Thirty five quilters of Michele Bilyeu's Liberated Quilting Challenge group have now donated a combined total of 374 small format art quilts to the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI)
That is a wonderful, and amazing number of quilts! Each and every single one of them is beautiful..... and created with such love!
I am in the process of tabulating the last donations, and have already sent in 28 of those quilt numbers yesterday, and all but three of those quilts will be placed on our own online AAQI web page within the next few days. Those 3+ quilts are still awaiting their official photo scanning by our wonderful AAQI volunteer, Diane Petersmarck, who must work endlessly doing all that she does to update data, along with AAQI quilt registrar, Beth Hartford, Diane's sister and sister web page database entry volunteer... who makes the individual web page for each quilt.
Our own web page lists all of our quilts to-date (whose numbers I have sent into Diane) all quilts that have sold, as well as those that are currently for sale (see the add to cart button), and all those in the 'waiting' category to be assigned a price by Ami Simms etc.
It is such a team effort to do what each of us does. Volunteers make the quilts, register them, label and mail them in to Diane at AAQI. Diane scans them and puts them into the database, where Ami publishes and updates our page. Beth is the AAQI registrar and she builds each of our quilts individual pages plus both she and Diane do so much I can't even think of it all..but you can get a gist of our volunteer efforts here:
Our own Liberated Quilting Challenge group was created on January 1, 2010. I came up with the idea of an online quilt bloggers banding together into a group that would focus on liberating themselves from the constraints of perfection and creating quilts that reflected their desire to branch out and try new ways of quilting in a small format art quilt. I asked Clare Worthy who runs the Yahoo Liberated Quilting Board if I could jumpstart the group there and it was so much fun and so amazing at how many quilters jumped on board and joined in! Thanks, Clare and original quilters for that great beginning in 2010!
We grew to include any and all quilters who blogged or did facebook, and became a group of online quilters for a cause, beyond that original jumpstarted group... and I have just been so impressed and so grateful for all of them!
The quilts from this group, are individually created, registered, and mailed in to the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI) by their creators, and I do all of the record keeping and email contact for getting our quilts onto an AAQI group page, the Yahoo Liberated Quilting Message Board and Liberated Quilters Webring website. And of course, I also began this additional blog as a way of providing instructions, bragging about all of our quilts ;) and updating group members on AAQI Update News.
It has been an amazing journey since January 1, 2010! To date, this group has created and donated a whopping 374+ quilts.
When I discover that they have been scanned into the system, I keep an ongoing record of each number, its quilter, and download a scanned photo when I find one. That personal album is then used to upload photos into 4 different photo albums that I keep on 3 different websites for this group.
And get this. I am numerically and spatially dyslexic.
I can only hope that this is keeping my own brain constantly creating new cells and connections.....I sure need them ;)
But each and every one of us does this..each of us pushes our boundaries, learns new skills and skill sets and each of us gives and gives, as we can! And considering that we never meet face to face, most of us don't even know each other in real life, many of the original group of a dozen quilters still continue to make, and donate quilts and we have added another couple of dozen quilters into the mix...well, I think we are all pretty amazing ;)
We have had quilts donated from all over the United States, including myself who is from Alaska, a British quilter living in France, a fabulous art quilter from Australia, and an amazing facebook friend who has joined in from Japan!
We have quilters from the huge and wonderful group of the Quilting Board, quilters from the Orlando Modern Quilt Guild, the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild, one who is this year's featured quilter at the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, a wonderful quilter we all loved dearly (see the first numbered quilt) who has since passed away..oh how we miss her!), a quilter who won the prestigious Art Smart national award and creates gigantic mural masterpieces in her real life, besides the three wonderful tiny art quilts she donated to AAQI, as well as quilters who have since inspired other groups... and joined into other guild quilting groups, as well.
Their styles of quilting may have changed over the two years, they may no longer see themselves as the 'wonky' liberated quilters a lot of the members of this group first focused on, but we are all seeking to 'liberate' ourselves from being inside of the box to thinking outside of it. Something we desperately need to do in order to find better treatments or a cure for Alzheimer's Disease!
Three of our quilters, myself (Michele Bilyeu), Julie Sefton, and Jean-sophie Wood, all have quilts in the 2010-2015 AAQI traveling exhibit: Alzheimer's Illustrated: From Heartbreak to Hope which continues to travel all over the U.S. from 2012-2015. Julie has always been an amazing and prolific quilter and has donated so many quilts that she has earned thousands and thousands of dollars for AAQI.
Here are the wonderful quilts that have been officially placed online (with their images) to date. We probably have another dozen or more waiting assignment and once they are scanned and entered into the system, our total of number of quilts will reflect that!
It is amazing that just a small group of us have made this many quilts in 2 1/2 years. Congratulations to all for a job well done!
And a huge, huge thank you to those of you who purchase quilts! You are beyond priceless to all of us!
- 3588 Tribute to Mogdianlini, Rosalyn Mannese
- 4713, Flower Power, Wendy Koenig
- 4751,A Rose is a Rose is a Rose, Brenda Suderman
- 4752 Where the Wind May bBlow, Brenda
- 4753, Bright Slivers of Memory, Brenda
- 4754 Starfish, June Scoggins
- 4761, You Are Unique, Kathleen Connors
- 4762, Summer Hills, Kathleen Connors
- 4765 Patchwork Free Play, Sue Ryan
- 4766 All You Need is Love, Rene' Martinez
- 4767 Tree of Love, Rene Martinez
- 4768 Stars and Stripes, Rene' Martinez
- 4776 Holding On - The Last Leaf,Jean-Sophie Woods
- 4777 Memories, Victoria Findlay Wolfe
- 4778, Past Present and Future,Victoria
- 4790 Stars of the Mind, Irene Vernon
- 4798 Red and White, Beth Shibley
- 4799 Blue Ocean, Beth Shibley
- 4807 Which Way? Kim Brandt
- 4808 Lime Synapse, Kim Brandt
- 4842, Army Mum, Michele Lancaster
- 4843 Wonky Beach House Michele Lancaster
- 4844 Monkey House, Michele Lancaster
- 4858 Puzzle Pieces, Kristin Shields
- 4859, My Scrappy Mind, Clare Worthy..France
- 4860, Life's a Challenge, Clare Worthy
- 4901 Winter Journey, Darlene Norris
- 4902 Broken Memories, Darlene Norris
- 4903 Window on a Winter World, Lynn Makrin
- 4935, Memories, Nellie Durand
- 4936, Falling Leaves, Nellie Durand
- 4937mFading Memories II, Nellie Durand
- 4943 Solidly Housebound, Brenda Suderman
- 4944 Completely Dotty, Brenda Suderman
- 4946 Libertated Rose, Michele Bilyeu (me)
- 4947Transitioning...Michele Bilyeu
- 4948.. More Than Blck & White, Michele Bilyeu
- 4990 Blue ARgus Ascending. Lynn Makrin
- 5087
- 5088
- 5182, Feeling Groovy, Rene' Martinez
- 5197Puzzle...Alzheimer's,Julie Sefton
- 5198 Canyon Flowers, Julie Sefton
- 5211. Mama's Brain Got Tangles...Michele Bilyeu
- 5253 Lakeview, Kathy Edwards
- 5255 Up, Up, Up and Away,Kathy Edwards
- 5254 Happy Flowers, Kathy Edwards
- 5256 High Flying, Kathy Edwards
- 5323 Sunrise, Yumi Tsurata...Japan
- 5326 Fours All Around, Gladie Church
- 5327 Floating Nines, Gladie Church
- 5333 Surfs Up, Michele Lancaster
- 5336 Polka Owl, Michele Lancaster
- 5372 Just Because, Julie Sefton
- 5418 Windows Inside, Wendy Koenig
- #5419 "Summer Garden" - Wendy
- #5420 "Butterfly Garden 1" - Wendy
- #5421 "Butterfly Garden 2" - Wendy
- #5422 "Home Sweet Home" = Wendy
- 5449 Untethered I, Nancie Vogele
- 5450 Untethered II, Nancie V
- 5451 Sticking My Neck Out, Nancie V
- 5452 O What a Beautiful Day! Nancie V.
- 5453 Butterfly, Nancie V.
- 5454 Bear Hugs, Nancie V.
- 5455 Once Upon a Time, Nancie V.
- 5456 "Mondrian Art" , Nancie V
- 5457 Grid Search, Audrey S.
- 5458 Familiar? Audrey S.
- 5549 Yo Yo Flaaa, Audrey S.
- 5460 Morning Glory, Audrey S.
- 5461, Just Beachy, Audrey S
- 5465 Liberated Star, Kathleen Connors
- 5466 Red Dots Postcard, Kathleen Connors
- 5467 Make Life Special, Kathleen Connors
- 5493 What Color is Your Dream, Julie Sefton
- 5548 DarkRide, Paula Denee
- 5549, Improvisation
- 5625 The Butterfly Upon the Sky, Michele Bilyeu
- 5626 The Parasol is the Umbrella's Daughter, Michele Bilyeu
- 5747 From Here to Eternity, Sue Brown
- 5748 Transitions, Julie Sefton
- 5748 Hold My Hand, Julie Sefton
- 5757, Rays of Sunshine, Julie Sefton
- 5862 Hope in a Whirlwind, Sue Matlock
- 5879
- 5880
- 5969 Fish Tales, Michele Bilyeu
- 5970 Pickled Mushrooms, Michele Bilyeu
- 6016 In Flight, Kathleen Connors
- 6017 Batik Selvages, Kathleen Connors
- 6032 In My Garden, Jan Stone
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Jan
6033 -
Jan
6034 - 6077, Within the Depths, Michele Bilyeu
- 6078 Far, Far, Away Michele Bilyeu
- 6136 Place of Safety Psalm 9, Jan Stone
- 6137 Happiness Psalm 37, Jan Stone
- 6138 Praise Him Psalm 148, Jan Stone
- 6139 Dream, Jan Stone
- 6163 Beyond the Panes, Julie Sefton
- 6165 Twilight Dreams, Michele Bilyeu
- 6280 Coming Home to Roost, Sue Brown
- 6281 Squares in Square, Laura Randolph
- 6282 Flowers and pink, Laura Randolph
- 6290 Dove, Rosalyn Manesse
- 6307 Make Life Colorful, Kathleen Connor
- 6308 Liberated Star, Kathleen Connors
- 6328
- 6329
- 6330
- 6331 Scrappy Cross, Rene' Martinez
- 6342 Color Play,Rene' Martinez
- 6343 The Blues, Rene Martinez
- 6399 Alzheimer's Prayer, Michele Bilyeu
- 6437 Fly Away, Beth Shibley
- 6439 Fly Away Home, Michele Bilyeu
- 6477, Love, Kristin Shields
- AAQI#6487 Tranquility
- 6587 Hearts on a Wire, Michele Lancaster
- 6588 Study in Blues, Michele Lancaster
- 6611 4 Corner Tulips, Laura Randolph
- 6628 Qi, Anne Copelund
- 6598 I Want to Go Home, Michele Bilyeu
- 6696 Zoom, Kristin Shields
- 6757 Liberated Amish Heart, Jan Stone
- 6761 Spark of Heavenly Fire, Michele B.
- 6794 Pint Sized Pinwheels,Laura Randloph
- 6798 Two Hearts, Rene' Martinez
- 6882 Ginger Garden, Kristin Shields
- 9656 Alzheimer's Prayer Michele Bilyeu
- 6690 Window on Winter World II
- 6994 Red and White, Laura Randolph
- 7040 Batik Drangonfly, Rene Martinez
- 7049 Tree of Life, Paula Bell Denee
- 7089 Through Window I, Kristin Shields
- 7090 Through Window II, Kristin Shields
- 7091 Through Window III, Kristin Shields
- 7092 Through Window, Kristin Shields
- 7148 Bah Humbug, Michele Bilyeu
- 7183 Expect The Unexpected, Susan McCon
- 7322 Topsy Turvy, Michele Bilyeu
- 7376 Heart, Yumi Tsurata
- 7377 Together, Yumi Tsurata
- 7378 Float, Yumi Tsurata
- 7380 Tulips Times Four,Michele Lancaster
- 7381 Poppin Poppies, Michele Lancaster
- 7382 Fruity Fusion, Michele Lancaster
- 7383 Hedgehog&Mushroom,Michele Lancaster
- 7397 Lynn Makrin
- 7398, Seven, Lynn Makrin
- 7448 Music/Center of her Life, Lynn M.
- 7459 Hope Springs Eternal, VFWolfe
- 7497 Coral Sea Dreaming,Maureen Curlewis
- 7498 TheSong Has Ended, Maureen Curlewis
- 7499, But the Memory...Maureen Curlewis
- 7557 Green Lanterns, Julie Sefton
- 2010 Logo
- 7460 Cloudy/Chance of Sunshine VFWolfe
- 7461 Summer Sky, Victoria FWolfe
- 7519 Mini Amish Bars, Susan McConnell
- 7566 Japnesque Vol. I, Yumi Tsurata
- 7626 Japanesque Vol II, Yumi Tsurata
- 7656 Remembering Laurel, Michele Bilyeu
- 7703 Which Way Did She Go, Julie Sefton
- 7709 Untitled
- 7749 Runaway, Laura Randolph
- 7817 They Shine For You, Lynda Sharpe
- 7818 They Shine For You #2, Lynda Sharp
- 7819 They Shine For You #3, Lynda Sharp
- 7820 Laurel Points theWay,Michele Bilyeu
- 7849 Woodland Orchid, Wendy Koenig
- 7850 Dandelion Dreams, Wendy
- 7851 Remembering Christmases Past, Wendy
- 7852 Woodland Fern, Wendy
- 7936 Colorful Leftovers, Rene' Martinez
- 7940 Life/Not Perfect, Molly & Nancie V.
- 7966 Clamshells, Sue Matlock
- 7967 Triangles, Sue Matlock
- 7968 Swiss Cheese for Brains, Jude Edlin
- 7995 New Smyrna Sunset, Susan McConnell
- 8005 Nine Little Nines, Gladie Church
- 8006 Springing Around the World, Gladie
- 8007 Barn Raising in Springtime, Gladie
- 8008 Behind Alzheimer's Twisted Prison B, Gladie
- 8075 Psalm 100, Jan Stone
- 8087 It's a Grand Old Flag, Jan Stone
- 8111 Handle With Care, Julie Sefton
- 8112 Synergy, Julie Sefton
- 8113 Making Waves, Julie Sefton
- 8114 Turquoise Sunset, Julie Sefton
- 8115 Fireworks, Julie Sefton
- 8116 All Buttoned Up, Julie Sefton
- 8117 Superior's Shoreline, Julie Sefton
- 8118 Sapphire Morning, Julie Sefton
- 8119 Days at the Beach, Julie Sefton
- 8120 Yin Yang, Julie Sefton
- 8179 Japanese Goldfish, Yumi Tsurata
- 8227 Rainbow Snout, Michele Bilyeu
- 8228 With You All The Way, Michele Bilye
- 8251 Some Pig, Jude Edling
- 8260 A Special Kitty, Kathleen Connors
- 8261 The Star Within, Kathleen Connors
- 8262 A Peaceful View, Kathleen Connors
- 8263 Off Kilter, Kathleen Connors
- 8419 Sweethearts, Rene' Martinez
- 8420 Tipped Heart, Laura Randolph
- 8500 Froggie Went A Courtin', Michele Bilyeu
- 8501 Heart Filled With Hope&Love,Michele Bilyeu
- 8546 Slightly Off Kilter, Brenda Suderman
- 8547 Mini Modern Amish Bars II, Brenda S
- 8548 Mini Modern Amish Bars, Brenda
- 8252 My Brain on Batiks, Jude Edling
- 8560 Underwater Orchid, Wendy Koenig
- 8566 Mug Rug, Wendy Koenig
- 8568 Jungle Orchid, Wendy Koenig
- 8569 Fractured, Wendy Koenig
- 8572 Fiddleheads, Wendy Koenig
- 8573 Very Like a Whale, Sarah Long
- 8660 Tulip Fields, Kristin Shields
- 8669 Zombie Brains, Jude Edling
- 8670 55 Alive Grandmother's Fan, Jude Edling
- 8672 Rock On, Michele Bilyeu
- 8673 Country Cowgirl at Heart, Michele Bilyeu
- 8674 Come and Play, Michele Bilyeu
- 8679 Pink Reeds, Sarah Long
- 8680 Line Dried Sheets, Sarah Long
- 8690 Fade to Black, Susan McConnell
- 8699 House of Love, Laura Randolph
- 8745 Jacobean Partridge, Debra Spinic
- 8746 Jacobean Partridge II, Debra Spinic
- 8747 PoinsettiaI, Debra Spinic
- 8750 Hope Angel, Debra Spinic
- 8791 Joy Angel, Debra Spinic
- 8079 Simply Tulips, Jan Stone
- 8177 Cathedral Window, Yumi Tsurata
- 8715 Girl in Oval Crazy Quilt, Debra Spi
- 8738 The Power of Transition, Michele Bilyeu
- 8749 Angel With Manger, Debra Spinic
- 8748 Peace on Earth, Debra Spinic
- 8769 Christmas Tree, Lynn Makrin
- 8772 Number 20 for AAQI, Lynn Makrin
- 8774 Hosanna!, Lynn Makrin
- 8827 Christmas Star Rene' Martinez
- 8828 Water on Mars, Jude Edling
- 8798 Wild Heart, Sue Brown
- 8825 Frazzled, Susan McConnell
- 8835 Traveling Santa, Wendy Koenig
- 8838 Christmas Time, Laura Randolph
- 8953 Don't Worry Spiders, Michele Bilyeu
- 8954 Let Me Entertain You, Michele Bilyeu
- 8979 Jingle Brains, Jude Edling
- 8988 Hint of Spring, Jude Edling
- 8995 Be Yourself, Kristin Shields
- 9041 Bubbles, Rene' Martinez
- 9043 Blues and White Laura Randolph
- 9125 Change and Transition, Michele Bilyeu
- 8178 Mini Kimino, Yumi Tsurata
- 9199 A New Vision, Kristin Shields
- 8323 Tumbling Blocks, Susan McConnell
- 8690 Fade to Black, Susan McConnell
- 8825 Frazzled, Susan McConnell
- 9044 Crystal Blue Persuation, Susan McCo
- 9216 Christmas Sampler, Lynn Makrin
- 9217 Christmas Snowflake, Lynn Makrin
- 9218 Fall Bargello, Lynn Makrin
- 9230 Whirligig Roundup, Jude Edling
- 9231 Whirligig, Jude Edling
- 9260 Cowboys and Cowgirls, Rene' Martine
- 9270 All Day Long, Susan McConnell
- 9277 Can You See Me, Alene Fischer
- 9400 A Dream Within A Dream, Michele Bilyeu
- 9434 Sittin' Pretty, Alene Fischer
- 9436 Falling Leaves, Alene Fischer
- 9437 The 20's With a Twist, Alene Fische
- 9443 Pretty Bird, Alene Fischer
- 9462 Rose of Sharon, Jude Edling
- 9463 Red Heart Whirled, Jude Edling
- 9467 Crazy for Citrus, Rene' Martinez
- 9471 Fishies, Michele Lancaster
- 9472 Cotton Candy and Apricots, Michele Lancaster
- 9500 Fine Feathered Friend, Kristin Shields
- 9529 Solids With Yumi, Michele Lancaster
- 9531 Swimmin' Under the Starlight, Yumi
- 9532 Uncharted Areas, Yumi Tsurata
- 9533 Swimmin'in the Wonderland, Yumi
- 9534 Love, Yumi Tsurata
- 9538 Jazzy, Yumi Tsurata
- 9564 Leave the Light On, Susan McConnell
- 9581 Warm and White, Laura Randolph
- 9621 I Believe ...in Childhood Innocence, Alene Fischer
- 9622 Puttin' on the Glitz, Alene Fischer
- 9624 Lucy's Last Tea Party, Alene Fischer
- 9625 The Wave, Alene Fischer
- 9648 Changing the World, Michele Bilyeu
- 9654 Scottie, Paula Denee
- 9697 Lollipoppies, Jude Edling
- 9716 Tau Tangles, Jude Edling
- 9736 Mother, Debra Spinic
- 9759 Rays, Laura Randolph
- 9917 Steps to the Church, Gladie Church
- 9918 Tiny Bits, Gladie Church
- 9919 Tiny Bits 2, Gladie Church
- 9920 Lazy Logs, Gladie Church
- 9921 A Simple Basket, Gladie Church
- 9922 Crazy Basket, Gladie Church
- 9923 Tiny Treasures, Gladie Church
- 9924 Itty Bits, Gladie Church
- 9744 Come On, Get Happy, Susan McConnell
- 9943 Pale Rose, Jude Edling
- 9944 Lucky in Love, Jude Edling
- 9780 Leaves, Mary Johnson
- 9991 Tranquil Landscape, Mary Johnson
- 9992 Tied Together By Love, Michele Bilyeu
- 9998 Crossed Circuits, Brenda Suderman
- 9999 Bright Featherweight Trees, Brenda S.
- 10006 One World, One Shared Challenge, Michele Bilyeu
- 10027 Scratch Art/Thread, Alene Fischer
- 10028 Tribute to G.C, Alene Fischer
- 10029 Just a Peek, Alene Fischer
- 10030 Tranquility, Alene Fischer
- AAQI #10,054-Peach Wine, Wendy Koenig
- AAQI #10,056-A Brand New Day, Wendy K
- AAQI #10,055-Good Morning, Sunshine, Wendy
- 10195 Purple Stained Glass, Yumi Tsurat
- 10196 Purple Stained Glass, Yumi Tsurat
- 10197 Spring Has Come, Yumi Tsurata
- 10198 Sunny Garden, Yumi Tsurata
- 10199 Rosy, Yumi Tsurata
28 more coming to this list plus more after they are scanned into the system! I will probably not show them here as these images, being copies, disappear and don't return ....and I don't have the time to keep redoing them.
Thank you so very, very much to all of you for keeping the faith that we do make a difference, and better treatments for A.D....if not a cure...is not that far away for all of us. We ARE already making a difference!!!
Michele Bilyeu blogs With Heart and Hands as she shares a quilting journey through her life in Salem, Oregon and Douglas, Alaska and all of her AAQI Quilting. Sharing thousands of links to Free Quilt and Quilt Block Patterns and encouraging others to join in the Liberated Quilting Challenge and make or donate small art quilts to the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI) Help us change the world, one little quilt at a time!
