Quilting Pattern & Projects Blog

Remembering Norton

2009-11-13T11:02:00.000-08:00

I met Norton Buffalo only a few weeks before his passing. He was a patient of mine at Feather River Hospital, the hospital where I work and also the place where I'm completing my clinical rotations for nursing school.

When I met Norton, I had no idea he was a gifted musician. I did not know he was in the Steve Miller Band or that he had performed with people like Bonnie Raitt, Olivia Newton John, and The Doobie Brothers. I did not know he had been nominated for more than one Grammy.

Norton Buffalo struck me as a very humble, kind human being. He was one of those people who reminded me why I decided to go into nursing. As sick as he was, he always thanked me and other clinical staff for the care he was receiving.

After I found out he was in the Steve Miller Band, I started laughing. On my way to work that night, I had been listening to one of my favorite songs by them: The Joker! I told Norton that my seven-year-old son knew all the words to The Joker... he smiled as I said, "I know it's probably not an appropriate song for a seven-year-old, but he doesn't know what he's singing." Norton then began singing, "Don't worry, baby..." until he became short of breath. That was when I decided to let him rest.

A couple of days later, I gave Norton's son a brightly colored flannel pillow case I had made for his father. I decided not to give it to Norton myself because I wanted to let him relax. I knew he had had many visitors the days before. However, after he received the pillow case, he asked his nurse if she could send me in. He was so very thankful for the gift. I was truly touched by how grateful he was, especially because I felt I really hadn't done much at all.

That afternoon, Norton and I spent some time together. He shared photos with me of his family, and photos from his tour with the Steve Miller Band in Europe. Before I left, Norton asked if we could take a photo together. Of course, I said, "Yes!" I was thrilled. We held up the pillow in the photo:

I learned of Norton's passing, ironically, on the day I went to deliver the quilts to the Handi-Riders. The following day, an article about Norton Buffalo was in the same newspaper where my Spirit Quilts story was on the front page.

I was deeply saddened by his passing, but I know his legacy will live on for a very very long time to come. What a talent has graced this Earth!

Down to the Wire (aka Shut Up and Sew!)

2009-11-08T08:30:00.000-08:00

This year, Spirit Quilts experienced a shortage of volunteers. We also had one volunteer who was hospitalized during our project (thankfully, she is home recovering well), and another whose sewing machine was temporarily broken. After we delivered the first batch of quilts to the Handi-Riders, I knew we were going to have to work like crazy to get the last of the quilts done. Yes, we quilted 30 quilts in 4 days! GO SHIRLEY, GO MOM, GO ME!

As Shirley was at home, loading quilts on her long arm with her husband, Roy, Mom and I worked for 15 hours in one day. We pinned, we ironed, we quilted, we put binding on the quilts, we made labels. My 7-year-old son, Jakob, helped as well, by taking out the safety pins once the quilts were completed.

So, here's what happens after you've been quilting for several hours straight:

1. Lots of seam ripping (even though I made a rule that there would be no seam ripping)!
2. Mom sews her thumb. (I specifically asked that no skin be sewn into the quilts.) - 10 pm
3. The word "Oops!" (This occurred all day.)
4. More seam ripping after the word "Oops!"
5. Bobbins continuously running out of thread, and not figuring out you were sewing with an empty bobbin until you were almost done with the quilt.
6. Piecing batting after the roll of 45 yards ran out!
7. A dozen cups of tea (per person).
8. Husband and kids staying out of the way.
9. Rummaging through boxes of donated fabric to find more large pieces we could use for the backs of the quilts.
10. Three quilt deliveries to the Handi-Riders before Saturday so they had enough quilts for their students on Thursday and Friday.
11. Lots of giggling. (Mostly after 9 pm, when Mom and I started getting "punchy.")
12. Reloading the CD player - we listened to the following during our quilting marathon: Anais Mitchell, The Duhks, Sheryl Crow, Tracy Chapman, U2, and yes, we even listened to my sons' Puff the Magic Dragon CD.
13. Mom trying to have an intellectual conversation over the music and loud whirring of two sewing machines - unable to hear her, my response was always, "Shut up and sew!"
14. Jakob, after he'd gone to bed, yelling, "Be quiet, I'm trying to sleep!"
15. This was followed by, "Shut up and sew!"

On Saturday morning, I drove to the Handi-Riders arenas, with the last of the quilts. Jakob and Declan helped me hand out the quilts. I was, once again, touched by how pleased the students were to receive their quilts.

PROJECT K 2009: THE HANDI-PROJECT

2009-11-03T21:10:00.000-08:00

Inspired by my mother's walk across America with her wild Mustang, Winnie, I decided to do a project this year that encompassed both children and horses. Like my mother, I wanted to show how useful animals, especially horses, can be to people. Horses are high-sensitives, and thus, can key in to a human's needs. In short, horses heal. Instead of destroying ranges where wild horses roam, we should treasure these amazing animals.

That being said, this year, it was easy to choose an organization to donate our quilts to! The Handi-Riders of Butte County has a fantastic program which serves "the special needs of the physically and mentally challenged with therapeutic horseback riding."

Yesterday afternoon, I traveled to the Handi-Riders site with my mom, my husband, and my two young sons. We brought with us 40 handmade quilts, which we had sewn with help from Shirley Jinks, Leslie Hall, Sharon Blau, Jean Nelson, Darlene Culver, Kathy Wood, and Jan Kinney. Each quilt, designed by Shirley Jinks and myself, included a strip of horse fabric. A label was included on the back of every quilt, which read, "You are a STUPENDOUS (or similar adjective) Handi-Rider!"

At I watched the horseback riding classes with my mom, Gary, and the boys, I was impressed. Children who had trouble walking sat tall in the saddle. It was evident that the instructors design lessons specifically tailored to help the children with their unique needs. The horses are patient and kind; they are tuned into their riders. Yesterday was the last class of the fall session, and the bond between horse and rider was evident when Jessie hugged her horse good-bye.

Following each lesson, my boys, Jakob and Declan, helped me hand out the quilts to the Handi-Riders. It was obvious, even if the children weren't always able to verbalize it, that they were thrilled to be getting the quilts. One mother told me she was going to put her daughter's quilt on her bed for her to treasure forever.

On Saturday, I will be returning to the Handi-Riders arenas to present the children with another 30 quilts. In addition to the 70 quilts (one for each student), one quilt was made and raffled off, to help raise money for the Handi-Riders program, since it has experienced many budget cuts this season.

This year's project is lovingly dedicated to the memory of Randi Lewis-Greene, a lover of both people and horses.

Spirit Quilts Fights Violence Against Women

2009-02-14T20:36:00.000-08:00

After an 8-year hiatus from the stage, I returned to the theatre. I performed in this year's Vagina Monologues, written by Eve Ensler. The show was produced by the AS Women's Center, at Chico State University.

I was so proud to be performing in a show that allowed me to express myself both as a woman, and a mother. As someone who myself has experienced sexual abuse, and was silenced by the violence, this show empowered me to speak out and fight back. In addition to performing the monologue, "I Was There in the Room" (about giving birth), I made 3 quilts which were raffled off at each of our shows to raise money to help stop violence against women.

Quilting is both art and therapy and the 3 quilts I made for this show were very personal.

The quilt raffle raised $385 for the V-Day Movement! And the cast and crew of Chico's Vagina Monologes named me this year's "Vagina Warrior." What a great show it was!

Fun and Easy Quilt Pattern for Kids!

2008-12-29T18:53:00.000-08:00

Well, we've concluded Project K 2008! Shirley Jinks, our MVQ (Most Valuable Quilter), created this year's quilt pattern. We discovered it was both fun and easy for the kids to sew this quilt top. Here is the pattern for those of you who have been emailing asking for quilt patterns for children:

All you have to do is cut strips of fabric according to the measurements above and then assist your child in sewing a 1/4" seam down a straight line. I've found that if you have a 1/4" foot for your sewing machine, you should put it on for your child. The 1/4" foot makes it much easier for children who are just learning to sew.

We choose two fabrics for our quilts this year - one focal fabric and one complimentary fabric - but let your child be the artist! You can do so many fun things with this quilt even though it is a simple pattern. Here are just a few of our quilts that were donated to the refugee children at the International Children's Center in Chicago:

Three-year-old Declan with the quilt top he sewed (with a little help from Mom) for Project K:

Project K 2008: Hearts for Heartland

2008-11-15T12:03:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday, November 11th, I returned to California after spending 6 days in Illinois. I had traveled to Chicago to visit The International Children's Center (ICC), a residential home for young victims of forced immigration. I took with me the 100 quilts that children from Butte County, CA had helped Spirit Quilts sew, during Project K 2008: Hearts for Heartland...

My cousin, Alicia, and my best friend, Marianne, and I arrived at the ICC at 3 in the afternoon on November 7th. Alicia's car was packed to the brim with quilts. We struggled getting the boxes full of quilts inside the Center, and once inside, set about organizing and separating the quilts -- boy quilts vs. girl quilts vs. unisex. Quilts that definitely needed to go to a young child; quilts that teenagers might like. I was so excited to meet the children, but first we met with the Executive Director and the Director of the Center. It was then that we collectively decided to deliver the quilts to the children in their rooms upstairs while they were having "free time." This way each child could pick out his or her own quilt.

We visited the girls' wing first. Many of the girls we met spoke Spanish, and so Marianne, Alicia, and I practiced the few words we knew. Things like, "Hola! Como estas?" and "Como te llama?" and "Cuantos anos tienes?" I remember being extremely nervous walking into the first room. Things raced through my head... things like, "I hope they like me." "I hope they like the quilts." "I hope they are happy we are here." I remember feeling really small... I mean, small as in, what could I possibly offer these children? I haven't been through anything close to what they've experienced. Am I the right person for this job? I hoped the children knew what an honor it was to be there, visiting their home, however temporary it was.

In the last room on the girls' wing, we visited a group of girls from China, and one girl from Pakistan. The young girl from Pakistan spoke perfect English, and I immediately struck up a conversation with her. We talked about her country, and then India (where my family is from). We talked about Islam (which fascinated me, as I am a Religious Studies minor), and we talked about her language, Urdu. I asked her which way Mecca was, and if she had a prayer mat. I asked her to teach me to pray as a Muslim, but she politely declined, saying she was too shy. I wish I could have photographed her face. She was a beautiful young woman, with her hijab revealing the darkest, deepest eyes that had so many questions I wanted to answer.

In that same room, a group of young Chinese women sang to us in their language. When they sang the same song in English, Marianne, Alicia, and I began to cry. The words: "You and me, from one world - we are family." I was reminded of a favorite poem, written by Maya Angelou. It is entitled, "Human Family," and the last few lines repeat this simple truth: "We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike."
I asked these same girls what they do to stay happy everyday, and their responses were as follows:
"Laugh."
"Eat a lot."
"Singing."
"Sleep."
"Talk to friends."

Now, visiting the boys' wing was chaotic... don't get me wrong, it was fun, but crazy! All of the boys were between the ages of 12 and 17. And they were typical teenage boys. They kept saying how beautiful we were... one boy even asked me for my number. It was so sweet, how could I refuse? (I didn't actually give him my number, if you're wondering; that is against policy). Almost every boy wrote a personal message in a journal I brought to the ICC with me. And one artist gave me an amazing drawing he had made of the Mother of Guadalupe... it is an absolutely stunning drawing, done on a huge piece of poster board with a simple, ordinary pencil.

At 6 pm, we enjoyed dinner with the children. We were shuffled into a large cafeteria and we all found seats at the several tables that filled the room. Right before we were allowed to go up and receive our food, the lights were shut off for a moment of silence, or prayer. Then, we were served a delicious eggplant stir fry with rice, a green salad, green beans, and pecan pie (yup, we got dessert too)... oh yea, and homemade rolls straight out of the oven! One boy who sat with me at my table refused to eat. I asked him what was wrong, and he shared with Alicia and me that he was leaving the following day. The reunification team had done their job -- they had found his family. But Daniel had found a family at the ICC, and was not happy to leave. I met another girl at the ICC - a girl just about to have her quinceanera - who had been at the ICC for 18 months, and like Daniel, did not want to leave.

After dinner, Marianne, Alicia, and I organized some games to play with the kids. I have never heard so much laughter! And I'd never felt more like a kid since the time I packed my bags on Christmas Eve to move to the North Pole with Santa Claus! I had so much fun, mostly because I enjoyed watching the kids have fun. It was then that I was struck by how absolutely resilient these children are. I'd like to think that I touched their lives in some small way, but the truth is, they've touched mine.