To Write Love On Her Arms Memorial Quilt

[hardcoremothball]

Forgive the back story but I feel it's necessary in order to understand how important this project is. If you don't really care just skip the words and go straight to the pics.

I met my friend Joe in a hospital setting. We were both there getting treatment for self-injury. Joe entered the hospital the day after I did and we were the same age. He was really depressed because his girlfriend had left him and he felt he had no reason to live. We spent Christmas together in the hospital. He "lived" right down the hall from me. On New Years Eve Joe committed suicide. I spent a year and a half of my life blaming myself for his death. He had said some strange things the night before and I was convinced if I had told a staff member at the hospital about them he would still be alive. This quilt is about finding the closure I desperately need. I made it in his memory and I'm donating it is his honor to To Write Love On Her Arms, a nonprofit that seeks to raise awareness about self-injury, depression and suicide. But mostly this quilt is about pain and hope. I'll be sending it out tomorrow but I couldn't make something like this and not share it with the craftster community. SO...Enough words...Pictures!

This is the whole quilt(my dad is 6'8" and he is holding it...for a better size reference)


This is a closer image of it


A close up on the pinwheel(those things are tricky!!)


And the 5 Hand embroidered squares






I think it turned out really well considering I've never done anything besides a simple block quilt for a baby before. I hate doing binding though. Its the bane of my existence. The binding didn't turn out so well but hey nobody's perfect. I took forever to cut out all the little triangles. But I'm glad it's done and I can send it along.

[littlebiskit]

That is beautiful.  You should be so proud, not just of the beautiful quilt, but of your own persistance, and the obvious love you have for people in similar situations.

My heart goes out to you and to yours.

And keep quilting!  And embroidering!  You do beautiful work!  I love black & white quilts, they're so striking!

Oh, and by the way:

**Rocks.**

[saraheliza]

Beautiful quilt.  I hope you find some closure and some peace soon.  I'm sure you have been told many times that you cannot be responsible for someone else's happiness or their actions.

Please keep crafting - I believe that creating is healing in itself.  And your work is gorgeous.

[shootingstar]

Condolances and prayers for your loss, your strength and perseverance in moving on, raising awareness, and using your grief in a positive way to help others in your situation is very commendable.  Your quilt is beautiful, and so is the story behind it, in it's own way.    I've had several friends and family members struggle with this problem, and there is no easy way out of it.  You have to meet it head on.  I'm glad to hear you are being pro-active and speaking up.

Surround yourself with people you love and who support you, and with things you love to do, and in time your soul will heal.  May God bless you and your loved ones!

[Gemcraft]

I love the quilt, and your honesty is refreshing (O:

[TMommy]

Amazing! I love the idea and thought, what a great thing to do for ur friend!
I'm sure someone will love this quilt as much as you put into it!

[seetulane]

Ok having done my stint in a mental hospital setting and lost one of my friends there too this quilt made me cry.  Thank you for making it and sharing it

[audrey1999]

This is beautiful both the quilt and the story.  I am familiar with the cause and love and support what they do.  Thank you.

[ScrappySue]

lovely quilt, for a worthwhile cause.
Good luck with the closure.
Be kind to yourself
S

[sactownsue]

It's a lovely quilt. You've done a great job making it. It's an important cause. In the USA, at least, we need to spend as much time, energy and other resources on mental health as we do dental health. I've never heard of someone dying from dental carries or imperfect teeth.

It's an important cause. Thanks for sharing.

*rocks*