Last winter I planned to do a Millennium Quilt then life changed with Mur's bt. That idea and dream was set aside, til a little while ago when Mary Ray posted that she was doing a Quilt with the names of bt patients and the types of bt's. Thank you Mary! for stirring me into action. As a result, I made the commitment and started to work. Here's my plan, and how you can help me!

My Millennium Quilt is to have 2000 pieces of fabric, each one will be different. The quilt will be based on a log cabin pattern with the centres of each square red. Traditional quilts had red centres for the fire in the hearth. I see mine as the warmth from the fire, but particularly the warmth of friendship. Traditional quilts also had yellow centres at times, for the light in the window. I'm planning that each of my squares will have at least one yellow in them, to represent the light of hope. We all need that when dealing with bt's! Traditional quilts had dark and light sides to each square. These represented the dark, difficult or sad times and the lights for the happier times. So yes, I'm continuing that tradition, as with bt's, we all know the dark times, but we also know there are definitely some brighter and good times as we travel along this unwanted journey.

To get 2000 pieces of fabrics to complete this quilt, I need your help. Would you please share some of your cotton fabrics, plain or print, any colour? All pieces need to be 2 inches wide, as small as 2" long and as long as you wish to share. When your fabric comes, I'll be keeping all yours together to form "your" square or squares. And even if you only send one piece, it's just as wanted and welcome to be part of this quilt.

Additionally, names of all those who contribute fabric will go down in history and be included on the quilt. I do hope to have fabric from all around the world!!

Something else that I have planned ...... No doubt there will be more fabric than I need (that is, you may send me ten inches and I use eight inches, etc). So my plan is for all material leftover after the quilt is made to be used for charitable projects. Right now, I'm not sure what that will be, so any good ideas will be welcome.

Already I'm discovering what good therapy this is for me during this difficult time for Mur and I !!! I've been having fun cutting the fabrics and seeing the numbers accumulate (I'm already at piece #607). Yesterday a packet arrived in the mail with pieces from Mary Ray, my inspiration and motivator! I was like a kid in a candy store as I opened it!! I'm looking forward to getting at the sewing and seeing how the quilt "builds". I know that as I work I'm going to feel the support of so many people and will continue to feel it as I enjoy the quilt for years to come. It may take me sometime to complete my bt Millennium Quilt, but you can bet that I'll enjoy every minute of it!

So would you, could you, just share a snippet or two to help me with my bt Millennium Quilt? If so, please drop me a line and I'll give you the details on how to get the fabric to me.

Sure do hope to hear from you!

Kindest regards,

Elaine

E-mail Elaine for more information or to send fabric