There is nothing more in this world that I could ever want to be known for then this deeply meaningful journey that I have been on in my journey of creating with my hands and from my heart as I give and share my stories, my blogging, and most of all my sewing and quilting for others.
The act of sharing and giving from a full and loving heart fills me to the brim with a sense of purpose and the deepest spiritual essence of knowing that I am truly making a difference in the lives of others.
Juneau Empire Photos: Parka party 01/18/08 video
Kuspuks Make Front Page News
How to make a kuspuk
KTUU, Anchorage News: Our classroom featured as State Legislators wear their own kuspuks on
Kuspuk Fridays
Kuspuks Go to the Capitol
Whether I am teaching young children to sew kuspuks, or to make simple stenciled pillows, or making the simplest of quilts, it is the connection between heart and hands and another, that matters the most.
American Patchwork and Quilting "Quilters Who Make a Difference"
American Patchwork & Quilting (August 2011)
Quilts
by Mona Follis, Julie Parker, and Michele Bilyeu are featured in a full
page article about the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative called
"Quilting Changes Everything" on page 1 in the August 2011 edition of
American Patchwork & Quilting.
These small 9" x 12" quilts are part of the AAQI's traveling exhibit, "Alzheimer's Illustrated: From Heartbreak to Hope."
These small 9" x 12" quilts are part of the AAQI's traveling exhibit, "Alzheimer's Illustrated: From Heartbreak to Hope."
Or contributing to special and unique projects inspired by quilting and sewing bloggers artists of the heart that I admire, such as Melanie Testa of the "The Breast Cancer Project" where she has dedicated much of her own time and heart into education others about the truth of breast cancer and those who choose not to reconstruct, and why.
I felt as deeply honored as if I was a world class master quilter (as I was erroneously referred to in an Alaskan newspaper ;) or had published a million best sellers, I self-published one book and four + blogs- or been in dozens of magazines.
It can be the smallest thought, the tiniest connection with another's heart, or it can be a anything at all that makes my day and brings out the most gigantic 'inner smile' that can radiate through the darkest day or the most challenging of times.
We ALL make a difference each and every time we make a quilt and give that quilt to another. We ALL make a difference when we visit other blogs and leave a kind comment or help another through a hard time.It can be the smallest thought, the tiniest connection with another's heart, or it can be a anything at all that makes my day and brings out the most gigantic 'inner smile' that can radiate through the darkest day or the most challenging of times.
We ALL make a difference when we help another process through challenging emotions or fears or help them raise themselves up to higher ground.
Through all of these dark years of our countries involvement in wars and battles, through a multitude of horrific national disasters and the destruction of American lives and homes from natural disasters, I have had to choose between feelings of hopelessness and depression or putting my hands and heart into action.
Quilting and sewing for others is a healing art. It helps to heal our own hearts and our own souls from the losses and pains of our own lives, whether those losses are from the past, present, and both the expected and unexpected future.
I began joining in quilting groups in 2005 after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. I joined 200 other quilters at the Salem Convention Center in Salem, Oregon and in an amazing 2 days, those 200 quilters made a monumental 200 quilts that found their ways into the temporary living quarters of survivors of that hurricane.
When Hurricane Rita hit the gulf coast, soon after, we continued our quilting and donating to disaster relief by working in the donated space of a local church. I sewed every Monday and many Tuesdays from morning to evening and did my best to create and donate at least 25 quilts a year to various disaster relief organizations and causes.
Our group, and groups just like us made and donated hundreds and hundreds of quilts and sent those quilts on their own journeys to new homes all over America, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Japan.
As the tragedy of 9-11 struck the hearts and souls of Americas, and caused the devastation to the World Trade Center of New York City, I hung my own version of an American 'Peace' Flag in my entry way with this creation of a string pieced quilt that formed a large heart.
So, I do what I do - I made quilts and bags, and wheelchair support pillows and then, more and more quilts!
When my mother was diagnosed with Stage 3b of Inflammatory Breast Cancer and had less the a 2% chance of surviving it, she was sent down from Alaska to Seattle, and I brought her and my father then down to Salem OR to live with me.
We went through her chemo, her mastectomy, and her radiation together. Day by day, step by step, heart to heart, and hands holding hands. And she survived for more than a decade later.
Now, adding more reasons and new causes to contribute to. And I shared free patterns, tutorials, and links to more and more quilts both on this my primary blog With Heart and Hands and my other backup separate blogs, posts, and pages.
Free Patriotic Quilt Patterns
When my mother survived the breast cancer to be stricken with Alzheimer's. Well, it took me a couple of years to get going on that one, as I was going up to Alaska a lot more often to help my parents out. But when I got that in stride, I made more and more quilts!
Quilts, Health, and Healing *With Heart and Hands*
Together, with multiple small groups and even many more thousands of individual quilters, we earned more than $1,000,000 for Alzheimer's Research Funding!
Some of these quilts were so tiny, that they made you cry just to look at them, but the making of them somehow eased the pain of those losses in my heart and in the hearts of others.
There is always a need whether they think they want and need one or not they do! And once they accept that quilt, or that pillowcase, or that gift made with our hearts and by our hands, somehow just knowing that someone else someone they didn't even know cared that much about them, well it makes a difference.
And in that creation of making and giving quilts, somehow, my own losses, my own aches, and pains, and my own grief was assuaged. When we sew and when we quilt, our spirits are lifted and we feel better and happier, inside and out.
I use the healing gifts that I have been blessed with, and I take those energies and infuse fabric with heart, and thought, and caring, and prayer and I send them off into the world. That is the essence of a healing quilt, a prayer quilt, a quilt.
Free Quilting and Sewing Patterns and Tutorials:
With Heart and Hands: Free Quilt Block Patterns: Updated
Free Cancer Awareness Quilt Patterns
Includes Ribbons, Patterns, Links and Tutorials Ideas for All Cancers, including Breast Cancer
http://www.with-heart-and-hands.com/2013/10/free-patterns-for-cancer-awareness.html
Free Patriotic Quilt Patterns:
Support our Wounded Warriors!
http://www.with-heart-and-hands.com/2013/02/free-patriotic-quilting-and-sewing.html
With Heart and Hands: Free Sewing Accessories Patterns: Updated
Wonderful Gift Ideas for Anyone Who Needs Friendship or Support!
http://www.with-heart-and-hands.com/2009/03/free-sewing-room-accessories-patterns.html
Free Babies and Children's Quilt Patterns: Updated 2014
http://www.with-heart-and-hands.com/2009/02/project-linus-day-feb-21-free-babies.html
Free Snowman//Christmas Quilt Patterns
http://www.with-heart-and-hands.com/2009/04/free-snowman-quilt-patterns.html
Quilt, Craft, and Gift for All of the Winter Holidays!
http://www.with-heart-and-hands.com/2013/12/free-quilt-craft-and-gift-patterns-for.html
Free St.Patricks/Irish Quilt Patterns:
http://www.with-heart-and-hands.com/2014/03/st-patricks-day-shamrock-or-irish.html
Free Easter, Passover and Spring Quilt Patterns
http://www.with-heart-and-hands.com/2014/04/spring-into-easter-and-passover-and.html
http://www.with-heart-and-hands.com/2013/02/d4p-d9p-d16pdisappearing-pinwheel-and.html
Free Redwork and Embroidery Patterns
http://www.with-heart-and-hands.com/2011/12/free-redwork-and-embroidery-patterns.html
String Quilting: Free Patterns, Primers, Links, and Tutorials
http://www.with-heart-and-hands.com/2008/05/string-quilting.html
Wonky, Liberated, Improvisational
http://www.with-heart-and-hands.com/2010/09/liberated-quilting-blocks-letters.html
Bento'ed Out of My Box by Michele Bilyeu
What Type of Quilter Are You?
http://www.with-heart-and-hands.com/2010/05/what-type-of-quilter-are-you.html
My Other Creative Sewing and/or Quilting Community Projects
Peace and Prayer Flags: A Non-Denominational and Creative Path to Artistic Sewing and Quilting
http://www.with-heart-and-hands.com/p/prayer-flags.html
and
Polk County Fairgrounds Quilt College: Peace and Prayer Flags
KTUU, Anchorage News: Our classroom featured as State Legislators wear their own kuspuks on Fridays!
Miscellaneous Links to Charitable Causes for Children:
