Today's post is in celebration of some key members of the Covered in Love team, hospital chaplains Perry and Robert. While I normally focus on the quilt-making side of the charity (for obvious reasons) Perry and Robert have the emotionally fraught job of actually matching those quilts to families and delivering them.
The chaplains' patience, tact, empathy, and self possession never ceases to impress me. When one of my co-workers died suddenly in a car wreck recently Robert brought this Granny's Square by Debbie out of our stash along with some sharpies. The light colored backing made a perfect way for staff to write messages, a tangible way to grieve. The quilt was later given to her mother.
I've had this wall hanging in progress for a while now, destined for Chaplain Robert's office. It was part of the great cat-pee-drawer-incident so it finally got finished. I like how to fabrics are mostly floral, contrasting with the image of the cross which is traditionally somewhere somber and gory. I'm told it's a great conversation starter for Covered in Love ;)
I lost quite a few friends toward the end of 2018. Obviously I deal with the realities of life and death all the time. And while I think that might help me some, losing friends, and young ones at that, is always a shock. First a young lady I knew years ago during the time I was sailing. She was only 21.
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| Me on the right, Josie on the left |
Then my co-worker, whose birthday is almost the same as mine. A friend from my theater days I mentioned a couple months back, whose family received a quilt. And right before Christmas an ex-boyfriend, and current friend, who had gotten two quilts from me before (here and here).
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| Nate, on the beach in Arcata |
I hope your New Year has gotten off to a good start. Here's to the New Year and to a less eventful 2019.
Covered in Love is a 501(c)(3) charity that donates quilts to patients dying in the hospital, over 400 so far! The Jan/Feb drive is going on now. Check out the main post HERE if you want to get involved.
Linking to Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Finished or Not Friday
I just about spit my drink out ! I'm reading along about this cross quilt and hit the phrase "great cat pee incident"........ oh i must have MISSED that post !!!! I do need to go back and read.......
ReplyDeleteSo very sorry to hear about losing your friends...its so hard to lose one, much less 3 close together. May God Bless you and give you peace & strength. Loved Nate's quilt - so very cuddly! And so many HSTs!!!! Here's to a brighter 2019!
ReplyDeleteThe colorwash cross quilt is absolutely gorgeous, Kat! And I love the photo of the chaplain. His hopeful and playful spirit shines through! Is that Perry?
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear of the losses of your friends. My deepest condolences to you and their families, too. The pain of their loss is felt anew with each person; there's no getting used to it.
Kat, I was so sorry to read about the friends you've lost recently. I'll be thinking of you. I loved learning about your chaplains - they sound like wonderful people with a tough job. I have been away from CiL for awhile, but I'll get busy on some January blocks!
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for the loss of your friends/loved ones during 2018. The sadness never goes away but does lessen as time goes by.
ReplyDeleteYour chaplains do have a really tough job in the hospital but they sound like they are the perfect ones for what is needed.
Thank you for your help in making the time in the hospital for families a bit more comforting with the quilts from CiL.