Aboriginal Fabric Quilt

[greeneggsandham]

Late last year, my older brother was diagnosed with cancer. I decided to make a quilt for him. He loves the Australian bush and animals, loves travelling and generally just loves the outdoors. I had a small stash of fat eighths my mom bought in Darwin so I decided to go with that as a theme. I bought some yardage of fabric with genuine aboriginal patterns.

then I sent out fabric swatches to family and close friends and asked everyone to trace around their hand and to embroider their name on it. I ended up with about 20 hands, which I appliqued around the border.

Well, I think the results are stunning. the fabrics are just so beautiful. My quilting is pretty awful, but it doesn't show up much as the quilt is very busy. It also restful and the colours are really rich.

I had selected some bright orange/yellow for the binding, as that is the colour of my brother's bedroom walls. However, it was just too bright, so I used the wrong side in the binding, and I think it worked.

I call it his 'loving hands' quilt. I hope the love and support of his family and friends will seep into his dreams at night when he sleeps under it.
here it is in sunshine and shade. the colours look very different due to my crappy camera



Some of the hands on one side.

One of his friends added an extra finger onto his hand. I didn't even notice until I was sewing it on and thought '...huh?'

Some detail



The backing

Sorry to be so pic heavy, but I wanted to show off the magnificent colours in this amazing fabric.

Hope he likes it. I'll be giving it to him next weekend.  
ps sorry one hand is upside down. The photo edit will NOT work.

the colours in the first picture are most accurate. the background is a lovely grey/brown, not at all blue-ish in real life.

[jezebel_1982]

this is beautiful, and so is the story behind it.
thank you for taking the time to share it with us.

I think that you are a wonderful sister for putting so much thought & effort into this, and it's great that you got a little piece of everyone near & dear to him to keep with him.

I can only hope that your "loving hands" are "healing hands" and as you said, the love & support will wash over him & help him recover. I've been in your position with my mom, my aunt & my grandmother in recent years.

[fiddlegirl8]

Absolutely fabulous quilt - I admire your work - what a lovely spirit you have too, greeneggsandham.  Thanks for sharing - I'm saying a prayer for your brother.   

[ScrappySue]

fantastic quilt, great inspiration and story, thanks for sharing and best wishes
S

[greeneggsandham]

this is beautiful, and so is the story behind it.
thank you for taking the time to share it with us.

I think that you are a wonderful sister for putting so much thought & effort into this, and it's great that you got a little piece of everyone near & dear to him to keep with him.

I can only hope that your "loving hands" are "healing hands" and as you said, the love & support will wash over him & help him recover. I've been in your position with my mom, my aunt & my grandmother in recent years.

Thank you.  I hope your family came through okay. 

[greeneggsandham]

Absolutely fabulous quilt - I admire your work - what a lovely spirit you have too, greeneggsandham.  Thanks for sharing - I'm saying a prayer for your brother.   

Thanks, fiddlegirl8!

fantastic quilt, great inspiration and story, thanks for sharing and best wishes
S

Thanks scrappysue!

[LaurelShimer]

How could those colors and wonderful designs NOT help your brother through rough times? I'm glad you found a way to make your own kind of medicine, and to involve your whole family too. You are a real inspiration for confronting scary situations. Thanks for sharing.My heart goes out to all of you.

Laurel

[Jellybean74]

Amazing quilt!!  Thank you for sharing your story with us as well.  I'm sure he loves the quilt that you made for him.  It is so beautiful!!

[charliebrown]

I love this quilt. What a great thing to do for your brother!

[Eamea]

I like this pattern, and the story is just as sweet.  I'll bet he loved it, and I hope he's doing well!