Who needs a hug this week?
I have found when I need a hug, the best thing to do is give a hug. Find somebody who needs it more than I do, and spend time with them.
Today I had lunch on an outdoor patio, under these hanging flower baskets, with a friend who has been going through cancer treatment during the pandemic. It was her first time going out with a friend for lunch, since the pandemic started. At one point it started to shower through the rays of sunlight, sprinkling raindrops like diamonds on her shoulders. I asked if she wanted to switch places. She smiled , shook her head, and closed her eyes, as if the rain was a holy baptismal blessing.
Sophie took a meal to a family friend who just had a baby, and Sophie had the honor of holding the tiny newborn. She sent me a photo of the moment, wearing the biggest smile. We have another friend who is home recovering from surgery. In fact we have 2 friends home from the hospital. So we drop off meals and keep them company. There but for the grace of God, go I….
When I was home in bed for a month, my friends dropped off meals. These days there are apps where you can sign up to bring a meal on a certain date. Back then our friends just signed up via a phone tree. Compassion? There’s an app for that.
Quilters tend to bring both food and quilts to someone who needs a hug. (This time of year, we might also bring flowers from our garden.) We often hand-embroider a message of love and encouragement. For awhile we put these messages on the back, on a label. 150 years ago the community would embroider messages on blocks, sew them together, and give them to a new bride, or a grieving widow, as a Friendship quilt. I think it is time to start stitching our messages of love and support on the fronts of quilts again. This is the quilters’ version of wearing your heart on your sleeve….but in this case it is stitching your love on the topside of the comfort quilt. (However we still need a label with the date, and name of the maker!)
We know that many of you are doing this already, because our hand-embroidery suppliesand specialty needles have been selling out. And of course, you can easily stitch messages on a quilt by machine, with freemotion quilting. (One of my most favorite quilting activities, on my Bernina machine.)
I have connected with a retired teacher from the Robb Elementary in Uvalde. Diana and I spoke at length several times to organize a comfort quilt drive to support the traumatized community in Uvalde. Go this page for all the details.
Sharing your love of fabric,
Luana and Paul
p.s. I am sending YOU a hug!
See Luana’s Flickr Photo Pages for travel images, watch our videos, or follow us on Facebook.
Visit eQuilter’s Instagram, Pinterest or Twitter pages for Color and Design ideas.
Quilt/Travel/Sponsor Calendar:
June 15-18 – Quilt Canada, Vancouver BC
July 22-26 – Sacred Threads Weekend, Dulles/Wash DC
August 4 – Long Beach Quilt Festival
Aug 17-20 – Festival of Quilts – Birmingham UK
Sept 21-24 – SAQA Conference – San Diego CA
October 2022 – Luana’s Polar Bear Tour – Churchill Manitoba Canada
