Quilt #20: TU Uncorked

It’s officially GAME WEEK – Hallelujah and #ReignCane!

No doubt, as 2020 has proven time and again, that can change in a moment’s notice, so I’m starting game week festivities first thing Monday morning, and I’m kicking off Week 1 with a quilt, of course…

I made Quilt #20 in June of 2018. It’s one of my “Storytelling Tees” that uses t-shirts with traditional quilt blocks to create a gorgeous and colorful stadium blanket. The fabrics are random scraps in the University of Tulsa‘s three official colors: old gold, royal blue, and crimson red. The block pattern I chose is the Log Cabin (my absolute favorite!) with red and gold logs stacking from a blue center.

The borders are a vintage football pattern that I had left over from Quilt #2 made in 2009 – you just never know what fabric you’ll find the perfect place to use again, so it’s my philosophy to buy extra and throw nothing away. Ever.

A blue and gray plaid flannel was perfect for the backing as it’s super soft, very durable for hauling to ballgames, and it washes up wonderfully.

The story this quilt tells is of school spirit, always loyal, always true. Every t-shirt I incorporated is TU blue, and they were donated for the project by the Alumni Association.

The project itself was then donated back to the Alumni Association for their annual fundraising event, “Uncorked.”

Coach and I had the honor of serving as honorary event chairs that summer, and while the planning committee didn’t really need us (they have that event down to a well-oiled machine!), I was thrilled to provide a special and unique item for their live auction.

I was dumbfounded and completely overwhelmed when the quilt raised $3,250 for scholarships and student services. WHAT??

I couldn’t attend that night, and when Coach called from the event so I could speak with the winning bidder, he had to repeat himself several times before I could comprehend what he was telling me.

THREE THOUSAND, TWO HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS

I was absolutely blown away.

As the quilt creator, I can tell you that quilt is not worth $3,250 – that value comes solely at the generous, giving, loving heart of the bidder. But seeing that people were interested in my quilt, that they’d had a lot of fun bidding back and forth to raise the price so high, planted a thought in the back of my mind: maybe, just maybe I could use this quilting hobby for good.

That thought rattled around in my head, keeping me awake at times and haunting my dreams at others. It was really just a whisper, but one that would not go away. Six months later, I figured it out and the concept of Quilt 2 End ALZ, Inc. was born.

Now Q2EA is almost two years old, I spend a ton of time learning how to run a small business, I’m sewing and quilting every spare second I find, and I’m anxiously awaiting game time this Saturday to kickoff our 6th season here at TU.

Time truly flies. What better way to celebrate the most important moments than a quilt?

Please know that I’m also cheering for you – during these challenging times and always!

With love and hugs,

Ashli