Pieces By Polly: "I Spy" Quilt

We were tagged in a facebook posting by Polly of Pieces by Polly. She shared a photo of this super-fun "I Spy" quilt, with the following caption:

"It's been a while since I finished a quilt for Katie's Comforters at #SeattleChildrensHospital. Love to make #ispy #ispyswap quilts for them to give sick kiddos something entertaining. This one is headed out soon @karengberger Katie's Comforters Guild at Seattle Children's Hospital"

Thank you, Polly, for bringing so much comfort and  cheer to patients with your fabric artistry! Your creativity, originality, love and diligence always inspire us!

Sad News

Katie's Comforters Guild is sad to have to say "goodbye" to a beloved member of our community: Noble Nilsen. Noble has been the devoted husband to our dear Lucile for many decades, and a dedicated supporter of our guild. He has made countless car trips, ferrying fabric, quilts, yarn and blankets between their house and our little town. He has been a supporter of Lucile's love of quilting, and her devotion to our mission, patiently carrying bags of quilts from his car to mine, and warmly welcoming us into their lives.
To get an idea of his character, please read this and this.

We send our deepest, most heartfelt condolences and love to Lucile, Marv, YuMae and all of their family and friends at this difficult time. We'll miss Noble; he will always be in our hearts!

Inspired by Kits: Michelle, Becky & 10 New Quilts

You have read about Michelle F. here; she organizes quilting parties and quilting kits, distributes fabric, inspires others and makes her own quilts, as well. Oh, and she also designed a pattern for us!

Michelle connected with Becky M. and got her started quilting again with one of the kits. Here is a recent note from Becky:

"...I’ve completed 10 quilts for Katie’s Comforters Guild.  I started out with a simple single fabric front and backing, self bound, and progressed into making various simple patchwork designs.  I used to quilt years ago and found that I had forgotten a lot of the math of quilt design, so this is good practice for me.  I’m also excited to have such a worthwhile cause to use up the yards and yards of fabrics that I’ve accumulated over the years!  

I have found so many good resources for project ideas and tutorials on line!  Here are a couple of my favorites:

This is a cute blog as well as pictures of patchwork quilts from a very prolific quilter!  She has some great tutorials, too. http://sewpreetiquilts.blogspot.com

Another site that I’ve found some wonderful, colorful ideas is one called cluckclucksew.   She has a tutorial for an amazingly simple self binding with a mitered corner that I’m using now.  It works every time!  http://www.cluckclucksew.com/2014/01/binding-quilt-with-quilt-back.html

I’m going to drop off the completed quilts at Childrens Hospital this week. I’ll be sure to give you credit for the kits that got me started!" - Becky M

Here is a photo of Becky's beautiful quilts:

Thank you, Becky and Michelle! Your time, talent and materials keep us going and GROWing - and keep the patients at Seattle Children's Hospital in comfort!

12 Quilts + 4 Pillows from Bonnie

Bonnie and I planned to meet this week for a hand-off of quilts and pillows. Bonnie kindly accepted the challenge of taking donated fabric rectangles (from our friend Stacy's local "Buy Nothing" site  - you may have seen these free, open exchanges on facebook) and making them into something for patients to use and enjoy. She came up with the idea of pillows:

In addition to the darling pillows, Bonnie donated 12 of her one-of-a-kind, custom-made quilts:

She thinks of all ages and interests.

Here is a detail, showing Bonnie's talent for quilting stitches

Both front AND back receive attention to beautiful design detail

Patriotic design, with stars, stripes and state shapes

Bonnie is a true fabric artist. Thank you, Bonnie!

8 Fleece Blankets from Lucile & Noble

I write a great deal about Lucile and Noble here. They have become more than guild members; they are dear to us as friends. They teach us a great deal by the way they live, and give of themselves.

Lucile recently donated a batch of eight fleece blankets. She is not one who is given to complaining, but it is getting harder for her to work on quilts for any length of time now, due to aches and pains. Rather than letting that stop her, Lucile makes blankets from fleece.

The gift of these blankets is all the more incredible because Lucile is caring for Noble in a more intensive way, now that he has been diagnosed with cancer. She is still thinking of patients at Seattle Children's Hospital, providing comfort for them, at the same time as she is taking care of her own patient!

I hope that all of you will join me in sending our dearest, best wishes for comfort (and everything good) to Lucile and Noble.  

We love you, Lucile and Noble! Thank you for everything, including these 8 blankets!