My 2 latest projects
 

The story's kind of long:
From 1997-2008 I was very active in the basenji breed, showing, lure coursing, breeding, and had made quite a few friends by traveling around the country, and up in Canada. We did very well, and I had plans for the future in the basenji world.

Then, I was in a car accident that resulted in a TBI, but unless I tell people, they can't tell now. When I had the accident, my son, Ben, was in the Navy's nuclear propulsion school down near Charleston (I'm in Ohio), and somehow it was arranged that he would come up and see me. I guess they weren't sure I was going to make it, I don't remember, I was in a coma.
I surprised quite a few doctors with my progress, and always felt I'd like to some how 'pay it forward' in appreciation for what the navy did, but I didn't know what?

Then, I heard of the Quilt of Valor organization, and since the good Lord decided I would retain my sewing ability and desire (but I had to learn how to eat????), I thought that might be the thing. So I did a little internet research, and it just seemed a lot of people would be depending on me to do things at certain times, just too much pressure for my brain. I don't know why, but that's one of the after effects of the TBI, I can't function well when I feel like people are depending on me. I wasn't ready for all that yet.

About 7-8 years ago I sent one of my females down to a gal in Virginia, to be bred to her boy(sending her one of my girls in itself shows how much I like and respect her)

So about 9-10 months ago she mentioned on a basenji list we are both on, that her son got hurt. a TBI one of the injuries, over in Afghanistan, by a roadside bomb, and his wife is an angel. I don't know the details of that but since then I've found out he is 90% disabled, has a government job, his brother is in the service, and his dad is career navy.
He and his wife would be my 'project,' no pressure, no time restraints, perfect.

So I set to work, chatted a little bit with another breeder to find out he lives close to his mom too. So I sent the quilt to her because I figured it would be kind of weird for them to get something sent from someone they never met in Ohio. Then I got to thinking - the Mom! I know how I worried about Ben being in the navy and he came out unhurt and educated, and cannot even imagine what she went through. I felt a need to show her that her sacrifices are appreciated too

She got a basenji quilt. I used the Let Sleeping Dogs Lie pattern, just switched the heads a bit to be basenjis, and used the 5 colors that basenjis come in. They are originally from Africa, so I used some African prints, and in lure coursing they chase the bunny (really, a plastic bag) so I added that too. It's based on the Snail's Trail block (In fact, the girl I sent down there was bred to her male that was half African)

Oh, I found out her son has a basenji too, so I added a couple of subtle basenjis in the stitching on his quilt.

You make great quilts.

Your quilts are beautiful. I am sure they will be well loved.

Truly lovely work. You are here for a reason.

Your are very fortunate to have recovered so well. The quilts are wonderful! and you are very generous!

Oh those are just adorable. I saw the first one and thought Oh Kitties. No, doggies! they are both lovely!!! keep on quilting :)

That's funny, since these are called 'the dog for people who like cats'
Thank you for the compliments. They are certainly not perfect, but perfection as a goal was given up years ago, about the time I had kids

Wonderful quilts and I am sure they will be much appreciated and well loved.

Your quilts are beautiful! What a wonderful gesture.

Wonderful story,beautiful quilts and I had to google basenji and TBI! So I learned something too. Thanks for sharing.

Your story has really touched me. Your persistence and overcoming -- amazing!

Your quilts are truly works of art and will surely be very appreciated. How special that you have found a special-to-you way to give back and express your support and gratitude. Blessings to you on this path in the future!

Jan in VA

Stunning quilts!

Your quilts are beautiful, I am sure they will be treasured.
Thank you for sharing your story, it touched my heart.

That is a beautiful quilt. The colors are so rich. I love those dogs!

How wonderful your quilts are and what a kind thing to do for those folks --- I know those quilts will be cherished, especially since you put so much thought and yourself into each quilt. Both are absolutely gorgeous!

I need new adjectives. Superlative quilts. Superlative story. God bless you on all levels. And I grew up in Stony Ridge.. you might even know where that is!

I love love love the basengi's body type. They look so sleek, fit and attentive. They don't really bark either do they. I like both your guilt's. You did a great job on both of them. I can't imagine their shock and surprise, then total appreciativeness (is that a real word)when they get these.

You are an amazing, thoughtful woman. Your quilts are beautiful.

What a great story and great quilts.
Thanks for sharing.
Kirsten

Your quilts are beautiful. What a generous and caring person you are.

They are just gorgeous, terrific job and thank you for sharing
Have a Blessed day
Ellen

Love your quilts. My daughter has a dog that is half basenji and half harrier hound. It is fun to watch her with my grandson because she keeps wanting to herd him. He gets so annoyed with her when she does it. She is very protective of him.

Beautiful quilts, heart warming story.

Love your story, your attitude and your quilts are really cool (so thoughtful!), inspiring and i'm sure will be cherished for a long time! So proud for you to read that you've got a great sense of humor (gave up perfection about the time the kids were born :D ) , decided how to best cope with your anxieties and make the most of each day. And what a special gift that you retained all of your quilting skills! You go girl!

Beautiful quilts. Glad you are doing well. We have a besenji/corgi mix and we love her to pieces.

Sybil

Thank you for sharing your amazing story. What a beautiful thing to do for a friend. The quilts are lovely.

Beautiful work and I am glad you are still with us. I googled the breed and what gorgeous dogs those are.

Absolute stunning quilts!

Your quilts are awesome! You have a gift of creativity. Bless you for your kindness.

When God closes a door He opens a window. It is true. He took care of you to be able to care for others. Beautiful quilts. Love the puppies. Hugs

Thank you all for the compliments.
As for the dogs, they are the reason I checked myself out of rehab. My husband had to sign some paper to do so, saying he did have 3, 4,6? months off work for caring for me (with pay). To me it was a sign of leaving, I was more concerned about their care, just sitting in a hospital bed.

For the poster that asked, no, they do not bark. But, sometimes we wished they did! To illustrate that point, a woman, who lived in an apartment, came home one day to find the police had broken into her apartment. Seems someone had called them saying it sounded like a woman was being murdered inside!

I made a mistake and added a link to my flicker page with more pics of the quilt, and it was rightly removed, so I'm going to post a couple here:

I'm going to use this little space for a bit of basenji education:

Depending on what she's doing, it's possible she wants to start the game of 'chase me.'
When I let a group of girls in, from outside, if the male is already in, it's funny, every single time he stands by the door, facing the inside, and runs ahead of them when they come in,making it look like they are chasing him.
(that's a run on sentence if I ever saw one, and I just can't figure out how to change that!

I know where Stony Ridge is, I think that's the place that he a big flea market every year. To make this quilt related. I've bought fabric there! I'll admit it, I buy pieces of fabric at such places if I think I can do something with it. A few years ago that guy who lives there and has a bunch of wild animals had something get lose, a lion, tiger???

Back to the dogs and quilts: after the accident I made a wall hanging in the Hawaian style. Hung it up, was very proud as I never do much hand quilting and this was all by hand. My little Ibis, who was 12 at the time and nicknamed 'the problem child I ever had' rip it off the wall and chewed holes in it. I haven't fixed it yet. Maybe it's because I have since learned that I stiyched my rows way too close together? Hey, I'm going to see if I can get a pic of it:

Wonderful story, beautiful work!!!!

Wow. Talk about making lemonade from lemons! You go, girl.

very cool basenji quilt!

beautiful quilts

Love how the pups look like they are cuddling! Both quilts are just beautiful!

I love your quilts, especially the first one. I didn't know basenjiis came in different colors as I had only seen the tan, but what a wonderful adaptation of the snail trail pattern. And I had to google TBI but thanks for sharing your experience.

Wonderful & inspiring story. Your quilts are fantastic & your generosity is the reason God left you here.

glad are are still able to make beautiful quilts.