Hope In Every Quilt

09/06/2024

The project I hinted at earlier this week is now in motion.
Yesterday, I had the privilege of bringing the memorial quilt to The Hope Center, and it was an incredibly moving experience. Clients began adding the names of their loved ones who have been lost to overdose, making this quilt not only a tribute but also a symbol of shared grief and strength.

This quilt is becoming a powerful piece of art, woven with stories of love, loss, and resilience. Seeing clients take part in this process reminded me of how vital it is to create spaces where we can honor those we've lost while supporting each other through healing.

I’m so grateful to be part of this journey with The Hope Center community. Here are a couple of photos from yesterday’s gathering, showing clients in the process of adding their loved ones’ names. Your continued support means the world, and I look forward to sharing more as this project evolves.

09/03/2024

I'm currently working on a special project in honor of International Overdose Awareness Day (which should be every day IMHO ). The project will begin/end this Thursday 9/5 from 2-4 pm.

08/29/2024

August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day. International Overdose Awareness Day is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind.

International Overdose Awareness Day spreads the message about the tragedy of drug overdose death and that drug overdose is preventable.

08/25/2024

Close ups of the lotuses. How cool did these turn out?! Amazing!

08/25/2024

Here's the finished quilt! With this quilt I wanted to focus on facing and overcoming adversity. I asked each client to first decorate a single lotus petal.

Then I gave them small squares of fabric and asked them to write about adversity they have either faced and overcome or they hope to overcome. I placed these squares bearing their stories of adversity *inside* the quilt to serve as private notes of encouragement. Only they know what they each wrote. My hope is that when they return to visit for alumni events and see their quilt they will remember what they wrote and how far they have come in their recovery journey since they wrote it.

08/25/2024

I was hoping when I started this page I would share more behind the scenes stuff but the only thing I got was Ol' Blue Foot "helping" me go through the pure misery of trying to get my sewing machine to work and quilt this dang quilt. I was up until 4 am Friday morning trying to get the quilting done because my 60 year old machine wouldn't quilt correctly. I fixed it eventually but man it was miserable for a while!

08/21/2024

I dye fabric relatively often in plastic bins. My cat's never expressed any curiosity before. Until today! I turned my back for one minute and returned to find a blue paw print.

Don't worry--the dye is nontoxic and I also got to him and cleaned it off before he was able to lick it. He is totally safe and his toe beans are no longer blue.

08/21/2024

And so begins the work on this week's quilt!

I'm trying to keep the costs down for quilts due to the fact that quilting materials are expensive and my pockets and the Hope Center's pockets ain't that deep.

So I'm looking at using as much garbage as possible! Luckily people give me their garbage so I have this torn sheet to use for this week's quilt. I'm gonna try some artsy dyeing fun with it!

08/16/2024

Monday I start the next quilt!
This will be the first quilt that I plan on using this page to share some of the behind the scenes process in what I do when making these art quilts with clients so I'm excited. I love this project so much!

Pictured below is a detail from one of the very first quilts I did seven years ago. Life really is what happens while we're making other plans.

08/14/2024

Welcome to Hope in Every Quilt!

I’m so glad you’re here! This page is dedicated to a labor of love that’s been years in the making. For the past seven years, I’ve had the privilege of working with clients graduating from The Hope Center’s recovery programs to create collaborative art quilts. Each quilt is a reflection of the journeys, struggles, and triumphs of those who have worked so hard to overcome addiction.

In every stitch, there is a story. In every pattern, there is healing. And in every quilt, there is hope.

This space is not just about showcasing the beautiful quilts we create together—it’s about celebrating the resilience, strength, and creativity of the human spirit. It’s about building a community where art and recovery intersect, and where every piece we craft holds a piece of someone’s heart and journey.

I invite you to join us on this journey, whether by sharing your own stories, supporting our work, or simply being a part of this growing community of hope. Thank you for being here, and welcome to Hope in Every Quilt.