The Warmth of Fall

The trees outside of Quilters Dream Batting are just now starting to show signs that a new season is approaching.

The beautiful red, orange and yellow leaves signal a time of cooler temperatures and the approaching Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year holidays.  And as the holidays approach the mailbox is beginning to fill with greeting cards and well wishes for peaceful, merry and safe days ahead.  And tucked in between the greetings are very special notes addressed to Hopes & Dreams filled with heartfelt words of thanks and gratitude.

Like this note we received from Roger and Renee Siervogel of Yellow Springs, Ohio.  Roger wanted to let us know that his fall will be especially warm thanks to the Hopes & Dreams quilt he received.  Roger writes, "Thank you for your special dedication to the Hopes and Dreams of a cure for ALS!  I have been living with ALS for 10+ years (diagnosed 6/08/03) and I am no longer able to walk, so my lap blanket will be keeping we warm as the cooler season is upon us...

 

  ...I have included some pictures of my walk Team from September...

 

 

... and of course the beautiful quilt that I received at our ALS Dayton, Ohio Support Group!  Thank you so much for your generosity, support and care for PALS! (people living with ALS)  May God Bless Each of You, Roger."

 

In the United States there are approximately 50,000 PALS - people living with ALS - and hundreds, if not thousands more living with ALS in other countries.  The quilts we receive give Hope to the Dream of a Cure for ALS and help warm the laps and hearts of PALS, like Roger.  So far more than 2,600 quilts have been gifted to PALS and with your help thousands more will receive the gift of a guilt.  To learn more about donating a quilt to Hopes & Dreams visit our website here.

 

And while you are making that list and checking it twice, consider purchasing a Hopes & Dreams Quilt that will warm the heart of your loved one while helping fund much needed ALS research.

 

 

100% of the purchase of each Hopes & Dreams Quilt on Storenvy goes to fund ALS Research.  Enjoy the changing seasons and know your gift of a quilt is bringing warmth to many people this fall.

 

Your Grateful Hopes & Dreams Coordinator

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Oatmeal and Brown Sugar"

We officially kicked off the 2014 Hopes and Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS this week and it has been a very special week.  When we receive your boxes we truly do get excited to see what treasures are inside.  This week, like many before, has been an extremely touching one. 

 

This is the first quilt that was sent to us for the 2014 Challenge year and it comes from a wife who lost her husband to ALS.  H.J. Martin of Concord, California donated this quilt in memory of her husband Jimmie who passed away in 2002 with ALS.

 

J.H. writes, "I hope and pray for anyone that has ALS and someday a cure for this."  And then we opened the second quilt of the new challenge year...

 

...another wife who lost a husband to ALS.  Irene Norton of Vacaville, California made this quilt in memory and honor of her first husband Richard who passed away in 2000.  Irene writes, "I have made everyone in the family a quilt except him.  So this is his."  We realized this year, the 5th Anniversary of the Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS, is going to be different when we open the third quilt of the 2014 Challenge Year. 

 

 



The package came from Australia and when we opened it we all just took a deep breath.  This time the quilt was made and donated by a daughter who lost her Mom to ALS.   Melissa Tahu reflected on how her mother used to quilt and made she and her siblings quilts - which they continue to use today.  Her mom passed away of ALS on July 1st of this year and Melissa writes, "I feel closest to my Mum when I'm wrapped up in one of her quilts, and I hope that you find the same love and comfort under this quilt, this gift from me to you."

We confess.  These stories have moistened our eyes and tugged our hearts.

And then came "Oatmeal and Brown Sugar."

Trying to describe the overwhelming love that accompanies these quilts is nearly impossible.  The above taupe and brown and ivory quilt was sent to us by Edith Huffman in West Columbia, Texas.  It's best that we let Edith explain this quilt:

"When I joined the local quilt guild I right away noticed a funny lady that always sat in the front row and lit up the room with her participation. Celeste and I soon became friends and then neighbors!

We shared quilting and gardening ideas. I have a thriving shrub out my window, one she suggested. As roommates at quilt retreats, we'd lay awake at night and tell stories about our children and grandchildren. We watched mine being born and hers growing into young adults.

Then she had a "back injury" that lead to foot drop, then the diagnosis of ALS. I remember her coming home from the doctor visit trying to be brave and keeping smiling. "It's time to clean out this house," she said. First the attic, then the closets, labeling and distributing her memories to family members.

She finished quilts then started cleaning out "The Stitchery." She signed books over to me and had me divide fabric between quilting friends. Then she gave me a quilt top. The quilt became 'Oatmeal and Brown Sugar'. Oatmeal, because as her husband said, "She was so conservative with color." The brown sugar, because I will remember her as warm and sweet.

  

Celeste never saw the quilt completed, but she had consented for it to be donated to ALS, from Celeste and her friend Edith.  God Bless, enjoy the quilt, and try to be brave."

American Science Fiction Writer Robert Heinlein wrote, "Love is the condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own."  What boxes of love we have opened and are so blessed to be able to open in the coming weeks and months ahead.

Your Grateful Hopes & Dreams Coordinator

 

Hopes & Dreams at 2013 Houston Quilt Festival

Between last weekends 2013 Houston Quilt Market, where hundreds of fabric companies, batting companies, pattern designers and notion makers come together to introduce their new products to Quilt Shops and professional Longarmers across the country, and this weekends 2013 Houston Quilt Festival that is open to the public to purchase quilting related products, there will be over 50,000 people passing through the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas.

The Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS was gifted with seven booth spaces - 70 feet - of display space to share with everyone the purpose of Hopes & Dreams and the talent and artistry of the many gifted quilters that have so graciously donated their works of art to raise awareness and funds for ALS Research.

 

 

These ladies have the art of hanging a quilt show down to a science.  They are called the "Piece Corps" and painstakingly document the condition of each quilt that is sent to be displayed.

 

To them each quilt is a piece of rare fine art.  They look at the quilt hanging sleeves, the backing...

 

...each label and then open each quilt to observe the quilt top.

Once each quilt is reviewed and documented, they are placed on sheets on the floor prior to hanging the exhibit.

 

Hanging each quilt is just as elaborate because these ladies care.  They know how hard each quilter works on their finished quilt and they take the extra time to make sure that each quilt is handled with love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were unable to stay for the entire setup as we had to catch our flight back to Virginia Beach, Virginia.  If anyone reading this is in Texas and is planning on a visit to Quilt Festival this weekend – we would love it if you could snap a quick picture of the final setup and send back to us at Quilters Dream Batting.

 

 

 

Each quilt on exhibit is for sale.  If you see one here in this blog post that you are interested in purchasing, call us toll-free at (888) 268-8664 and we will be glad to work out details.  100% of the purchase of all Hopes & Dreams Quilts goes to ALS Research.

 

 

Remember when you are shopping for the holidays that a Hopes & Dreams Quilt makes the perfect gift.  We are adding quilts to our Hopes & Dreams Storenvy site and if you purchase a quilt as a gift we will gift wrap the quilt, sign a card from you with a special message inside, and ship to the recipient!   

Have a wonderful weekend and thank you for your time, talents and treasures in warming the lap and life of an ALS patient and for helping us find a cure for ALS – one quilt at a time!

 

Your Grateful Hopes & Dreams Coordinator

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Sew Popular Voting and on the way to Houston!

The voting is underway for the 2013 Hopes & Dreams SEW POPULAR contest.  There are eleven quilts that have been selected for the SEW POPULAR contest.  The winner is the quilt that receives the most votes.  How do you vote?  Click on the photo of the quilt that you like and then post a comment saying that you like the quilt and cast your vote for that quilt.  The voting will end Tuesday evening October 22 and the winner will be announced Wednesday, October 23.  Click on the picture of the quilt below and it will take you to the Hopes & Dreams Facebook page where you can view all eleven quilt photos and cast your vote!

Click on the photo above to be taken directly to the 2013 Hopes & Dreams SEW POPULAR category voting.


This week is a busy one for us at Quilters Dream Batting.  We are finalizing all the plans for the 2013 Houston International Quilt Market.





The Houston Quilt Market is Saturday, October 26 through Monday, October 28.  We would love to meet as many of you as possible during our stay in Houston.  Stop by and visit us at booth 951.

 

 

Packing for the 2013 Houston International Quilt Market & Quilt Festival



Lots of boxes have been packed and are headed to Houston, including this box.  We are thrilled that Quilts, Inc., the event management company that hosts the Houston International Quilt Market, asked Quilter Dream if we would like to showcase the Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS with a seven (7) booth display during the Houston International Quilt Festival, October 31st - November 3rd.  

Quilters Dream Batting owner Kathy Thompson preparing the written descriptions of the Hopes & Dreams Quilts
that will be on display at the 2013 Houston International Quilt Festival October 31 - November 3.

There are a total of nine (9) quilts that will be a part of Houston International Quilt Festival.  We set up the exhibit a week from Tuesday and will make sure you get a front row seat in our next blog post.  We hope you have a terrific week and we look forward to meeting many of you in Houston.

Your grateful Hopes & Dreams Coordinator.

Our 5th Year of Hope

We kicked of the 5th Annual Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS on August 1st and have shaken up the challenge a little bit.  Some categories remained the same and some changed.  The "Sew Lovely," "Sew Generous Individual," and "Sew Popular categories remained the same.  For those that might not be familiar with these categories -

Sew Lovely 

Everyone individual that donates a quilt is entered to win great prizes from our fabulous sponsors, such as fabric, books, patterns, notions, and Quilters Dream Batting totaling $1,000.

Sew Generous Individual 

The individual who donates the most quilts during the challenge year (August 1, 2013 - July 31, 2014) will also win a $1,000 worth of wonderful prizes from our sponsors, as well as Quilters Dream Batting

Sew Popular 

The top 10 to 15 quilts submitted in the challenge year are posted on Facebook and voted on by our friends.  The individual submitting the quilt that receives the most votes will likewise enjoy $1,000 worth of great prizes and batting.

The four categories we are shaking up a bit are "Sew Generous Quilt Guild," "Sew Generous Professional," "Sew Generous Quilt Shop," and "Sew Creative."

Sew Generous Quilt Guild

The Quilt Guild that donates the most quilts in the challenge year will receive $500 worth of Quilters Dream Batting and other great items from our wonderful sponsors totaling $1,000.

Sew Generous Professional

The Professional Quilter, Longarm Quilter and/or Quilt Teacher donating the most quilts will win $500 worth of Quilters Dream Batting and other great items from our wonderful sponsors totaling $1,000.

Sew Generous Quilt Shop

Quilt Shops donating 20 quilts are entered into a drawing to receive $1,000 in Quilters Dream Batting. Quilt Shops will earn one additional bonus entry for each quilt donated over 20.

The category that has changed significantly is "Sew Creative."  Many of you have expressed an interest in participating in the Hopes & Dreams Challenge and you sew, but don't make large quilts.  This category is for you.

Sew Creative

Fabric postcards, handbags and accessories, miniature quilts, mug rugs, paintings, placemats, tablerunners, table toppers, wall quilts, watercolors and more.  These items will be sold to raise funds for ALS Research.  All donations will be entered into a drawing to win a $250 gift card.

We still need quilts and that is our priority - to warm the life, heart and lap of an ALS patient.  However, many people want to help in a way that allows them to use their creative talents and this category welcomes your participation knowing 100% of any profits from the sale of your donations goes to ALS Research.



Josh and Joy Thompson

 



As most of you know, the Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS was created to raise awareness about ALS and research funds for ALS research shortly after Josh Thompson was diagnosed with this devastating disease.  Josh's lovely wife Joy is often asked about how she feels to see so many people participating in the JT Walk and Hopes & Dreams.  We leave you with her words of love and thanks to each of you.

          First and foremost I want to thank each and everyone of you for your love, kindness and      generosity.  Our story, mine and Josh, began about 11 years ago. I was leaving a store and someone had opened the door for me. I looked up to say "thanks" and  gazed into the most beautiful smile I had ever seen. If the world could have stopped turning (cue in the music and birds encompassing us in a whirlwind of love) it would  have been in that exact moment.  At least for me.

A few months later we met at one of our favorite restaurants for drinks and appetizers.  Josh wasn't completely sure if he had the right girl in mind so he had a good friend come along, just in case.  Needless to say, I AM the right girl and three years later we had a fairytale wedding surrounded by our loving family and friends.

But our fairytale wasn't written like the traditional story. Less than a year into our marriage, and one month prior to our first son Wyatt's birth, we were given the most horrific and hopeless news imaginable. Josh has ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease. We were all so devastated. I was in a state of shock and denial.  "No, no way....that is not our story.....they don't write fairy tales like that!"

Since that day in March 2007 I have learned that we have to write our own story.  One few have to write. But now a story influenced more by fact than fiction.

Our love story is based on the most recognizable book ever written.  We have learned that LOVE never fails; LOVE never dies; that HOPE, COURAGE, PATIENCE,  FORGIVENESS,  and FORTITUDE are the best lessons in life.

To have a belief that everything is the way it is for a reason....a higher purpose.  And that has led us to you.....our family, our friends, your family and your friends. This wonderful collaboration  of love, friendship, hope and generosity! We thank each and everyone one of you. 

THANK YOU!!!

Thank you for becoming part of our story. It would not be complete without you.  Without the support from OUR FAMILY and FRIENDS.

God Bless!

Much love,
Joy Thompson

A Brother's Love

Many of you know that the Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS was born out of the love of a mother who knew that the only way another mother would never face the devastation of ALS - Lou Gehrig's Disease would be to find a cure for this 100-year old disease.  While Kathy Thompson and her staff at Quilters Dream Batting were creating the Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS to honor her oldest son Josh, her youngest son Chris was also determined to raise awareness about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Chris and Kathy Thompson
 

Chris and Josh Thompson are very close.  When Chris learned of his brother's diagnosis he worked with his friends to create what has turned out to be one of, if not the, largest walks for ALS in the country.  It's called the JT Walk and this Sunday, October 6, thousands of people will gather on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk to raise funds for ALS Research and provide services to ALS patients.

In the last 5 years over 30,000 people have walked to stomp out ALS.

Team Leaders recruit new members and ask friends and family to sponsor their walk on the Virginia Beach boardwalk.  Chris and Kathy have a team if you would like to make a donation.

Speaking of donations, August 1 marked the official beginning of the 5th Annual Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS and your boxes of quilts have started to arrive.  We're shaking things up this year and have new prizes for some favorite categories and have changed one category completely.  We will visit all the categories in the coming weeks. Here's a look at the new Entry Form cover.

 

While people all over the Hampton Roads/Tidewater Virginia area embrace Chris and his older brother Josh this weekend, you have equally embraced their mom Kathy these last four years.  As a result, you have provided renewed strength to Kathy who continues to fight for a cure.

 



 

Wishing you a peaceful and safe weekend!

 

 

Your Thankful Hopes & Dreams Coordinator



 

 





"Remarkable Craftsmanship"

 

The words jumped off the email and made us smile.  The note was from Chris Clouse of Tiffin, Ohio. 

 

"I WON your quilt from the South/Central Ohio ALS Association through which our daughter attends support group meetings."

 

Wind Rose Quilt Guild

"The beauty and craftsmanship is remarkable and the colors perfectly match our newly painted bedroom.  It has a special warmth that only a PAL (person with ALS) would understand.  I feel so fortunate to have received it and wanted to let you know how much your generosity is appreciated."

The quilt was from a member of the Wind Rose Quilt Guild in New York.  We are not sure which quilt she received, but the quilt pictured above is one of the 32 quilts the guild sent in to Hopes & Dreams.  The South/Central Ohio ALS Association Chapter helps all their PALS believe they are winners when they gift them with a quilt.

As does the  ALS Association DC/MD/VA Chapter.

ALS Association DC/MD/VA Chapter Care Services Coordinator Jennifer Mundy (kneeling)
with PAL Anna and her Hopes & Dreams quilt.

Jennifer Mundy, Care Services Coordinator of the DC/MD/VA Chapter, wanted to share several pictures of PALS with their Hopes & Dreams quilts. 

Barbara and Kirby of Southwestern, Virginia

"Words really can't express how meaningful your work is or what an honor it is for me to be able to distribute the quilts on your behalf," writes Jennifer.  "I get to see first hand the joy, love, and comfort each one brings to the PALS receiving them."

 

Linda and her Hopes & Dreams Quilt.

 

 

"Your act of compassion means so much and I, along with the PALS that I serve thank you for your work!" adds Jennifer.

Each quilt brings joy and comfort.  This was expressed so clearly in a recent note from Joan Deye of Maryland -

"I would like to tell you about one of the many quilts your group has sent to the ALS Association. I facilitate the caregiver support group in Montgomery County, Maryland. A young woman attends regularly, who is the daughter of a PALS (person with ALS). Her mother lives in St. Louis, so she tries to visit every three weeks. Needless to say this has been very hard on them both, given the fact that she has no siblings. Those of us in this group feel like we know her mother because of what we hear and she seems like a wonderful, loving mother. Because I started to feel so deeply about this person, that I had not met, I asked her daughter to take one of the (Hopes & Dreams) quilts to her. This lady just loved it and had it over her all day in her wheel chair.

Several months ago St. Louis was struck with those bad tornadoes. Mrs. L could not get to the basement for safety so she and her husband huddled in the bathroom. They no sooner got in there when she asked her husband to go back out and get her quilt. She told him she knew she would be safe with that covering her.

I think this just shows the far reaching impact your project has. It is like wrapping your arms around someone. Thanks for what you and your group are doing and continue to know that your work is not forgotten."

As we begin the 5th Annual Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS may these words bring a smile to your heart knowing you are making a big difference - one quilt at a time.

Hopes & Dreams Coordinator