Thursday, January 16, 2014

Love Your Neighbors


This is a nice thing: folks from my county -- some natives, some longtime residents, and some who just got here are coming together to raise funds to help Neighbors in Need, a local organization, provide heating assistance to low income families.


It began when my friend Mary Maupin had her own on-line sale of some of her beautiful paintings and collages, donating half of the proceeds to Neighbors in Need. Her generosity inspired these other folks to organize this massive flea market and more.


Some nifty items are going to be available. Above is a mixed media piece from Mary -- who records the beauty of our mountain coves and villages in gorgeous colors. 


Look at this vintage radio! I have a feeling it's going to be a popular item. Lots more great stuff is coming in -- antiques, arts, crafts.

Foe those of you in the area, this is sounding like a pretty big deal -- and for such a good cause.

MADISON HAS HEArT has a Facebook page with  more pictures of things that will be on sale, like this beautiful piece by a local potter,  and more information about donating...

I've been getting together a box of various nice  items to donate and then I realized what would be perfect -- a Madison County antique quilt.

Some years back my dear friend Grace Henderson, knowing my interest in quilting, gave me a box of string-pieced quilt square --"The last squares Mama pieced," Grace told me. They'd been machine pieced on squares cut from the pages of a Sears catalogue --very traditional.

So I put the squares together with blue sashing, layered the top with batting and backing, and tied the whole thing with red crochet thread. And then I gave it back to Grace and her husband Paul. 

And a few years later, not too long before her death, Grace gave it back to me.  I've never used it, other than to take it with me when I did a talk about quilts or to hang it up as a decoration.  I love to think that it might be auctioned or raffled to help provide warmth -- both for the buyer and for some county resident who needs help this winter when the nights are so cold and fuel oil so high.

I think Grace would be pleased to have her quilt used this way.  As they say around here, she was the givingest somebody. . .



14 comments:

Ms. A said...

Beautiful quilt! Bet it will raise a pretty penny!

Thérèse said...

I am hoping everyone will be happy with the outcome of the sale for "Neighbors in Need"
It is always so nice to read about stories behind quilts and I am sure this one will have a little tag with its own story on it for the new owners to pass it on later.

Brian Miller said...

some neat stuff...and for a great cause as well...warms my heart to see peoplecaring for others...that old radio is pretty amazing....

Barbara Rogers said...

Gorgeous country quilt. But I don't understand it being cut from squares from a Sears catalog...which would have been paper. Is the quilt not cloth? Sure looks like it. Confused Barb here.

Vicki Lane said...

Barb -- a quilter would cut a square of paper, sew strips of fabric across it, trim them to the size of the square and tear the paper away (or not, some left it.) Google 'paper piecing strip quilts' and Mr. Google will probably have pictures.

NCmountainwoman said...

What a wonderful idea. It warms my heart to see a community come together to help one another. Gives me a bit of hope in these selfish times.

Frances said...

Neighbors in Need sounds like a very good idea. You contribution is also very good in its beauty and in your generosity, and in the way this quilt is of the community and for the community.

Please do keep us posted on the event.

xo

Deanna said...

It appears, like your friend, Grace, you are also a givenist somebody. What a wonderfl ideea. That quilt is beautiful.

Lise said...

Neighbors in Need sounds like a super program. Your quote is absolutely fantastic and will definitely warm the new owners heart and keep them warm on cold nights. The story behind it is fantastic. You sound like a pretty givingest person as well:)

Jime said...

As NATURE BOY said: "The greatest gift is to love and be loved in return"

Folkways Note Book said...

And you are so generous to give the quilt away to Neighbors in Need. Fortunate are the recipients of this gift. It is a beautiful quilt with a wonderful history, -- barbara

Martin said...

Fantastic idea, and a story to lift the heart, Vicki!

Beth said...

What a beautiful quilt, Vicki...and what a lovely story behind it! I feel sure that your friend Grace would be very pleased.

I wanted to thank you for checking back in with me. It meant a lot to me to be remembered. I hope to get back into the blogosphere soon, but until I do, it was so nice to know that someone was thinking of me. Thank you, neighbor!

Stella Jones said...

I love the painting or mixed media picture. It's so pretty and has such depth! The quilt is pretty and has such meaning. All the objects are delightful. I wish success for the sale. Do come back and tell us more if you can :)