--Here is the wallhanging quilt I made for the victims of violent crime, specifically sexual assault and domestic violence.
--I have been a forensic nurse, subspecialty of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, for the last 10 years of my 40 year nursing career.
--Upon my retirement, I presented this as a gift to our county SART team (sexual assault response team)and UASA (united against sexual assault), our local rape crises counseling center.
--the color for "ribbons" against this awful crime is purple (like pink for breast cancer, red for heart disease)
--The big rectangle in center is a photo of a broken dish and a whole dish
--You can read about my symbolism on the label I was asked to make to be on display next to the wallhanging (identical one is sewn on backing).
--I got the idea to make a wallhanging from a patient one day. Lying in the white, sterile exam room, she said something pretty to look at during the procedure was needed. I took care of that!

What do you all think? Cathy

That is gorgeous and such a worthy cause!

Truly beautiful Cathy, in thought, words, and deed. What a blessing, reminder, to them, that they may feel broken at that moment, but then they will become whole again.
How truly wonderful of you to do that for them. God's many blessings to you!
Diana ~ Victorious Survivor of childhood assualt, rape, etc.
- You really touched my heart on this one! I might borrow some your idea. :wink: I keep thinking I need to do something with my quilting, and we have a womens shelter.....

Diana, I'm so sorry to hear you had to suffer that. Go ahead, I freely give you my idea! ... Cathy

Cathy, thank you, but it was a long time ago, and I had lots of wonderful counseling. :-) I just wanted you to know what a wonderful thing you did for all who will see your quilt there! Not ot mention what a beautiful job you did making it!
Diana :-)

Cathy, that is really wonderful what you made and who you are giving it to. Thanks for sharing with us!!

Cathy, that is absolutely gorgeous, i love it when a quilt has symbolism and meaning, and you truly expressed your ideas, in everything from the pattern you chose, to the colours. And i love your quilt label, one for the back, one for the front, that is what i'm trying to do right now too, for a wallhanging quilt i made for my hd clinic. Needless to say the iron-on tshirt transfer paper scorched my fabric when i ironed it, so now im going to try pretreated fusible fabric sheets. Can i ask what product you used to make your label?

Your story brought tears to my eyes...you are a very special lady to have given so much of yourself to this cause and to have left this beautiful quilt to help ease so many through a very hurtful time. Bless your heart!!! :D :D :D

Thank you for all your kind comments. This has got me thinking and I believe I've inspired my own self! Since my poor health prohibits me from rejoining my local groups to make multiple quilts for the needy, where there will always be an ongoing need to make more, I thought I couldn't quilt charitably anymore. But, this project helped me to realize that in a place where people go who have any kind of troubles, one single quilt on display can provide even a moment or two of beauty for much needed distraction and enjoyment. You've probably thought of this already. I did this once yet hadn't looked beyond my job with my own traumatized patients. Walls are everywhere... at shelters, churches, clinics for the poor, dialysis units, and hundreds of other place ideas!
Cathy

It's beautiful!

What a gift indeed....Thanks for sharing and pray you have better health and are able to do more......

What a cool quilt

Beautiful!! I'm sure it beautifies the exam room and hopefully gives at least some people the courage to get away from the abuse.

You brought tears to my eyes.

Thank you for what you have done to help ease other's suffering.

This brought a tear to my eye. This is so incredible; and your thoughtfulness, I'm sure, will be appreciated by so many. What an inspirational quilt!

What an awesome quilt. You are so sweet and very thoughtful.

Yes indeed a beautiful wall hanging can really be a rest for the traumatised mind.

You have done a wonderful thing, and I applaud you.

What a wonderful quilt. I hope it brings some comfort and hope.

Cathy--you are terrific.

What a thoughtful and caring gift. The quilt is beautiful.

You are an angel.
Your quilt is perfect, love it.

Here I am tearing up at my desk at work. Bless you for the work you have dedicated your life to!!

Wow, I really appreciate your great response. Getting all this praise is rather embarrassing since all I could think of was how it might help the future patients/victims. I gave it away when I left the job so I will never see it again. The new manager invited me over to the hospital room devoted for forensic exams so I could see it up on the wall right in front of the exam table, where the patient can view it the whole time, but I will not ever be there to see their reactions, kinda selfish of me, I know. So, it turns out to be a very good feeling hearing all this from all of you... thanks,
Cathy

What an awesome thing to do. You may not see the reactions to your quilt, but you know they will be there for many years to come. Some may look and not see, but many will look and feel the love you have poured into that quilt and feel comforted.

And who knows, maybe it will be the final piece that gives someone the courage they need to get through, the piece they wouldn't have otherwise got.

Well done dude. :-)

The one thing you will know in your heart is that your quilt may give someone the courage to stand up for themselves and take care of themselves! You did a wonderful thing!
Kendra

Cathy, What a beautiful person you are---on the inside and the outside. You are a kind, thoughtful, compassionate person who I am sure is missed by those you worked with. I am sure you were a wonderful nurse, too.

You have left a legacy. Your quilt will touch many lives. Thank you for sharing this with us.

I think Cathy you're an angel. Love the quilt. :D

You are a very special person to do this. I know that these women will be comforted by it and am sure that you have jst earned a special place in heaven because of this.

That is just beautiful and such a loving gift. Let's hope not too many people see it. :-o

judee

How beautiful! What a wounderful ting to do

As a former manager to a battered women's shelter in MO I have to say that is so beautiful and touching. I've had in many cases been an advocate by the side of young children who have gone through sexual assault/rape during a SAFE exam. So in turn I gathered college artists to make a mural of the sea with 3d pics of fish animals and even some mermaids. While laying there they were asked to find as many so they can earn a prize towards the end. God Bless you in the work you do!

That's a beautiful quilt made even more lovely with the dedication and meaning attached to it. I think that the quilt will bring about even more conversation with you not in the room, as I can just imagine the questions asked about it and the story told of how you made specifically for them. In fact, I believe that there is even more caring and healing in the quilt with you now retired, as people looking at it today will know that someone cared enough to put that much work into producing something so lovely just for them. It so personalizes your work for each individual.

Barb, sorry for the delay in answering your question about my label.

All I did was get one of those packets of computer printer fabric that is sold at any fabric store... it doesn't have to be a quilt shop. It's for color inkjet printers and color inkjet copy machines. I've used different kinds but this one is an orange/yellow envelope with a blond woman sewing and her quilt of photos on the cover. Brand name: june tailor and website listed: www.junetailor.com

I know it works great for wallhangings but I don't think it lasts really long on quilts that get washed a lot. I had to do each of my daughters' 21st birthday bed quilts labels over recently, only 7 and 8 years later. If anybody knows a longer lasting system, I'd like to know it too. In the meantime, the above label works great on smaller, rarely washed projects.
Cathy

Cathie, as others have said here, you did a wonderful job, thinking out the "meaning" of your quilt. In vulnerable states, everything has an affect on the viewer, and this is sure to be a comfort. bless you! :D

Very nice.

The manager of the SART -Forensic Nurse Examiners called me in with my labcoat to take a photo with my wallhanging in the exam room at the hospital. You can see how it is displayed on the wall at the foot of the patient as I had requested. Nice of the manager to take these.

I couldn't figure out how to add the second photo so here it is.

Yes you will. Look inside yourself and you will feel every one of the smiles it brings to their faces even if it is only on the inside of them. Very powerful. Thank you so much.

I love it!!! Great work. Hopefully it will be a bright spot for someone who has just suffered through something uninmaginable!!

Kyia

I love your wallhanging. I am sure this will help some poor soul that has been broken by sexual assault. Bless thier hearts.