A Few of the First 10,000

"Blue Skies" and "Green Tangent" 2011, by Andrea Balosky

The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI) recently received its 10,000th donated quilt, "Shhhh..." by Kristin Shields of Bend, Oregon. The quilt is an original design inspired by a class taught by Jude Hill, and the quilt represents thousands of generous quiltmakers who have supported AAQI, which has raised $716,000 since 2006. That's an extraordinary accomplishment, and of course, I couldn't just sit and watch!

"No Rhyme or Reason" by Lori Dejarnatt

A friend recently suggested that three makes a collection, so it looks like I've got a collection of AAQI quilts. I've got three of their first 10,000 quilts: #6392, Blue Skies, 2011, by Andrea Balosky of Mungpoo, Darjeeling, India; #6393, Green Tangent , 2011, by Andrea; and #9484, No Rhyme or Reason, 2012, by Lori DeJarnatt of Madras, Oregon. I almost had a fourth one, #6396, Tuesday and Sunday, 2011, by Andrea, but someone else had already bought it just before my order was processed.

Tuesday & Sunday - the one that got away!

All three of us are connected. I first met Lori in Sisters, Oregon, during a quilt documentation day. She volunteered at the photography station, and we had a blast. At one point, she brought in a sensational album quilt she'd made, which had been published, and it blew me away. I met Andrea about two weeks later, also in Sisters during the 35th Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. It was the day she appeared out of nowhere and gave me a quilt she'd made that had been in Quilt National. Andrea and Lori knew each other from years earlier. Lori had taken a class with Andrea, and had seen her quilts when Andrea lived in Camp Sherman.

Andrea made "Ribbon Sutras" and Lori won it

More importantly, by participating in the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative, Lori inspired Andrea to make quilts for the first time in many years. Andrea has a relative with Alzheimer's and was moved by the cause. Lori's mother also has Alzheimer's, as did my grandmother. Lori also happens to be the lucky winner of #6397, Ribbon Sutras, by Andrea. Both Lori and Andrea have donated several quilts to AAQI, and I'd wanted one of Lori's beautiful quilts. I recently got my wish when Lori posted an announcement on Facebook that "No Rhyme or Reason" was up for sale. That's the quilt that "sold" three more times after I had bought it.

So, these are a few of the first 10,000 quilts donated to AAQI. All of them are connected in very special ways, as are the three of us in our desire to support such a worthy cause. Kudos to Ami Simms, all the folks at AAQI, and all the quiltmakers who have generously donated so many wonderful quilts. To learn more about AAQI, click here.