GIVING FORWARD-DEBBIE'S HOPE FOUNDATION

It has been a long time since I saw the movie "First You Cry" with Mary Tyler Moore. I didn't remember until I looked it up to make sure who was in it that it was an account of news correspondent, Betty Rollin. I only remember seeing it once [it was made in 1978] but her turmoil stayed with me. That was 12 years before I had breast cancer myself in 1990.

There was so much going on in my life at the time, I couldn't take time to cry or concentrate on my own situation. Because of my faith in God, I had a calm and serenity that everything was going to be fine-and it was. After my outpatient surgery, I went back to taking care of everyone else. My children nor my mother were told because I didn't want to worry them. My doctor told me that my "wayward germ" as I called it, was cancer and not to be taken lightly. In   http://carolynscanvas.blogspot.com/2010/11/my-therapy-my-quiltsel-tigre.html I take you through my way of working through hard times with my faith and crafting as many others do.  

Now, we are dealing with breast cancer again only this time the "wayward germ" has to be taken very seriously. Niece, Debbie, was diagnosed with breast cancer in March but hers was not found as timely and she had to have a double mastectomy in May after much, much testing and all the other preparations that has to be done.

Shortly after Debbie's surgery, I wrote: http://cwainscott.blogspot.com/2011/06/family-being-sisters.html to tell of the great bond between sisters.  This photo of Debbie [left] and Cathy [right]  was taken at a fundraiser for Debbie and her family to help with expenses.

This hard road for Debbie and the whole family continues with a year of chemo and radiation but Debbie is so appreciative of all that is being done for her, she wants to give back. She was given a "cami" by the Cancer Society that held the drainage tubes she had to wear after her surgery. It was such a comfort and help to her, she wanted to learn to make some to donate back for other women. She says she will always keep the one she has, even though it is not the most beautiful thing in the world and instead of reminding her of the traumatic surgery she has gone through, it reminds her of all that has been done for her and her family and that God is with her.

Putting the shirts together was kind of a family affair-my brother, Larry and his wife, Delores, donated shirts. We originally planned to have a "sew-a-thon" all together but circumstances didn't allow that between all of Debbie's after care and chemo treatments for my husband for cancer discovered after Debbie's was diagnosed. My sister, Shirley, Debbie's mother, suggested this post be called "Between Chemos" and would have been rather apropos, don't you think?

The following video was done in our mother's room in the nursing home so she could be part of what we are doing. We hope to encourage others to "give forward" as Debbie is doing. Her sunshiny personality belies all she has been through-she is crocheting to give to others and being a great example for her twins, Summer and Sierra.

Just as Debbie was diagnosed the song, I Will Stand By You, came out and was taken by Cathy as her theme song to Debbie. It was played at a fundraiser and Cathy had a friend help her with the song since she didn't think she could get through it by herself. I thought it fitting to include.

Here is Debbie telling us about that cami that meant so much to her:

Please be in prayer for Debbie and her family and for all breast cancer patients. Let's pray for a cure for this devastating disease. Thank you.

God bless you

Carolyn Wainscott

HOW TO MAKE A PHOTO QUILT

One of the most unique and enjoyable projects I do is making a photo quilt. They are instant heirlooms. They portray a family's history, genealogy or any story all on fabric. I love putting the photos together-old and new. We usually combine several photos in collage form on each block so a lot can be told in the space of the quilt with accessories.

Here is a family quilt ordered for the matriarch of one family. It has 8 generations in several hundred photos on the quilt along with a pillow scarf that featured generations of times past. 

with its matching pillow scarf

2 blocks from quilt

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another heirloom 7 generation quilt

with matching pillow sham

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PREPARING FABRIC FOR INKJET PHOTO PRINTING 

If you have thought about making a photo quilt or wallhanging but didn't know how to get started, here is how to begin with preparing fabric for inkjet photo printing.

 Being dissatisfied with purchased printable fabric sheets, I started preparing them myself. The printed sheets have been washed several times to check for color fastness. I would suggest test washing a printed square in mild detergent or the suggested quilt wash on the treatment solution to check for colorfastness. The printed sheets are completely washable but these projects are usually not the type that would be washed frequently. Through several washings, the treated fabrics have shown no noticeable fading, however. Treat the fabric as any fine textile by keeping out of direct sunlight as fading will occur. i would also suggest spraying the quilt with a fabric shield to reduce the chance of spills and stains. To remove dust from quilt:shake, tumble in dryer or vacuum gently with brush attachment.

The Bubble Jet Set allows the ink to grip the fabric. The 16 oz. bottle will treat 40-50 [8 1/2" x 11"] sheets. This translates to 4- 5 yards of 100% cotton. I usually treat the 5 yards since I am at the task anyway and will have plenty on hand. This is enough squares for 2 of my queen size quilts or several wallhangings or accessories.

I hope the following video helps you to get started making your one of a kind masterpiece.



SUPPLIES NEEDED:

Bubble Jet Set [16 oz.]

5 yards high thread count 100% cotton [I have had good success also with broadcloth-you need to test this for yourself]

rubber gloves

wax coated freezer wrap

tub large enough for soaking fabric

rotary cutter/ruler/cutting mat

iron

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step 1: cut fabric into one yard pieces [easier to manage]

step 2: place 1-2 folded yards at a time into tub, pour portion of Bubble Jet Set solution over,
until all fabric is in tub, all solution poured over. Wearing rubber gloves, turn fabric to insure solution is thoroughly distributed. Soak 5 minutes

step 3: wearing rubber gloves, lay fabric flat or hang to dry. Do not wring or use dryer.

step 4: while fabric is drying, cut freezer wrap into 8 1/2" x 11" sheets
step 5: cut dry fabric across width into 11 1/2" strips.
step 6: press shiny side freezer wrap sheets onto 11 1/2" fabric strips.

step 7: cut fabric/freezer wrap strips into 8 1/2" x 11" sheets. [each fabric strip yields 4 or 5 printable sheets]

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tip: all edges must be pressed securely together so they will not jam the printer. Make sure there are no loose strings on edges or on body of fabric [loose strings may jam printer and ink will not print under loose strings causing blotches]

tip: heat set blocks after printing is dry
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Now the easy part is done, get those photos out and get them organized. Use your software to edit as you wish and start printing. Photo quilts are instant heirlooms and a once in a lifetime gift to yourself or others.

---------Happy Quilting---------

Carolyn Wainscott, the quilting granny
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Check out my patterns in My Pattern Store @
http://www.craftsy.com/user/pattern/store/43851

 



NO CALICO, NO SLIVERS OF SOAP

Our mother was born on May 31, 1920-so you don't have to calculate, she will be 91 years old. In that 91 years there have been poverty, disappointment, sorrow but there was a little girl determined to get an education to create success for herself and her family and she did it honorably and in God's way. In her God-determination she lifted others as she climbed.

One of the successes she was blessed to see in 2010 was the retirement of my youngest brother, Jim, as the mayor read the many accomplishments achieved in his tenure along with his degrees and awards. They seemed to go on forever. Her buttons were just popping as people honored her by thanking her for loaning Jim to the city for his service. How great is it for a 90 year old mother to see her 66 year old son retire with such recognition?

Mom's mother [Granny] is written about in my blog, "My Hero". Granny's story will give some insight into the world that Mom was born into. Mom's father died of pneumonia when she was just a few months old leaving a young widow with no skills and no income with 2 children to raise. In the 1920's there was no welfare, no food stamps, no life insurance and no Social Security.

My grandfather's sister, Sarah, along with her husband stepped in to help Granny raise Mom and her brother, George. One thing Mom and George were always sure of- being greatly loved by these three people who did everything they could to keep body and soul together.

George, Aunt Sarah, Mom-Little Christine

Mom played on the floor of the kitchen of the "poor farm" as Granny worked as the cook. She carried water to the adults as they worked in the field. She helped churn butter from the milk they got from their cow, helped feed the chickens they kept for meat and eggs and she wore dresses made from feed sacks. Mom started making quilts when she retired.  I couldn't figure why she wouldn't put calicoes in her quilts which was all the rage at the time. She said that all she ever had to wear when she was a little girl was feed sack dresses and she hated calicoes. She couldn't be talked into calicoes, no how, no way.

We think we may donate Mom's brain to science-she learned to read when she was three from George's "primer" that he brought home when he started school . No one taught her. She just picked it up on her own. Her walls are lined with shelves filled with books, the desk and bedside tables are also piled with books. Even at almost 91, she keeps notebooks filled with her notes and is still learning, still studying, still sharing and teaching.

It took a tremendous drive to go to school. She tells of walking to school when she was so cold she could cry because she had no stockings or socks or a good, warm coat. She would have had nothing for breakfast and when she came in from school, the house would still be cold because there was no fire in the stove and nothing to eat for dinner either. Even in these circumstances she went on to graduate high school at age 16 in a borrowed dress and shoes with cardboard to cover the holes in the soles. She was at the top of her class and was told much, much later that she was supposed to be the valedictorian of her class but that was taken from her and given to a daughter of one of the more prominent families in town.

Mom always wanted to be a teacher. That didn't change as she continued into college to graduate at age 18 and was teaching school before age 19.

Halloween night, 1936 Mom met the most gorgeous man she had ever seen and it was love at first sight. That love is still alive even though my dad has been gone now since 1988. He was her first and only love and she worshiped the ground he walked on.

Dad, so handsome, and Mom-she is only 16-wasn't she beautiful?

Dad was in the CCC's in the 1930's which was formed to help provide work but when that was over, there was no work in Kentucky and Mom's salary as a teacher could not support us. By this time, we were a family of four. My brother, Larry, was born 16 months after me so they decided to come to Ohio for Dad to find work.

In just a few months it was decided to bring my grandmother from Kentucky to Ohio to live with us. By this time she was in her 50's, there were still no job opportunities for her-no way for her to make a living, she was miserable without her daughter that she had never been away from and now her 2 grandchildren that she had actually helped birth into this world. Granny lived with us for the rest of her life. Mom and Dad honored her and took care of her and made sure she never did without.

Granny was still very able bodied and used to being busy so she encouraged Mom to go to work to help Dad make a living. She would stay home and take care of us kids-and she did. My sister, Shirley, brother, Jim and sister, Jackie came along to join Larry and me.

Even working and raising five children, Mom still wanted to get back to teaching. She would have to go back to school to finish getting her degree, however, and she couldn't afford to quit work to do that. Finally, with the five of us raised, married, grandchildren coming along, Mom went back to college taking evening courses but continued to work. That little girl who had determined to finish high school, now a grandmother, was still determined to get her degree to get back to her love of teaching.

She did get her degree and taught for several years but had to take an early retirement in order to care for Dad who had emphysema and then cancer. They enjoyed their retirement traveling and reminscing about their past travels-Dad had loved to hunt and fish so Mom made sure they took trips with family to Canada and traveled over many states. Mom's happiness was making Dad happy. They also made quilts together for the family. Dad helped tie the quilts after she got them sewn.

[Dad & Mom's last trip, fall of '87. We went to the Grand Canyon and toured several states in their motorhome. Here is Dad, brother Jim, Mom, Me, husband Len]

Getting ready to go to a quilt show, I noticed Mom was packing a bar of soap. I told her the motel would have soap, she didn't have to take her own. The quick response was "I'm not going to use those little old bars of soap. They remind me of when I was a little girl and all we ever had was just a little sliver of soap to wash with", Mom always has to have a whole bar of soap. It is not always the big event that determines the outlook on our lives, sometimes it is just a sliver of soap or a scrappy dress of calico.

Mom has been the true virtuous woman in Proverbs 31. She did my dad good, she worked to help provide for her family, she opens her mouth with wisdom and in her tongue is the law of kindness. We, her children arise up, and call her blessed and dad did also and he praised her. He knew she always worked to help him have everything he wanted.

Carolyn Wainscott