did not work.  I ended up placing 42 flowers around the border.  It works much better.

The quilting is difficult to see over the lavender squares, but it's three tulips, leaves, and hearts.  Easier to see in the photo in my earlier post.

Here are two photos to show the three dimensional forget-me-knots and leaves around the border.  Instructions for making the flowers and leaves can be found here (pdf file, 3/2017--;link no longer active) and a photo of one being made.

And at one corner

Memory Lane Quilt–WIP

A couple of weeks ago my friend and medical school classmate @organicgreendoc asked me to make a quilt for a silent auction.  He has early Alzheimer’s. 

The request included the following specifications:  purple color and forget-me-knots  as the official color and flower of the Alzheimer’s Association, lap-size.  The auction is the first week of September so it’s needed by mid-August to have time to advertise it.

I fortunately had just finished a baby quilt (will show it next week) and was just beginning to work on a new one for a niece who is due in the fall.  I put it aside, pulled out my quilt books looking for a pattern that would be interesting but piece quickly.  I settled on a pattern called country lanes from my book Mountain Mist Quilt Favorites, page 121.

The next day I made a trip to a local fabric shop, purchased the fabric, washed/dried/ironed the fabric and then began cutting out the pieces. Over the last few weeks I have managed to piece it, marked, and quilted (as my right neck/trapezius would attest) quite a bit.  I found two patterns for appliqued forget-me-knots.  I will be adding them when all the quilting is done.

As with the block pattern, I tried to pick one that would be interesting but go quickly.  The solid blocks have hearts and tulips.  The pieced blocks are cross-hatched.  In the language of flowers, both forget-me-knots and tulips convey love.

Sunshine and Shadow Medallion Quilt

I mentioned this as a WIP (work in progress) a few weeks ago.  It is simply a pillow print used as a medallion in the center of a sunshine and shadows layout.  It is machine pieced and quilted.  It measures 42 in square.  I donated the finished quilt to the Alzheimer's Quilt Study Group.

Here is a closer view of the center piece

And here you can see the fabrics used in the sunshine and shadows area better

Here is the fabric used for the back

Progress Notes -- WIPs

Still working on the Steps baby quilt which I have decided to name "Baby Steps."  My current knitting project is a scarf/shawl using pattern Claire by Lynn Anne Banks.  The yarn is Lana Gatto Silk Mohair in a pale pink.

I've also started planning and piecing my next quilt.  I'm using fabrics that a friend from Boston sent me mixed with left-over fabrics from past projects.  The center is a pillow panel from my friend.  There were two of them, so there will be two similar quilts eventually.  When finished the quilts will be donated the the Alzheimer's Quilt Study Group.  As you can (sort of ) see, the center "pillow" medallion is in the center of a sunshine and shadows quilt layout.

Four Friends

Updated 3/2017--all links removed as many no longer active.

I wish I had @zdoggmd talent, perhaps I ‘d have a better title with a play on say “3 men and a baby.”  Three of these friends are women with breast cancer, the other is a man with pre-Alzheimer's.   All have/are facing their diagnosis and life with amazing grace and strength.  All are raising money for their causes.  I want to share their links.

Two are local friends who are doing the local Race for the Cure and  raising money for Susan G. Komen.

Noor Kabani, MD works for Baptist Medical Center in their eICU.  Baptist put together Team Kabani for her.  Here is the link to join her team or donate in her name.

Heather Owens is the daughter of two friends, one a local ED physician.  I went to her wedding a few years back.  She is just 29 yr old.  She is writing about her journey with breast cancer at Fighting Fancy.  She is featured in the October 2012 issue Soiree magazine.  Her Race for the Cure team is Fighting Fancy (click on link to join her team or donate in her name).

The third woman is the wife of one of our medical bloggers.  I have not meet her in person, but have made quilts for two of her children and given her one.  She is doing “Making Strides for More Birthdays” and raising money for American Cancer Society.  Click here to join her team or donate in her name.

My fourth friend, DeWayne Nash, is a friend from medical school.  He lives near Austin, TX and is a retired Family Medicine physician.  His blog is Organic Green Doctor.  He is doing Walk to End Alzheimers (click on the link to join his team or donate in his name).  Here is a  link to the video   which features he and his wife, showing their involvement at the Alzheimer's Disease Center.

Shout Outs

Updated 3/2017-- photos and all links removed as many no longer active.


The Boerewors Emergency Medicine Chronicles has a great post which I think is worth your time:  On alzheimer's

…….....I think it is beautifully written and provides a real window into the difficulty of loving someone who has this disease.

“The thing with this sentence, this arrest of dementia, is that its greatest victims aren’t those who have it. That’s not to say that the diagnosis isn’t dreadful for the recipient, but there is a peculiar and particular hammering sadness for those that love and care for an Alzheimer’s spouse or parent.

It is a wearying and lonely obligation, but with the added cruelty that the person you’re looking after vanishes, escapes before your eyes. In the end, you’re caring for the case that someone came in………”

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Check out this post from @JordanGrumet who blogs at In My Humble Opinion:  From Birth To Death

As luck would have it, she happened to die while I was in the room. I sat with her family as the last breath precariously left her lips. We waited for the next as if it was a forgone conclusion. It never came.
Walking toward the nursing station, my mind wandered back to medical school.
*
I tentatively followed behind the resident as we entered the birthing room. ………….

……………………………..

Asystole is the Most Stable Rhythm  (@doctorblackbear) tells us The Real Reason, On CBC Today

When I am asked the reason I chose medicine, I almost never tell the truth. I feel a little protective of the real reason and how it might be perceived by others, so I usually reveal some of my less sentimental and more cerebral motivations for becoming a doctor.

But, when given the opportunity to create a small radio piece about my grandad and how he continues to medically inspire me, I happily got to work……..

……………………………

Check out DinoDoc’s menorah’s
First Night of Hanukkah
Second Night of Hanukkah
Third Night of Hanukkah
Fourth Night of Hanukkah
Fifth Night of Hanukkah
Sixth Night of Hanukkah
Seventh Night of Hanukkah 

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Moda Bake Shop has provided instructions for a Puzzle Box Quilt