Stitching for Eleni

I finished my English Paper Pieced flowers for the Flowers for Eleni project (Jodi has a great EPP tutorial for these hexagon flowers at that link). 

This was a fun and uplifting way to learn a new quilty skill. I had never made any EPP before, let alone appliqued anything. I think I will be doing it again soon. :) 

Some quick background on the Flowers for Eleni project: 

In short, there are quilters from all over the world making and sending these little handstitched hexie flowers to Australia, in hopes of comforting a new mother with baby Eleni - who was born with Cerebral Palsy a couple weeks ago. You can read more about Eleni's story at Rachel's blog: Stitched in Color. 

I know what you may be thinking...why worry about this person I don't know, who is more than halfway around the world? Especially when I work in a children's hospital, caring for many families in similar situations here in Utah...? 

But...this felt different. 

Rachel is such an amazing person. I don't know her, and she doesn't know me. We will likely never meet. But I am part of a charitable quilting organization that she dreamed up and put together - do. Good Stitches. There are hundreds of quilters who are or have been a part of DGS over the years, coming together to make and donate quilts to different organizations all over the world. 

Something that means a lot to me.

Quilting has helped give me a purpose. A way to find focus, direction, and distraction through my own heartaches over the past couple of years. It is my therapy. And being able to turn that therapy into something good for someone else is helping heal my broken heart. Stitch by stitch. 

How could I not try to give back, offer some sense of comfort and gratitude to the woman who is helping to heal me? 

I wish Rachel and Eleni all the best in the coming days and years. And look forward to getting to know them from a distance, through this crazy online community that is social media.