Excited for my daughter
 

My daughter is 9 years old & has spina bifida. She had her 20th surgery this past summer. She's a trooper & an amazing girl who inspires me daily. She has started coming to quilt-related places with me lately & has a neat eye for color. She has quite a stash of FQ's. We're starting a lap quilt for her - we'll do it together. I am saving-up to get a machine with a push-button start & stop, but that has to wait a little while longer. She does operate the foot control while I sew things that we're doing together. I absolutely love to make yo-yos. I don't use a maker, just do them. She's expressed an interest in yo-yos & I know that her fine motor skills aren't quite what they need to be in order to make a free-hand yo-yo just yet. I was at my LQS yesterday & really looked over the yo-yo makers closely. I decided that she can be successful with them. Guess what??? She was!!! She was so proud of herself when we popped that yo-yo out of the plastic frame & she watched as she pulled the thread tight & a perfect yo-yo appeared. She had designed a fabric postcard for a lady in our church who is good friends with her. I stitched it onto the postcard & she was all smiles when she mailed that card this morning with the yo-yo that she made HERSELF! Hooray. I'm on a mission to find a needle-threader that she can operate next. That way she can be even more independent. She's in a wheelchair all the time & so many parts of life are challenging for her that I want to be sure that sewing is FUN & not a challenge. Better cut a few circles today - she just might be making lots more!

SWEET! So happy to share in your excitement and your daughters achievement!

Wow 20 surgeries, she really is a trooper. I'm so glad you've found something that makes yo yo's easier for her. Have you seen the recipe for making chocolate cake in a mug on QB. My daughter got quite a kick out of that and did it all in the cup herself.

Congrats to your Daughter and you!
 

I enjoyed reading your post. It is very inspiring and uplifting. Tell your daughter that I am very proud of her and making postcards for someone is fabulous; everyone gets a smile and happiness when they get a personalized postcard. Thank you for sharing.

What a great story!!! She is soo lucky to have a mom like you who treats her "normally" and encourages her to do tasks even though they are difficult. She already knows life is hard since she has gone through sooo many surgeries!! God bless her!!! Sending you a pm Thanks for sharing story. a Great Inspiration for all!!! cheryl

What a wonderful accomplishment. I can imagine how thrilling the discovery of new things she can do either with or without you can be. Not all 9 year olds would even be interested. Sounds like she likes challenges and conquering them.








Donna

That is an amazing story. I'm so glad you are looking for things to help her succeed at quilting. It will boost her self esteem. Good for both of you, 9 is a good age to start. We need more quilters.

What an inspiring story. I made a small yo yo top when I was a young girl. I still have it and a whole bunch of circles I cut out back then..once in a while I get it out and look at all the old 50's fabrics in it. I am so glad she found this way to be creative. Bless you for finding this way for her to express herself.

Your daughter is an inspiration to all disabled people, young or old. She has the right can do attitude, instead of can't do. What a great girl she is, and so are you, because she probably gets the can do attitude from her parents.

There are so many things that can be made with yo-yos so have her make a bunch! You can then make a floral wallhanging for her room - (1) use whatever size paper or fabric background you want, (2) have her run a bead of glue in various places (stems aren't straight so that's good), (3) cover the stems with thin cut pieces of green fabric (cut on the bias so they bend) or use bias tape or rickrack, (4) put the yo-yos on top and around the stems. Voila! A beautiful garden. You can "bind" it by glueing the bias tape or rickrack around the edges (or regular binding if you used fabric) or put it in a frame and hang it. Enjoy the fun with your sweetheart of a daughter!

What a trooper!! I don't know what your budget is but here is one that has good ratings.

http://www.sewingmachineoutlet.com/singer4166.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz0Q8DqAa0Y

Hooray for both your daughter and YOU...you are both to be commended...It is so much nicer to focus your energy on the things a person CAN do rather than the ones they can't...congrats on having a great daughter and your daughter is luck to have you as her Mom...Naomi

aww, that is fantastic. She sure sounds like a special angel. Don't forget to show us pictures of her special creations so we can leave some love.

What a lovely idea. This is really right up her alley. I can't wait for her to get a small bundle of yo-yos made so we can make this. She will REALLY have fun with this idea.

I will definitely post photos when we get something made. I am always humbled at the outpouring of support she receives through quilters. She loves to dance & we will continue to pursue that as long as it's still fun for her. She seems to really beam when she's done making something with fabric. Her self-esteem isn't terrible, but I think it could be better. I will share all of your love with her when she gets home from school. Thank you all! I tried to post a link to her dance recital photos from last year, but it doesn't seem to work. If you'd like to see my girl, PM me & I can share the link there.

What an inspiration you both are. I hope some of the people who complained about the change of QB read this.
You and your girl are truly courageous. I hope you are able to find the things you need to keep encouraging your daughter.
Angels on both of you.

Wow, another quilter in the making. You Go Girl!

Atta girl! That's wonderful! :)

Thank you for sharing. I'm excited for her.

Way to go!!! You both are quit an inspiration. Keep up the good work and post pics when you can!!!

Good for her. I have seen yo-yo Xmas trees, wine carriers, bags, as well as quilts. Here are some websites: http://quilting.about.com/od/piecing...oyoquilts.htm; http://www.ehow.com/how_2100684_make-yoyo-angels.html

Check thrift shops, ebay, etc - you may be able to find an inexpensive machine.

I'm sending up a cheer from Washington state. Tell her "Good Job". This is going to be a wonderful adventure as the two of you make quilts together.

Wonderful story. God has given you a beautiful blessing. I'm sure many people are touched by her.

Thank you for sharing. I would love to meet and quilt a while with your precious daughter. What fun and memories you two are making in addition to the yo-yo's and quilts. Give her a little hug from the board. Linda

You have an incredible daughter. You should be proud of her AND yourself for the self confidence that you are instilling in her. She will always strive to be as independent as possible and you are giving her the tools to that.

Bless you both.

how exciting that you have found something you can do together and enjoy not only making things but also making memories which you will both cherish. Looking forward to see what your daughter creates.

Check out the Quilters World December issue it has yo yo jewelry. The stretchy bracelet is just sections of black elastic connecting the yo yo's. Bet she would like it. There is also a necklace.

That is wonderful! I have a special needs grandson and it is so thrilling when he accomplishes something!
Just an idea that you two may want to make.........I saw a wall hanging that was made with yo yos for flowers and ric rac was used for the stems. It was so pretty!

This is a wonderful story and thank you very much for sharing your daughter with us. Tell her to keep up the good work. I just started making yo yo's myself this year. They are such fun.

That is awesome!!! Companies really do need to consider finding ways to make sewing...or any type of needlework, knitting and crocheting, available for the handicapped/disabled people out there. You have seen what a joy the yo-yo maker is to your daughter. I'm from PA too and a family that went to our church...their daughter had spinal bifida and was in a wheelchair. That didn't keep her from being involved in anything. She even held a fulltime job at Walmart. We've lost touch with that family as we no longer attend that church and I don't shop at that Walmart since we moved and there is one closer.

Will be looking for pictures of her creations.

I'm so happy for you both! To work together is fun and encouraging for your daughter, I'm sure. We just heard of a young family who had their 4th little girl this week and she has spina bifida along with other problems-been praying for them. They knew the problem was there before Autumn was born at a Children's Hospital, but it looks like a difficult road ahead. Their youngest at home is less than a year old!! My mother has been making yo-yos and wants to make toy animals with them.

If you have contact with that family & they have an interest in talking to someone who has "been there & done that", I'd be more than happy to talk with them sometime. I've been a contact person for our spina bifida clinic for several years - they allow new families to call me to learn more about our experiences. Every child with spina bifida is different, even if the same vertebrae are involved. That's a fascinating part of the condition. My oldest & youngest (Salina is in the middle) are a total of 39 months apart - mine weren't quite as close as theirs, but I was running in auto-pilot for several years!

I am so excited for you daughter. What is her name? When she completes her next project, please post a picture. I can tell from your post that you are really a loving Mom. May God bless youboth.

Her name is Salina. I hope we can have a picture or two posted very soon!

Thanks for sharing, put a smile on my face.

What a great story! We can't wait to see what she accomplishes. As for the needle threader, this one is easy to use. I love mine. And I think I saw them at my JoAnn's. http://www.ConnectingThreads.com/Clo...eThreader.html

Hope this works for her.

That's so nice to hear she can do something like that with you. Beautiful memories. Have fun. Sue

I just helped a friend buy the Brother 6000i machine. It has a needle threader, speed control and a stop/start button or foot pedal. It's under $200. You can read the reviews on Pattern Review or do a search on QB. Walmart used to carry them, but you now have to order on line and they'll deliver to store so there is no shipping charge. Clover has a needle threader for regular sewing needles and then there's the easy thread needles that have a slot at the end.