Behind the Seams of a Work of Heart

This post is probably the first post where we are actually taking you behind some scenes like the title of the blog implies. It is hard to know where to begin when the post subject dates back 15 years. It all began at the beginning of B4SMA, in fact, some of it may have come before the official start. Gma Jlo saved "scraps" of fabric used in making blankets that were quilted. At the time, we weren't sure what the purpose of saving each piece would turn out to be, but none the less, the ritual continued up until the end of 2018. Each and every blanket made with flannel, by volunteers Gma Jlo, UNI B, DynamiTe, and Gram Losstitch, is represented as they saved their scraps also. For the better part of the last 15 years, those scraps have simply piled up at Gma Jlo's house waiting to find their purpose. 

At the beginning of 2019, Gma Jlo got tired of having all these pieces, some little and some bigger, just sitting in her closet. Whether or not she will ever admit this, she is kind of a genius. She decided to take all of the scraps of flannel and turn them into a memory quilt, of sorts, for us. Each and every piece has a memory and a child (teenager, young adult) attached to it. From a blanket made back in 2006 featuring zoo animals to one made with flowers on it last month; each flannel blanket is represented equally. It will take us weeks, if not months, to look at and discover each and every strip incorporated in this stunning work of art...work of "heart". The quilt will be a treasured memento for the rest of our lives. Thank you, Gma Jlo, for having the forethought and, yes, genius idea of saving little scraps of fabric so that someday, today and any day in the future, we can fondly look back and play "I Spy"/"Eye Spy" with each piece of material used to create this masterpiece. 

Here, in all its glory, is the quilt featuring the flannel used in blankets in the 15 years of B4SMA flannel blanket making history.

The Flannel Work of Heart
(with the back of the quilt visible in the upper right corner)

The Work of Heart

Smile 4 Me Saturday - Applause

 This is Stella. She received a blanket from B4SMA in May 2019 that was made by one of our long-time volunteers, Ms. Merrymaking (nickname for B4SMA and privacy). Ms. Merrymaking had Polio as a child and now lives with the effects of Post Polio, making each blanket she creates a true labor of love. Now back to Stella ...

When Stella's mom sent the photos of Stella with her blanket she included an extra special gift. We love all of the photos we receive (since that is all we ask for as "payment" when we send a blanket) of the kiddos snuggled up and feeling the blanket hugs. It is rare that we receive anything else so this brightened our day significantly. We hope that it brings a smile to your face too!

Click on the triangle below to Play the Video 

B4SMA's 15th Anniversary

Fifteen (15) years of B4SMA - Blankets for Spinal Muscular Atrophy kids. 15 years of blanket hugs. More than 2000 blankets sent. Countless yards of fabric, hundreds of thousands of spools of thread, hundreds of skeins of yarn, thousands of stuffed animals and little toys, hundreds of thousands of knots tied in fleece blankets, hours that add up to months that add up to years behind a sewing machine, still more hours of hand stitching loving stitched into every blanket ever sent attaching a B4SMA label and innumerable volunteer hours

poured out of the fingers of individuals from around the world. We would be nothing without our volunteers and they deserve all the credit for us reaching this milestone.15 years have come and gone and we're still here. We have so many people and groups who have volunteered over the years that it would be impossible to thank them all but a huge thank you nonetheless if you have ever supported B4SMA in any way shape or form. We have to, however, take a few lines to thank four of primary volunteers* for they are the behind the scenes, the backbone of everything that B4SMA. Gma Jlo, Aunt Jo'Quami, UNI B, DynamiTe, Poik Puller, BetsOn Point and our permanent guardian angel, Gram Losstitch (for their safety we're using invented nicknames). One day, someday, in the not too distant future, we will have fulfilled our mission of giving until a cure is found and we are no longer needed. Until then we will keep the warm fuzzies and signature blanket hugs coming.

*Volunteer profiles to come in the future. For now, know that all of the volunteers are family members of the vice president and president and dedicated to the kids of B4SMA more than anything else. 

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