"First Green" headed to AAQI

“First Green” by Susan Brubaker Knapp

Last night, I finished “First Green,” a quilt I made to raise money for Alzheimer’s research through Ami Simms’  Alzheimer Art Quilt Initiative. The AAQI has raised more than $773,000 since January 2006. I have purchased AAQI quilts, but this one is the first that I have made to donate. It measures 23.5" x 41". I made this piece to honor the many people I know who are suffering from the ravages of dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.

The name is based on Robert Frost’s poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay,” which speaks eloquently to the impermanence of youth, and the eventual decline of life:

Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf,
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day
Nothing gold can stay. 

The piece is made of batik and hand-dyed fabric. I pieced the leaves, then hand appliqued them to the blue base fabric before heavily quilting it. I hope it raises lots of money. I’ll let you know when it goes up for auction.

There will be more than 2,100 Priority: Alzheimer’s Quilts for sale at International Quilt Festival in Houston, TX Oct. 31-Nov. 4. These small-format art quilts (9"x12") have been donated by thousands of quilters, and all profits fund research. You can see the quilts here. Or if you are coming to IQF, march over to the front of Row S to see them yourself! 

Have some time to spare while you are there? Sign up to volunteer for a 2-3 hour time slot (and get free admission on the days you volunteer) or join the AAQI Text Brigade and help “as needed.” Learn more and sign up here. Come see me in the AAQI booth; I’ll be there Thursday, Nov. 1 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

 Win this quilt!

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One lucky newsletter subscriber will win this beautiful little quilt
made by Martha Wolfersberger.
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