And here we are, 52 weeks . . . one year . . . after we started. What a year it has been and what a week it’s been. Without any planning or cajoling on my part, our week 52, my friends, turns out to be the grandmother of all weeks. That’s the way the entire project has gone since I first mashed the “publish” button on 2/14/2016 – an amazing series of astonishments. I’m still feeling behind (only because I am behind!), and we just roll along, keeping The 70273 Project free of stress and angst. Let’s tune into my journal and see what happened in week 52 of The 70273 Project . . .

One morning I walked and breakfasted with Peggy Thomas, who delivered blocks made by her sisters and herself.

Front row, L to R: Robyn Donaldson and moi. Back row, L to R: Lori Banks and Carol Lunsford

On 2/7, I gave a presentation about The 70273 Project to the Mu Chapter ofKappa Kappa Lambda State Kappa Kappa Iota in Fayetteville, GA. They were such a delightful group, and the members, along with one of the young guests, asked such thoughtful and pertinent questions, I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

On 2/8, after weeks of needlessly frustrating dealings with doctors’ office staffs, we finally got The Engineer in to let an orthopedic specialist in North Carolina have a look at his finger. Yep, it’s broken. Nope, there’s really nothing they can do.

Theresa and Paddington of itv do some stitching, too

On 2/10, Gisele Therezien was interviewed on itv about The 70273 Project, and the show hosts, Theresa and Paddington, even stitched up a block to commemorate.

Stitching up blocks in the Channel Islands, UK

On 2/11, there was another successful, well-attended stitch-in at St Peter’s Parish Hall in Jersey, Channel Islands UK organised by Kim Monins and Gisele Therezien . People of all ages came by to commemorate.

Carrie Cooper did an excellent interview on BBC Radio with Gisele about the project.  (Note: Once you’ve opened the link, slide on over to about 1:11:07 for to hear the interview.)

Les Amis and their blocks!

Kim Monins paid several visits to Les Amis in Saint Saviour, Jersey and enjoyed making blocks with her new friends. The motto of Les Amis is “Disability does not mean inability.” You know I love that, and I’m sure hoping that Kim will take me to visit Les Amis one day.

On our way out of town to catch a flight to spend time with Calder Ray, we stopped by the post office to mail these bundles::
Quilt 56 to Jackie Batman
Quilt  57 to Margaret Williams
Quilt 58 Margaret Williams
Quilt 59 Margaret Williams
Quilt 60: Margaret Williams
Quilt 61:Denniele Bohannen and Becky Collis
Quilt 62: Kellye Rose
Quilt 63: Kellye Rose
Quilt 64: Kellye Rose
Quilt 65: Kellye Rose
Quilt 66: Margaret Andrews
Quilt 67: Margaret Andrews
Quilt 68: Margaret Andrews
Quilt 69: Angie Abella
Quilt 70: Kris Phillips
More bundles and/or pieced tops will soon be winging their way to Kris Phillips, Kellye Rose, Sandy Martin, Debra Steinmann, and Georgeanne Hawley. And just so you know, there are more bundles where those came from, so if you’re willing to Piece and/or Quilt, please let me know and I’ll hook you right up.

I received word from Brenda Wartalski that Quilt #54 is nearing completion, so I’ll soon be sharing photos and info about that.

When I met Margaret Williams for lunch, she hand delivered the most captivating Middlings:

Quilt 47, Middling 1: 119 pairs of red X’s. Made by Margaret Williams. 17.75” x 21.5” (45.09 cm x 54.6 cm)

Quilt 48, Middling 2: 109 pairs of red X’s. Made by Margaret Williams.        22”  x 18” (56 cm x 46 cm)

Quilt 49, Middling 3: 83 pairs of red X’s. Made by Margaret Williams.          21” x 17” (53 cm x 43 cm)

Quilt 50, Middling 4: 59 pairs of red X’s. Made by Margaret Williams.       21.5” x 17.75” (65 cm x 45 cm)

Quilt 51, Middling 5: 74 pairs of red X’s. Made by Margaret Williams.           21” x 17.75” (53 cm x 45 cm)

Quilt 52, Middling 6: 110 pairs of red X’s. Made by Margaret Williams.        21” x 17” (53 cm x 43 cm)

And remember: for the Middlings, each pair of red X’s (as long as they’re presented as distinct pairs) counts as a block, these pairs will be added into this week’s block count.

 

Peggy Thomas (GA/USA)
Pat McGregor (MN/USA)
Linda Moore (TX/USA)
Laurie Nash Johnson (GA/USA)
Tonia Ronas Uram (NE/USA)
Barbara Wise (VA/USA)
Carol Soliday (IL/USS)
Diane Dresdner (VA/USA)
Brigitte Gudaer (Belgium)
Nyriam Nexnier (Belgium)
Marianne McCurrach (Belgkum)
Anne Visartoa Bocarne (Belgium)
Martens (Belgium)
Suzanne Baeken (Belgium)
Cooreman Francoise (Belgium)
Dominique Collet (Belgium)
Marie-Louise Hanique=Huylebroeck (Belgium)
Singlele Majo (Belgium)
Scailquin Sylviane (Belgium)
Debongnie harie-France (Belgium)
Quilt 47, Middling 1
Quilt 48, Middling 2
Quilt 49, Middling 3
Quilt 50, Middling 4
Quilt 51, Middling 5
Quilt 52, Middling 6
which brings out official block count to – are you ready for this –8431! Yes,  really. We’ve commemorated eight thousand four hundred and thirty-one people.

Thank y’all from the epicenter of my swelling heart for joining my Big, Fat, Crazy Idea called The 70273 Project, for embracing it with such tenderness and such tenacity. Thank you for being willing to use your needles to pierce the veil allowing consciousness and awareness. I am so very, very honored to stand seam to seam with y’all.