Community Quilts from Jazz

No grass grows under Jazz’s feet.  She’s back at it and sharing quilts that she’s finished.

Jazz writes:
“Hello, friends. I have several new quilts to show you, all made from materials you supplied, and batting from Jo.

In September Jo sent me into a flurry of joy when she sent me two identical stamped embroidery panels and some colorful threads. I love doing stamped cross-stitch projects! When I receive them they go straight to the top of my priorities, before cooking, laundry, or sleeping.

I finished these similarly, one bordered in green and bound/backed in a delicate pink and white print from Bonnie H. who lives in Onawa, Iowa, home of the widest Main Street in the United States. (Yeah, but Houston has the longest!)  and the other bordered in pink and bound in a pink and white plaid from Jo, and backed with a lively pastel sent from Linda L. (Racine, Wisconson). Each is 40” x 40”, perfect for new baby girls.

I stacked blocks around each embroidered heart with scraps donated by many of you, including Jo; Sherri C. (Phoenix, Arizona); Terri H. (Gretna, Nebraska); Jeanne M.  of Tuscon, Arizona;  Sherri C. from Phoenix, Arizona; Becky M. (Alaska and Texas); Sue R. (Pearland, a suburb of Houston); Dorothy S (Martinsburg, West Virginia) Additional DMC was provided by Nina H. of St. Louis, Missourri, and and Holly M. from Brazil, Indiana.

The next quilt was a group effort as well. It’s a square-in-a-square, of mostly blues and greens from Sherri C. of Phoenix, Arizona; Anonymous; Jo; AnDee B. from Hinesville, Georgia; Bonnie H. (Onawa, Iowa); Ila M (Des Plaines, Illinois); Becky M. (Alaska and Texas); Ann D. (Iowa City, Iowa); and Jeanne M. (Tucson, Arizona). It was …tied with blue DMC Perle cotton from Carlena D. of El Cajon, California. Background white on white was donated by Jo. The lush grey and white plaid flannel back used to be pillowcases. They were part of a boxful of treasures provided in December by Celesta P., her friend Yvonne, and Pieces for Peace, their church quilting group. Sarah W. (Houston, Texas) supplied the fluffy batting for this one.  It finished at a cuddly 32” x 32” for a newborn.

Before Christmas Bonnie H, from the city with the widest (but not longest) Main Street had a wonderful surprise delivered to me, a package containing antique quilt squares of butterflies to embroider, some embroidery transfers, DMC and a length of opulent, ornate butterfly yardage.

I guess you all know how delighted I was with it all, but in case you doubt me, let this highlighted, beaded, and sequined creation persuade you. This might have been the most fun quilt I have ever assembled. In fact, I was so impassioned by it that it entirely escaped me that with all the embellishment it was totally inappropriate for a baby. I had to turn myself into the donations coordinator at Ben Taub Hospital and confess my excess. She assured me that at 38” square it made a deluxe lap quilt and would be treasured by an adult.

There are still two 18” squares left (already ornamented and embroidered, of course) that I intend to augment with more fabric to make a couple more lap quilts with.

All these works are on their way to Ben Taub Hospital in the Houston, Texas Medical Center where un- and underinsured Harris County residents receive world-class, state of the art care from the most dedicated and esteemed providers regardless of patients’ ability to pay, their spoken language, their politics, culture, or beliefs. I think Ben Taub Hospital is one of the most remarkable institutions in my hometown.

And I think every one of you are spectacularly generous with your contributions and donations that allow me to indulge in my pleasure, quilting for the new babies. Thank you from my heart.”

WOW Jazz that butterfly quilt is wonderful.  What an amazing work of art.  It is always so fun to see the inspiring creations you come up with.  I love seeing them.  Thanks to the many people who have donated and supported Jazz as she works to help the people of her community.  What a precious story to share.