Saturday, October 27, 2012

AAQI Celebrity Auction is ON!

 
"Joy Remembered"
 
The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative Celebrity Quilt Auction is now online!  I am proud to be part of this extremely talented group of famous quilters who have made special quilts expressly for this online auction to benefit AAQI and their amazing, and I mean AMAZING, work to help find a cure for this horrendous disease.    
 
Please do not hesitate to bid on any of the beautiful pieces, knowing you will be getting something wonderful and your dollars will be doing so much for this cause.  Click HERE to go to the auction page, it's easy, and you can browse the quilts and think about it for awhile yet.
 
For a YouTube video, click HERE.
 
 
Here is a detail shot of the approximately 19" square quilt, with a penny.  I used Gradations Benartex fabric in the center by Caryl Bryer Fallert and that's why there are variations of beautiful autumnal color.  This is a rich piece, saturated, glowing.  I hated to see it go, but I know it will go to a great home and will earn some money for a cause so close to my heart.
 
The border is gold silk dupioni.  I used Pellon Legacy Wool batt, YLI silk threads for the quilting, and a touch of YLI Sparkle (silk and metallic) to outline the central design.  The design is one I used many years ago called "Joy," and it was reduced in size for this small quilt. 
 
Artist's Statement:  The remembering joy, happiness, even the little things in life is slowly lost for those with Alzheimer’s.  I chose to fill the entire quilt’s space with an abundance of flowing designs, adding one small bird singing just for the joy of it.  It reminds all of us to embrace each moment, look for joy in life, and help work to find a cure for those who no longer can remember joy.

 This was the last quilt I made before being injured while rescuing Oliver from a dire situation.  I still am unable to quilt for more than a few minutes, but I am optimistic I will regain full use of my hands as healing takes place. 
 
I want to thank everyone for their wonderful messages and comments and emails; it has made all the difference to me.  I am doing well, Oliver is doing well, we are almost back to our old selves. 
 
I am so very disappointed that I was unable to teach my fall classes.  I know many of you planned a year in advance and I do hope to reschedule the NQM class in Paducah if they can find a time that will work.  A huge thank you to Joanie Poole who subbed wonderfully for me at Des Moines on extremely short notice.  
 
Life goes on, we are OK, I hope to get back to blogging and giving you information about quilting very soon.  Again, my heart is filled with your caring messages, cards, and gifts,  and I believe that the power of all of your thoughts and prayers helped carry both of us through this successfully.  Thank you, thank you.  You are all special to me.
 
Hugs  and love from Diane and Oliver
 
 
 
 
 

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

So glad to see you post!! Have been wondering about how things have been for you and Oliver! It is so hard not to be able to do that which is our passion......soon....blessings, Doreen

Louise said...

Hello Diane
What a beautiful quilt - and for such a great cause too.
I am so pleased to see your post because I was worried about how you were getting along - it is good to know that you and Oliver are on the road to recovery.
You have also been on my mind because I have practicing drawing and stitching feathers in every spare minute I have - I am even dreaming feathers!
Lots of love Louiseo

Diane Gaudynski said...

Thanks so much, we are doing so much better. Today Oliver is his old perky self and I am so much better too, getting out and about again.

I had posted all the details about our mishap but decided way too much information, just know we had a very bad experience and are doing great. I have to quilt some small samples for an article over the weekend and my fingers are sort of crossed hoping it goes ok.
Diane