Blisstree » alzheimers+quilt

Check out the Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative

Mary Emma Allen — Fri, 04 May 2007 01:01:03 +0000

Ami Simms has organized the Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiativeto raise awareness of this

disease and to fund research. Periodically there’s an auction of the quilts submitted. The current auction goes until May 10.

My daughter browsed the site recently and called my attention to what’s occurring. We saw some really fabulous quilt art displayed.

Also, the quiltmakers included a short write-up about the quilt and the person(usually someone with Alzheimer’s) who inspired it. These are very touching and bring back memories of my mom who loved quilts and encouraged me in my quiltmaking.

Then as I visited Chloe’s Tangled Thread blog, I discovered we’re thinking along similar lines. She visited the Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative, too, and wrote a post, Quilting for Alzheimer’s.

Post from: Blisstree

Check out the Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative

Design a “Touch Quilt” for Alzheimer’s Patients

Mary Emma Allen — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 01:39:12 +0000

The Touch Quilt, at the Alzheimer’s Store (http://alzstore.com/ ) gave me ideas for quilts we can design for family members or friends stricken with this disease. If we don’t have time to make the quilt, we can always purchase one and then create more as needed.

However, they appear very easy to design and make with 13 x 15-inch blocks of different colors and textures. For instance you could use a variety -flannel, corduroy, nubby fabric and others – to create a quilt that appeals to the Alzheimer’s patient’s tactile sense. Using different colors and designs also will give the quilt appeal. You can vary the size blocks, although if they’re too small, the patient might have difficult differentiating.

When I saw this quilt/blanket pictured and described at the Alzheimer’s Store, I remembered my aunt. She would sit in her chair rubbing and squeezing her skirt, sweater, a blanket or a towel. In those early days of caregiving, I didn’t realize she might be getting comfort from the various textures.

This can be a very simple quilt blanket of lap size and doesn’t need to be lined. You can make it rather quickly to give as a gift. Sometimes quilters provide lap blankets and quilts for nursing homes, giving the residents pleasure and warmth.

(To find the Touch Quilt on the Alzheimer’s Store, scroll down the “product selector.”)

Post from: Blisstree

Design a “Touch Quilt” for Alzheimer’s Patients

A Memory Quilt to Educate About Alzheimer’s

Mary Emma Allen — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 15:45:27 +0000

To develop more awareness of Alzheimer’s and spread knowledge about this disease, quilters in Blount County, Tennessee are designing a memory quilt which will hand in the Blount county Museum. The Blount County Outreach Council, under the direction of Trula Jones, whose mother has Alzheimer’s, developed a plan to increase community awareness and help fight this disease.

The colors in this Alzheimer’s awareness quilt – black, green, gold and red – are associated with African-American tradition.

For more information about this memory quilt, visit The Daily Times ( www.thedailytimes.com ). Click on “health times” and scroll down to the story for 8/26. Also you may find information at The Alzheimer’s Daily News (www.alznews.org ) for Sept. 1.

Post from: Blisstree

A Memory Quilt to Educate About Alzheimer’s