September 11 – 15, 2001
These restored messages come from the Quilt History List, an online forum where quilt historians, collectors, researchers, appraisers, and enthusiasts discussed antique quilts and related textiles. The archive dates from 1996 through approximately 2016 and is being restored gradually. Sign up in the form at the bottom of the page if you want to know when a new page is added. Original spelling, opinions, formatting, and inactive links may remain unchanged.
Primary topics of this QHL Digest:
- Responses to September 11 — QHL members around the world send condolences and support following the September 11 attacks, and discuss processing the tragedy.
- Quilting as Response to Crisis — Members reflect on how women throughout history have turned to needlework during times of catastrophe and high stress.
- Community Quilt-Making Efforts — Members organize and share information on quilt drives and charity projects for families affected by the attacks, including Project Linus.
- Patriotic Quilt Blocks — A member shares a paper-pieced American flag quilt block pattern created in response to the events.
- Pennsylvania Quilt Show Announcement — A member shares details of the Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza in Fort Washington.
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 21:17:45 +0200 | From: Ady Hirsch <adamroni@>
Dear QHLers
My deepest sympathy on this terrible day. We’re praying for all the
victims of this tragedy
Ady in Israel
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 08:41:48 +1000 | From: Lorraine Olsson <sven@>
Please know that we in Australia are shocked and horrified at the
ordeal
that you are facing.
Please accept my deepest sympathy for your loss, and know that my
thoughts are with you all.
Lorraine in Oz
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 18:32:40 -0500 | From: “Avalon” <malthaus@>
Let us all pray that diplomats around the world will be able to solve
the
current evolving unbelievable events and we will not spiral into
world
chaos. . We all know the sorrows of war as viewed through the ages.
Let us
all pray that all of our diplomats of all countries can prevail with
words
and not bombs. Let us remember our leaders and pray for their wisdom
as they
make their decisions that will affect ALL of us in the weeks to come.
How ironic that the discussion on this list has been focusing on the
hardships after the Civil War.
Mary in Wisconsin
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 20:23:35 -0400 | From: “Phyllis Twigg” <ptwigg@>
Just to let everyone know…the Pennsylvania National Quilt
Extravaganza in
Fort Washington, Pennsylvania will be open Thursday through Sunday as
scheduled.
I’m curating an exhibit there called “When More Was Better: Early
Quilting
and Dimension”
Included are 20 examples of the fine work of quiltmakers long ago who
stitched in abundance, often including stuffed work and cording.
Quilt
owners who are loaning their quilts in the exhibit include Polly
Mello,
Debby Cooney, Judy Roche, Cinda Cawley, Ann Stagnaro, Judi Gunter,
Carol and
John McCulloch, and myself. I’m sure you will enjoy the display.
Phyllis Twigg
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 13:14:40 +1000 | From: nomad1@
Dear QHL’ers
We woke up this morning in Oz to this unimaginable horror
that has struck you all. Our thoughts and prayers are with
you all, especially for those waiting and suffering in
hospital and those still trapped and for the huge task
ahead.
Words cannot express our feelings of empathy and horror
adequately. As my pal Melissa says, terrorism has surely
sunk to new lows! 🙁
Hiranya from Sydney, Australia
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 23:41:35 -0400 | From: “J. G. Row” <Judygrow@>
Thanks to our world-wide friends for their outpourings of grief and
support
for us here in the USA. We are grateful that you are thinking about
us.
I am about 60 miles from NYC in the country, halfway between NYC and
Philadelphia. We are under the air corridor between those cities,
and in
our daily lives there is
usually the gentle thrum of high flying airplanes. We either ignore
those
sounds or are annoyed by them. The skies were eerily still today. I
miss
the noise.
I hope for the safety of everyone in this great country, but
especially for
all the loved ones and acquaintances of everyone on this list.
Tomorrow would be a good day to start flying your American flags, at
half
staff if you can.
Judy in Ringoes, NJ
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 09:45:36 EDT | From: Xroadclown@
thanks for your thoughts and prayers, and i agree! let us fly our
flags
proudly. We are americans, i am proud, and we will be ok.
melanie
ithaca, NY
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 14:04:34 -0400 | From: “pepper cory” <pepcory@>
Hello friends. Along with everyone else, I’ve been glued to the TV,
alternately dreading any more horrific news, The overwhelming
feeling is an
emptiness and faint nausea.. Is it any surprise that I picked up a
needle
and started doing redwork? OK, not rocket science but it’s all I’m
capable
of at this minute.
I also have what I call “count the noses” anxiety and have telephoned
all my
relatives. My brother Chris (an oil engineer)who was supposed to go
to Saudi
Arabia is stuck in the Hague (rather a nice place if you ask me-) and
my
sister-in law (also an oil engineer) isn’t flying to Venezuela this
week.
That’s OK as the sentiment is “circle the wagons” and stay put. For
you
QHL’ers from other countries, “circling the wagons” is the defensive
move of
wagon trains when threatened by Indian attack.
In a phone call this morning, my 80 year old sharp-as-a-tack mama
said,
“This is what war feels like, Pepper.” Last night I attended a
service
called The Great Litany (service in the Episcopal prayer book for
times of
disaster-) and found it quite comforting to be surrounded by friends
and
neighbors of my small village. The minister asked if anyone would
like to
say something and from the 70 or so gathered people, four had
friends/relatives in NYC.One lady’s son had escaped from the south
tower of
the Trade Center and then helped other survivors make it to the
ferries that
came from Staten Island. My friend Joan’s eight year old
granddaughter
watched the whole tragedy unfold from her seat in her schoolroom! An
eloquent older gentleman, Dr. John Costlow, asked us to remember the
heroism
and the good deeds of the rescuers. We all were subdued but feeling
less
alone when we left that service.
Tonight Rod and I put up our big (5×7 ft.) American flag. Usually we
run it
up between two trees for July 4 but this time it stays up
indefinitely, not
as a war-like gesture but rather as a hopeful symbol. Thanks for
letting me
share my thoughts.
Pepper Cory
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 15:09:31 EDT | From: Palampore@
In my effort to sort out the events of yesterday I am trying to
organize my
nest –my home. ( I guess that is the only spot I truly feel in
control of
today. )
While sorting out I found 3 things that you need to know about. My
dear
sweat niece whom I taught to sew sent me a brochure of a wonderful
show she
recently went to: The Magic of Lace, The Art Institute of Chicago
(June 27 –
Jan. 6) The Elizabeth F. Cheney and Agnes Allerton Textile Galleries
The
brochure is wonderful!
When at the Costume Society of America SE Conference recently I
bought 2
books. They are: TEXTILES FOR COLONIAL CLOTHING:a Workbook of
Swatches &
Information by Sally A. Queen, and TEXTILES FOR CLOTHING OF THE
EARLY
REPUBLIC, 1800-1850 by Lynne Zacek Bassett
Each book has swatches of different types of fabrics which were used
during
those time periods.
Contact Sally Queen if you want to order these:
www.sallyqueenassociates.com
My brother and sister-in-law were in the air coming back to NC from
London
yesterday as all of this happened. The plane turned and took them
back to
London. Not sure when they will get home. Just glad they are safe.
My
brother’s old office in the Pentagon is no longer there.
How can we help other than to give blood and to pray????
Should we be making comfort quilts for the children who lost parents?
I know
I keep hugging and touching my 3 children and my husband.
Thanks for the kind words from our world-wide quilting family.
Lynn in New Bern, NC
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 15:16:13 -0400 | From: “J. G. Row” <Judygrow@>
As a point of reference — It is possible that 50,000 people worked
and died
in the WTC.
In the entire Korean War, the United States lost 33,629 people.
In the entire Viet Nam War the United States lost close to 58,000
people.
(I had a typo in the line above. I had typed Untied — and was
tempted to
leave it. But thinking about it, I think we are perhaps knotted more
strongly together.)
Keep your flags flying.
Judy in Ringoes, NJ
judygrow@
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 15:32:25 EDT | From: ARabara15@
I affixed American Flags to the fronts of our buildings in Trenton
today. I
was disappointed to see so few displayed.
Deeply distressed and waiting to hear if friends are safe. Grateful
for the
few that I know had escaped in time. Praying for those who may not
have.
“As they fell and perished, God caught their souls and carried them
to
Paradise”
Donald Brokate
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 14:45:02 -0500 | From: “Steve and Jean Loken” <sandjloken@>
Ady, Lorraine, and Mary,
Thanks for your thoughtful expressions of sympathy. Though I’m not in
New
York any more it is my family home. My relatives are all accounted
for,
thankfully. I can’t help but stare in horror at the images on TV. I
was
hardly able to stick to my piecing yesterday. I baked a loaf of
bread, as an
expression of hope, I guess.
May we all be able to get past this without world upheaval. We’re
changed
forever here, I think. Daily life is something to cling to as well as
family. Be safe, all of you dear e-mail friends.
Jean Loken in Minnesota
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 16:06:00 EDT | From: Xroadclown@
I hung my flag today, with pride and honor! as the day has
progressed, and
i’ve traveled a bit, i see more and more flags, and with each one i
feel
renewed!
melanie
ithaca, ny
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 17:15:41 EDT | From: KareQuilt@
I was 19 and living in East Africa when Kennedy was shot. Our first
news of the assignation came via a bang on our door at midnight. We were told that the Pres., Vice Pres., Gov of TX, and the Speaker of the House were all dead and possibly others as well. It was another 24 hours before we got the real news. Two months later I lived through a coup-de-ta there. I was living in the section of the city where the Arab, African and European sectors came together taking care of two small children under age two whose parents were out of the country for two weeks. I won’t go into details (this is going to be long enough) except to say the world as I knew it (a place of trust and peace) came to an end and was never the same again. Ever since I have had a great awareness of the trauma that the women and children (and yes men too)
go through who have to endure terrorism on a regular basis.
My point? America’s capacity and compassion and helping hand is world famous. One of the things that I hope will come out of all of this horror that has now touched our people on our very own soil is that we Americans will have our compassion to help those who live with terrorism on a daily basis GROW even MORE resolute. Here is a wonderful tribute from one of our neighbors to the north that my husband brought to my attention. Widespread but only partial news coverage was given recently to this man’s remarkable editorial broadcast from Toronto in 1973. His name is Gordon Sinclair and he is a Canadian television commentator. What follows is the full text of his trenchant remarks as printed in the Congressional Record. Thanks for letting me share.
Karen A.
TRIBUTE TO THE UNITED STATES
America: The Good Neighbor.
“This Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the
most generous and possibly the least appreciated people on all the earth.
Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy were lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and
forgave other billions in debts. None of these countries is today paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the United States. When France was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it up, and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris. I was there. I saw it.
When earthquakes hit distant cities, it is the United States that
hurries in to help. This spring, 59 American communities were flattened by tornadoes. Nobody helped. The Marshall Plan and the Truman Policy pumped billions of dollars into discouraged countries. Now newspapers in those countries are writing about the decadent, warmongering Americans. I’d like to see just one of those countries that is gloating over the erosion of the United States dollar build its own airplane. Does any other country in the world have a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the Lockheed Tri-Star, or the Douglas DC10? If so, why don’t they fly them? Why do all the International lines except Russia fly American Planes?
Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or woman
on the moon? You talk about Japanese technocracy, and you get radios. You talk about German technocracy, and you get automobiles. You talk about American technocracy, and you find men on the moon- not once, but Several times-and safely home again. You talk about scandals, and the Americans put theirs right in the store window for everybody to look at. Even their draft-dodgers are not pursued and hounded. They are here on our streets, and most of them, unless they are breaking Canadian laws, are getting American dollars from ma and pa at home to spend here.
When the railways of France, Germany and India were breaking down
through age, it was the Americans who rebuilt them. When the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central went broke, nobody loaned them an old caboose. Both are still broke. I can name you 5,000 times when the Americans raced to the help of other people in trouble. Can you name me even one time when someone else raced to the Americans in trouble? I don’t think there was outside help even during the San Francisco earthquake. Our neighbors have faced it alone, and I’m one Canadian who is damned tired of hearing them get kicked around.
They will come out of this thing with their flag high. And when they
do, they are entitled to thumb their nose at the lands that are gloating over their present troubles. I hope Canada is not one of those.” Stand proud, America!
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 18:56:13 EDT | From: JQuilt@
let’s all light a candle… and pray for peace and justice, for all
of the
people, on this wonderful planet…
jean
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 19:38:22 -0700 | From: “Penni Ryan” <penniquilts@>
> Dear Quilting Friends:
>
> I just returned on Monday night from the Restoration Conference in
Omaha.
> It was the best Conference I have attended in the Quilting World.
But
after
> yesterday’s tragedy even a quilt can’t comfort the sorrow and grief
that I
> feel for our Nation and citizens. I want to help so much but I
cannot
> donate blood. However I can pray continually and display the
American
> flag. Even though I am crazed by quilts as others are, I hope that
everyone
> will focus their main thoughts in pray. I realize that the people
during
> and after the Civil War had an extremely difficult time. The
people in
New
> York, Washington D.C., Pennsylvania and across the nation are also
in a
> similar difficultly experienced long ago.
>
> Penni Ryan-Pitre
> Cave Creek, Arizona
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 22:45:09 -0500 | From: “quilt97” <quilt97@>
It is so heartening to read of several
fellow-quilter-countrymen/women
who are proudly flying our American flag. I have been so glued to
the
television I am ashamed to say that I had not even thought of flying
our
flag. But it will begin flying in the morning.
Thanks to Addy, Hiranya, and Lorraine for their thoughts and prayers.
The wonders of e-mail.
This past January I began teaching 6 friends to quilt. When we meet
this Monday we will make some some small quilts for the children
affected by the tragedy in NYC. If anyone can give me an idea of the
person(s) to contact to get these quilts into the proper hands, it
would
be greatly appreciated.
Thanks to all who contribute to this list. It continues to be an
interesting learning experience for me, as well as occasionally
entertaining.
EKarenbeth, proud to be an American
Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2001 08:26:44 -0300 | From: Terry and Sara Chisholm <family.chisholm@>
I took a look at the site Ann passed on for making a perfect
5-pointed
star, and had to try it – how neat! I think I will put stars in all
the
windows of my house – in support of Americans everywhere. Thank you,
Ann for sharing.
Sara Chisholm,
An American in Nova Scotia, whose stomach is still in knots
Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2001 07:35:46 EDT | From: JQuilt@
please be sure that when you wrap yourself in your country’s
flag…you don’t
wrap it around you so tightly.. that you can’t take a deep breath and
extend
your hand in peace….
jean
Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2001 07:36:44 -0700 | From: Gail Ingram <GIngram@>
I hope this does not sound unkind or political, for neither is
intended. The
Psalmist eloquently reminded his people that there was an appropriate
time
for everything—a time to sow and a time to reap, a time to rejoice
and a
time to weep.
This, I submit, is a time in which Americans should, in fact, wrap
themselves in their flag for a while.
That flag symbolizes who we are as a people. It is our homes and
backyard
gardens, our schoolrooms and our Little League playing fields. In its
stars
and stripes is what we mean by freedom. It bodies forth our shining
moments
and shames us in our darker ones.
And, if terrorism is to be defeated or even contained in the 21st
century,
it will, necessarily, be defeated by a people who live and work under
the
shadow of that flag.
Being too sophisticated to submit openly and perhaps wholly to the
idealism
and goodness represented by that flag in this hour—to forget that
in
another era it kept the lights on in Europe and rebuilt the land and
economy
of a nation that had created Pearl Harbor—is not merely to dishonor
our
heritage but to encourage a mindset that helped make possible the
horror
that all of us have seen replayed on our television screens the past
two
days.
For it is American idealism that has kept our borders open, our
wealth
flowing outward, our streets free of militia.
Tuesday, a group of men whose hearts had become so hardened that they
could
not feel the common pulse of humanity watched unmoved by compassion
as
fathers kissed their children and wives goodbye at airports,
three-year-olds
took their seats in airplanes, mothers took their leaves of
children. With
cold calculation and utter selfishness, they sent those and perhaps
20,000
other innocent people in New York City to their deaths.
If we fail to recognize their barbarity or the inescapable fact that
only
our nation, under our flag, stands between a world in which innocent
people
everywhere must quail before selfish, mean-spirited bullies, those
deaths
will have been in vain.
We in the United States have been blessed with a freedom that has
given us
the economic means for world leadership. Our flag reminds us of our
responsibilities to that gift.
With KareQuilt, one must hope that from this horror will come not a
fear of
patriotism but a heightened sensitivity to the plights of people
everywhere
in our world whose lives are daily menaced by terrorism.
If that sensitivity is to be mobilized, however, it will have to be
matched
by the resolve to defend freedom. Like the quilts all of us on this
list
love, The U.S. flag can remind us of the light we hold and often
ignore. Far
from precluding compassion, the flag demands it.
Gail Ingram
Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2001 07:28:06 -0700 | From: “Penni Ryan” <penniquilts@>
Dear QHL Friends,
Do any of you that live in New York, Washington D.C. or surrounding
states
have any plans on making quilts for the families of victims, service
workers
etc? If so I would like to know. Living in Arizona I feel so far
away yet
I would be thrilled if I could help and send quilts to these people.
Thanks
for any information.
Quilting and Praying
Penni Ryan-Pitre
Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2001 09:38:07 -0500 | From: “Avalon” <malthaus@>
Project Linus is coordinating a quilt making effort for the children
who
lost family in the terrorist attack. You can check their website and
find
the nearest chapter to you for information.
Mary in Wisconsin
Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2001 15:47:26 -0400 | From: “Cinda Cawley” <lrcawley@>
I am deeply grateful for the messages of support from our friends
in
other countries. We Americans have had many deaths in our family.
Gail, I share your sentiments about the flag. The United States is
not
perfect, but I firmly believe that our greatest strength is that we
very
consciously, as a society, try to be good. Because of this we are
often
criticized as being naive.
As one who lived in New York City as a young woman and love it
for
the exciting, wonderous place that it is, I want to say that New
Yorkers
are a special breed of people: tough, generous, brave, funny,
creative,
tolerant. God bless them all.
Cinda on the Eastern Shore
Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2001 23:01:06 EDT | From: Bunjorda@
A0I am usually a lurker & am just catching up on the digests of the
last f
ew
days. You all have made some very thoughtful & helpful comments about
the
attacks in NYC & DC. I live in No Va. My husband works very close to
the
Pentagon & felt the impact before seeing the smoke & flying debris.
My
brother works in NY but, fortunately, all family are safe & sound.
A0I work
at
a Government Hospital & reported for duty Tues. afternoon where
heightened
security measures were in place (& everyone was patient &
uncomplaining). It
was inspiring to have to fight my way through the blood bank where so
many
were waiting to donate blood. When there was a call for medical
personnel to
volunteer to the disaster sites, the first half hour produced many
more than
could be used.
To me, these last few days have shown that when we see the worst of
humanity
,
we also see the best. A0I am struck by the untiring efforts and the
importa
nt
role of those workers who, under normal conditions, are not highly
valued in
financial terms, but today, provide a service that could never be
measured i
n
dollars. This tragedy unifies us in many ways. A0Most of us will
have some
connection to someone lost: we just don’t know yet who that someone
is. A0B
ut
we’re also united in dealing with it & supporting each other. The
last 2 day
s
have left me appalled, but also very touched and proud. Certainly
there will
be quilts that come out of this. A0That’s how we cope.
Bunnie Jordan
Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2001 22:09:04 -0500 | From: “quilt97” <quilt97@>
So this is why I found myself cleaning hurricane shutters 20 minutes
before
six ladies were due to arrive at my home for quilt class.
EKarenbeth
Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2001 08:05:08 -0700 | From: “Rachel Greco” <grandmasattic@>
As one of many quilt historians on this list, I would like to remind
everyone that the key way women throughout the ages have responded to
catastrophy and times of high stress is to take to the needle.
Whether
engaged in the simple rocking motion of hand quilting, or caught up
in
the calming whirr of the sewing machine, our ancestors understood
that
sewing activities calmed their nerves and soothed the soul. Women in
America, when confronted with severe tragedy, have consistently taken
up
sewing and quilting projects as a way to cope and create
sigifnicance.
We have the unique opportunity to put those around us in touch with
their American quilting and sewing roots. We can carry forward our
nation’s unrivaled quilting heritage by helping others discover
sewing
and quilting as a means to cope; and we can also inspire them to
create
that significance for themselves, their family and loved ones.
As has been so aptly said before, “When life falls to pieces, make a
quilt!”
Rachel Greco
Grandma’s Attic Sewing Emporium, Inc.
Dallas, Oregon
Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2001 11:06:43 -0400 | From: Newbie Richardson <pastcrafts@>
Dear all,
I seem to be reverting to the “method” trained actress once aspired
to
be, and using those techniques to analyse the behavior of women of
the
past in times of crisis. Isn’t that what we, as historians try to do?
Think about what all our reactions are to the horror of the past
few
days. We “nest”, doing “rote” activities that somehow give us a
sense
of order to our inner disorder. I did laundry (the heavy spring
cleaning
type) and filed. My neighbor cleaned out her kid’s Toy box, putting
away the puzzle pieces and legos in their rightful boxes. Then
yesterday, Wednesday, I took apart the slipcover on the couch to
reuse
the zippers and cording, rather than drive to the store to get new
ones
for the remake. Think about how that would be translated into the
daily
activities of war stressed women of the past….but factor in that
they
did not have the immediacy of today’s media – (who incidently get it
wrong like when CNN reported our bombing of Kabul on Tuesday
evening).
The common thread is that we all try and impose some order to our
immediate space. Yet we also go stand in line for 5 hours to give
blood…
I have read of women in the 1860’s who unraveled worn clothing to
reweave the threads into “new cloth”, of the quilting and knitting
during the “Great War”, and of course all the activities during WWII.
Observe the activities of those around you. It will aid your
insight into the lives of the women we strive to study.
Newbie Richardson in Alexandria, Va.: where I could smell the smoke
coming from the Pentagon…
Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2001 20:05:58 -0700 | From: Tamara Bostwick <quilting@>
One of the posters in my quilting forum is organizing a quilt drive
with
some others. You can read her post here:
http://forums.bellaonline.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubbget_topic&f99&t000183
– she has a webpage with a bit more information as well.
Tammy
At 07:28 AM 9/13/01 -0700, Penni Ryan wrote:
>Dear QHL Friends,
>
>Do any of you that live in New York, Washington D.C. or surrounding
states
>have any plans on making quilts for the families of victims, service
workers
>etc? If so I would like to know. Living in Arizona I feel so far
away yet
>I would be thrilled if I could help and send quilts to these people.
Thanks
>for any information.
>
>Quilting and Praying
>Penni Ryan-Pitre
Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2001 23:52:08 EDT | From: ARabara15@
A woman in my congregation at St Andrew’s in Yardley Pa. teaches the
daughter
of one of the pilots of one of the planes that struck the Trade
Center. Even
though I do not quilt I would be more than happy to help deliver
quilts to
the families of victims and the injured in the NY, NJ, and Pa area.
Please
let me know.
Donald Brokate
Trenton, NJ
Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2001 00:00:31 -0600 | From: “Fenstermachers” <fenstermonster@>
I’ve been reading some of your thoughts about the tragedy that has
happened in New York, I have been greatly touched. All of your
messages
were caring and emphasized prayers going up to Heaven for lost loved
ones and those injured in the terrorists attack. I would like to add
one thing:
Each day is a precious gift from God, treasure it, hug your kids,
tell
them you love them, do something nice for your husband, do something
nice for those around you to make their lives more meaningful.
My middle son turned 18 years old today, I pray he does not have to
go
fight a war brought on by such a foolish act of uncaring men, I mean
monsters. But if he did, and he didn’t come home I know in my heart
that he is going to Heaven. You see, my son accepted Jesus Christ at
the age of 9. He has not been a perfect child, but he believes that
Jesus died on the Cross to save him from his sins. I pray that those
people in the tragedy in New York, had that chance also. But I fear
there were many that did not.
Ladies when you go to Church this weekend, ask yourself, Am I
saved.
If I died today would I go to Heaven. If you can’t answer yes.
Then
confess to God that you are a sinner and ask Jesus Christ to save you
from your sins. The plan of salvation is so simple that even a small
child could understand it.
I didn’t mean to sound like a preacher, but my heart has been greatly
saddened this week to think there are such people out there that can
do
such great acts of terror towards other human beings. Remember
that’s
the devil at work.
If this has touched your heart, please pass it on.
I must quit now I have to go frost my son’s birthday cake.
Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2001 16:33:24 +1000 | From: nomad1@
Dear Newbie and All,
What you say is so true about our reaction to horror. Even
though I am here in Sydney, Australia I have been going
around like a blob, acting really odd. I am not a TV watcher
as such but I have been glued to the ABC and CNN comparing
various shows trying to read between lines etc. I have been
doing stuff that I have meant to do for ages – boring stuff
like dejunking.
What has been on my mind is to do a quilt block of that
horrible scene of the aeroplane approaching the Twin Towers.
Now I cannot understand why I would want such a sad block in
a quilt, however I cannot seem to get it out of my mind and
feel I must do it. However, will this offend my dear
American friends I wonder? I care for all living creatures,
however, this horror in the US is closer to me because of my
dear American friends and family too. I have a cousin who
works in New York as a surgeon and we have not been able to
contact him or his wife. They lived right in the heart of
Manhattan. Another ex- QHL’er – Tiffany’s husband usually
flies one of those United planes but was home, as his little
boy was in hospital being operated on. So it is all very
close.
Lots to think about methinks.
Hiranya from Sydney, Australia : >
Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2001 05:20:00 -0500 | From: grapes <grapes@>
hanging to memorize the the terrorist attack, so I do not feel your
thoughts are out of order or even unusual, quilting is how we express
ourselves and it is natural for us to turn to our median to do so.
Jo Spindle
FW Tx
—
Spindle’s Tops Machine Quilting
Visit our personal Photopoint album at
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u352870&Authfalse
Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2001 07:43:41 -0300 | From: Terry and Sara Chisholm <family.chisholm@>
I’ve been thinking of a seven sisters quilt for some time – jotting
down
other sevens – seven days of the week, seven wonders of the world,
even
the seven dwarfs trying to come up with an idea. Watching the rescue
workers in NYC and Washington and the people all over the United
States
come together has brought me to the Seven corporal works of mercy:
Feed
the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, give shelter to strangers,
clothe
the naked, visit the sick, minister to prisoners and bury the dead.
Isn’t that what we’re all doing? I imagine these seven sisters
circling
around the crumbling towers. Can’t stop sketching.
Those of you thinking of quilting this tragedy are absolutely not
alone.
Sara
Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2001 07:08:18 -0400 | From: “Dee Stark” <dee@>
Hi everyone. Just a quick note.
I am a disaster services volunteer with the Red Cross in Albany, NY.
On
Tuesday when the disaster struck I was mobilized to help coordinate
communications in and out of our chapter in Albany – our number was
the one
given to families for contact and to all the health services workers
to call
until 800 numbers were set up. I am currently on standby as a
national Red
Cross Disaster SErvices volunteer to help coordinate the wonderful
efforts
of the churches, other charities, and business that want to help the
victims
of this horrific tragedy and their families. My current
understanding as
that I am the only person in New York State trained for that
function.
I have good mental health support available to me, but would like
those
people who I have known and care about me to do whatever you do –
pray,
light a candle, think happy thoughts! – and I will provide updates as
I am
able.
Hug your kids. Tell your family that you love them. I will be
posting
another message soon with information about how everyone can help.
Dee Stark
Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2001 08:14:24 EDT | From: ARabara15@
Yesterday, I received word from the last of my friends that they were
allright. I was greatly relieved and thankful. I envy all of you who
are busy
planning and executing quilting projects to commemorate this Human
Tragedy.
My hope is that many of you will capture the beauty of the human
spirit that
has rallied when tragedy strikes.
For me, yesterday was a turning point. I began to surface from the
depths of
a soulfull suffering. Although I am certainly not done crying, I am
now ready
to resume living. I need to show these monsters that the American
spirit is
Indomitable. I am scheduled to do an antique show this weekend and
had
decided to cancel. Yesterday I decided that I would instead do it.
Not with
the intent of selling anything but as a show that I as an American
will not
be thwarted in my lifes activities. My American Flag will be tacked
to the
end of my quilt rack and Kate Smith will be singing God Bless America
from my
CD player.
Last night when everyone in my house was asleep I went outside and
had a good
long talk with God. It hadn’t gotten cloudy yet and it may have been
my
imagination but it certainly looked like there were many more stars
in the
sky than usual.
Donald Brokate
Trenton, NJ
Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2001 05:28:46 -0700 (PDT) | From: Kris Driessen <krisdriessen@>
Like Dee, I am in the Albany NY area. My daughter, Erin, is in the
National Guard and (being a medic) she was called up immediately.
She has been deployed to the city and told to prepare for a long
siege.
I am hoping she will be able to help me with a the yellow ribbon
project I have started at http://www.quiltbus.com/yellow.htm. If you
have an extra hour and a few yellow scraps, please consider making a
block for this project. Send it to me and I will do the work from
that point.
Today is Fly Your Flag day – wear red, white and blue and fly your
flag proudly! It DOES make a difference. Erin tells me that as
their convoy lumbered along on the trip to New York City, people
honked their horns, waved, construction workers flew flags and
saluted, etc., all the way down. NOT the usual reaction of people to
huge trucks doing 45 miles an hour on the Thruway! The outpouring of
support and patriotism brought tears to their eyes, literally.
These National Guard troops were just you and me September 10th. Now
they are being asked to leave their jobs and family indefinitely.
The support we are showing them by showing our colors is keeping them
going as they tug through the sludge, finding only the remnants of
life.
I am putting together a web page at http://www.yellow-ribbons.com for
the purpose of listing other ways quilters can help. If you know of
anything I don’t have listed, please let me know.
And if you make a yellow ribbon block, this Mommy thanks you.
Kris
Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2001 09:09:13 EDT | From: JQuilt@
maybe it would be a good idea…for us,quilter folk, who need to find
a
positive path through this tragedy…to make a quilt and give it to a
local
organization that helps to take care of homeless men, women and
children in
america…
not to prove anything to the world….but to take a personal step
towards
peace and tranquility..
jean
Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2001 07:20:19 -0700 | From: “Julia D. Zgliniec” <rzglini1@>
Dear Hiranya and QHL,
I just wanted to tell you that I have been especially touched by your
posts and those of Adi and others that are not from the US.
This event touches all of us in some way. It has shown me again that
we
are one world.
Today, on this national day of prayer, I will pray for the world.
Julia Zgliniec, Poway, CA.
Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2001 11:44:22 -0400 | From: “bonnie wilbur” <bonnie.wilbur@>
Hiranya,
You do whatever quilt block/quilt you need to. You aren’t being
tactless or
exploiting this event; we all have to work through the horror in the
most
effective way we can. Take note that this may not be the last quilt
block
you feel compelled to make. Just as this event has touched so many
of us,
so may future events.
For those who wish to donate a quilt to some of the orphaned
children, you
may wish to read the following:
WRAP THEM IN LOVE – As most of you know already, Wrap Them in Love
gives
quilts to children in need all over the world. Right now there are a
lot of
children in the USA who have just lost their parents and are in need
of a
lot of love and comfort. We will be donating quilts to this cause.
Please
help us to spread the word. As always with Wrap Them in Love, we
accept all
sizes of quilts—-children come in all shapes and sizes. And
sometimes a
small quilt to snuggle with is just what is needed. The quilts
that you make for Wrap Them in Love are always filled with love and
prayers.
We
have sent many quilts to children all over the world—spreading that
love
and kindness. Now it is time to wrap these children in the USA in
our love.
The Wrap Them in Love address is: Wrap Them in Love, 401 N Olympic
Ave,
Arlington, Wa 98223. If you can’t make a quilt, then just send
blocks.
Someone will put them together into a quilt.
Bonnie
in Northern Virginia, near the Pentagon.
From: “Fenstermachers” <fenstermonster@>
To: <ARabara15@>
I’m sorry if I offended you, accept my apologies. I only was stating
how I
felt about what I was reading. That appeared to me what others were
typing.
Next time I will keep my feelings to myself. As for my email being a
religous chain mail letter, you were wrong. I was only passing along
a bit
of information that might be useful to an unsaved person, that came
from my
heart. I will pray that maybe one of the “other religous faiths
members of
the group” may come to recognize Jesus Christ as their Savior, I
would think
that any Christian would want to pray the same.
Again accept my apologies, I was not meaning to offend anyone.
–
Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2001 01:05:57 EDT | From: PatKoerner@
Thanks to Bonnie for the posting about Wrap Them in Love. That’s
just what I
need and want to do in response to the events we are all trying to
deal with.
I will send the address to all the Colorado quilters in my address
book as I
am sure others will find solace in making a quilt for someone in
need.
Pat
Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2001 01:20:10 -0400 | From: “J. G. Row” <Judygrow@>
On the NBC news tonight, there was a report on a program that the
Knights of
Columbus, a Roman Catholic men’s organization, from Ridgewood, NJ,
have
started. They are asking that people write letters to the rescuers
who have
been working so hard under the excruciating circumstances in New York
City.
The Knights will distribute these “Love Letters from America,” as
they are
calling this program, to those rescuers. I think this is a wonderful
way
for
us to thank these courageous men and women.
We talk about making quilts for families of the lost, but here is
something
to
do for those searching for the lost.
We can’t make quilts for everyone but our warm words can be equally
welcome.
We can show the rescuers our appreciation in this easy way.
Write a letter, and send it to a rescue worker in care of
The Knights of Columbus,
Ridgewood, NJ, 07457.
I am sure our letters will be welcome.
Judy in Ringoes, NJ
judygrow@
Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2001 00:52:49 -0700 | From: Gail Ingram <GIngram@>
Thanks to Judy for sending information on “Love Letters From
America.” This
is just what many people in our area have needed!
Thanks too to all those members of this list beyond U.S. borders who
have so
simply and eloquently reminded us that we are all unified by
love—as well
as by the love of quilting.
Finally, thanks to Kris Driessen, our list mother, for overseeing
this list,
for giving us a way to reciprocate her generosity through those
yellow and
white blocks—-and for looking past our occasional blunders.
This has been a long, long week, hasn’t it? Anybody for a deep
breath?
Gail Ingram
Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2001 01:34:56 -0700 | From: “Christine Thresh” <christine@>
I put up a paper pieced American flag block that is quick and easy to
make.
It can be incorporated in a larger comfort quilt, or you can make
hundreds
of them and give them out to friends.
The URL for the free pattern(s) is:
http://www.winnowing.com/flag.html
I wanted to do something! I can’t give blood because I’m on blood
thinners,
but perhaps this will help somehow.
Christine Thresh
a quilter on a California Delta island
http://www.winnowing.com
Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2001 18:13:48 -0500 | From: “quilt97” <quilt97@>
I was not offended by the letter from the mother whose son had turned
18
(draft or enlistment age) whose emotions have been stirred by the
viciousness of the attack on our nation, nor was I offended by the
letter
from the man who chose to tell us of his decision to have a long talk
with
God under a star-studded sky.
As we as a nation watch the suffering and trauma and heroism during
this
tragedy, perhaps we can afford to be a bit more patient and
understanding
and tolerant and kind to our fellow Americans.
Yes, this is a quilt list. Subscribed to by imperfect human beings.
EKarenbeth, proud to be an American
I am in California . There is no doubt in my mind that we as a nation need
to take more than just a minute of silence through our country in the very
near future to show our respect and appreciation for the firemen, policemen
and emergency response personnel who serve us in America. I wonder why this
has not been done yet. We need to do this.
The terrorist attacks last week showed mankind ‘s most evil side; the
firemen, policemen and emergency personnel showed mankind’s most pristine
side. (Oh by the way, your can add the iron workers, heavy equipment
workers, the doctors and nurse, etc. who responded and so on. )
A political thought. I am cognizant of the pain we go through when we lose
an American soldier in battle. However, can we all think for a moment how
our life would be today if America did not respond to the Terrorist in Iraq
in 1991 as we did— i.e. with a strong military strike. Think of how
different our world would be today without the free flow of oil from the
Middle East . One thing is for certain— the wonderful prosperity and
personnel freedom that so much of the world experienced in the last 10 years
never would have taken place. The heads of state around the world have a
unprecedented opportunity to serve mankind by joining in the effort to
capture and irradiate these terrorist—-it can be done without war if they
cooperate.
However, if they do not help us we must do the difficult job
ourselves. My heart is with the brave Americans whose efforts allow me and
my loved ones to live in a country with the greatest human freedom in the
history of mankind.
ps. By the way: Is it correct that France, whom we have saved twice in the
last century, is not going to support our efforts? Perhaps, France would
like to have these terrorist living on their soil.
