My latest issue of Quilting Arts Magazine had an inspiring article: Artists Give Back: The Heart of the Home Project by Jamie Fingal. Jamie describes how she gives back to her community by creating and donating art quilts with a house theme to Furnishing Hope, a non-profit whose mission is to transform empty spaces built by Habitat for Humanity into comfortable homes, complete with furniture, mattresses, bedding, bathroom and kitchenware. The organization supports veterans’ and wounded service members’ transition into permanent housing. And since 2017 the Heart of the Home project has supported women and their children as they break the homelessness cycle. Read more about Jamie’s passion for these projects here. Learn more about Furnishing Hope here.
Each issue of the magazine also provides a reader challenge. I was delighted to see that the challenge was for participation in the Heart of the Home Project by creating a 14-inch square with a house theme that would be donated to Furnishing Hope. I couldn’t wait to dig into my fabrics!
I had some 6-inch square blocks with yellow fabrics that I knew would be a cheerful sky. A selection of greens would provide a front yard. I saw sunflowers growing in the yard. And here’s the quilt. Click on image to provide a larger view.
I positioned the sunflower so that it might look like the sun in the sky. Closer inspection reveals the center ‘seeds’ of beads and the flower pedals.
The drooping flower seems to be giving the house a big hug. After being away from home for business or pleasure that’s exactly what I always want to do — give my home a big hug. The roof is held in place by little white hearts. A warm glow from within streams from every window.
This project reminded me of just how fortunate I am to have a safe, quiet house to come home to. My favorite movie is The Wizard of Oz. I watch it at least once a year. The lessons that Dorothy learns when she leaves her home are many. The most important one is that she will never take it for granted again. As she says: There’s no place like home.
The back of the piece is fitted with small plastic rings, ready to hang on the wall.
And the label:
I feel the love in this piece! Super beautiful & meaningful. It turned out even more fab than I imagined from the description! Love!
Thanks Franki!
fabulous quilt! so happy and will likely bring great joy to the person who gets to live with it.
Thank you Carol. I hope it does bring joy.
So cheerful! Well done.
Thank you Sue!
Fabulous and very Franki! I’m working on mine now….
Oh good. Can’t wait to see yours! xo
very sweet on so many levels
Thank you Toni. Making it made me feel grateful.
So fun to see your work, Franki! Makes me happy.
Oh thanks Jean! I hope the recipient feels the same way.
I love it Franki. You are so right, there’s no place like home.
Thanks Kay. I need to remember that daily.
There is so much warmth, beauty and hope in your quilt! And what a great project!
Thank you Nancy. Hope is the big one, isn’t it? I hope that the publicity that this project gets will have similar activities happening in other areas of the country. There are a lot of folks who need the support.
U r a Rock Star !
I love that yellow sky!
Thanks Kris! It seems so cheerful to me.