In the Beginning

Work on this Project began three years ago on this day, but the reason for it began sixty-four years ago...for it was on this day in 1952 that my late husband, Howard, was born.  His diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes, sometime seven years later, changed his life, his family's life, and the life of all who would come to know and love him in the future.

The MOB Project was a way I was able to work through some of the impact of his life -- and his illness and death -- on my own life, but that impact is not erased by the Project's creation.  I still witness that impact in my own life, and in the lives of my children, and I have no doubt it will be felt for generations to come.

There is more than one way to leave a legacy, and T1D's mark on the 'bodies' it touches is part of that.

The debut exhibit at the Lacombe Memorial Centre was taken down November 16, but the work goes on.  Two MOB II squares have arrived in the days since, and will eventually be finished so they can hang with the rest.  There are more squares "out there" which I hope will find their way to me in the coming months...And there are a couple of opportunities for showing the work in the new year that I hope to pursue.

The book that accompanies the Project remains for sale online at Blurb.com, and there's a few dozen copies sitting in a box in my back room for anyone who'd like to purchase one directly from the author.  Signed, of course! ;-)  There are a few more dollars from book sales to send to JDRF and CDA later this week.  In all, just over $425 CAD has been raised, divided between the two organizations: one for research (JDRF) and one for education (CDA).

Posts from here on in will be few and far between, but I've decided to keep this blog going for the foreseeable future, posting any news as it comes along.

Thank you, Gentle Readers, for your love, support and encouragement over the past three years.  You have no idea how important you've been, enabling me to see this Project through.  Together I'm sure we've played our part in the important work being done to understand, treat, prevent and cure T1D...and, perhaps, to have an impact on Type 2 as well.  Bless you all!

This Project is dedicated
to the memory
of
Howard Martin Blank
November 29, 1952 - August 9, 2006
Always in my heart.

October 29-2016: More from the Opening Reception

Thanks to my daughter, Gina, who took a few photos using my camera, here are a few more shots from the MOB Opening Reception:

Stump Sock Line-up

Signing more books

Meeting the Press

There was a surreal moment at The Shop on Thursday morning when I heard the story on "Sunny 94" out of Lacombe at 9:00 a.m...and a lovely time when a woman on a scooter (she has trouble walking) came in later that day asking for 'stretchy yarn' to make a pair of stump socks for her friend...having seen the exhibit, which gave her the idea...

The response has been fantastic...and I was so gratified to be able to send these to JDRF Canada and the Canadian Diabetes Association yesterday...

I've just checked Blurb.com, only to find a few more books have sold...so soon there will be more funds to send them.

And...another MOB II square arrived yesterday, soon to be added to the others!

I am so very thankful to everyone who has made this such a success, and I hope there'll be more to report before the exhibit comes down in mid-November.

Tuesday is All Saints Day...I know I've met several in the past three years, as this work has come to fruition.  God bless you, each and every one!

The Day After

It was a wonderful evening, with over two dozen people in attendance -- friends, acquaintances, colleagues, family, and strangers alike.  I gave a couple of interviews and signed over twenty books.  To date $360 has been raised to be divided equally between JDRF Canada and the Canadian Diabetes Association.

My beautiful daughter took these shots to share...

Giving my Artist's Talk

Book signing

I am so thankful for all who came out to support this project!  I met a man who'd had T1D over 60 years (!) and a young woman who'd had it over 30.  She was accompanied by her twelve-year-old daughter, who took a kit to stitch a square.  The woman showed me her insulin pump which, she reported, "Everyone thinks is a pager."  Just part of the hidden nature of this disease...

I also gave a couple of interviews -- one press and one radio -- so we'll see what comes of those.  One of the members of the audience came simply because she'd read about it in the paper that afternoon, and has diabetes in her family.  She affirmed the need for more education about T1D and the differences between it and the more prevalent Type 2.

All of this is so gratifying -- to see the project doing what I hoped it would do: get people thinking, develop awareness, and raise funds for research and education.  Thank you everyone!!

Today

Carrie Newcomer

With her words in my ears,

a prayer in my heart, 

and my daughter in the audience...

I will be calm

I will quietly present my work

I will speak out

for those impacted 

by 

Type 1 Diabetes

as I  remember this man

Howard M. Blank
November 29, 1952 - August 9, 2006

and the work of these men

Dr. Charles Best
and
Dr. Frederick Banting
Co-discoverers of Insulin

I will be thankful for this opportunity.

It won't be easy, I know,

but I'll believe that it's so, 

and

 I'll do this hard thing.

7 p.m., Lacombe Memorial Centre
5214 - 50 Avenue, Lacombe, Alberta

Mark on the Body:
Honouring Those
Who Live with Type 1 Diabetes

October 19-2016: It's UP!

We hung the installation in the Gallery upstairs at the Lacombe Memorial Centre this morning.  Thanks so much to Maureen and Shirley from the City of Lacombe Art Committee for their hard work to achieve a beautiful display!

View from the Foyer

Front View

Side View

The Overwhelmed Artist

October 10 - Preparing for an Installation III

Ten days.  That's all that remain until Mark on the Body is hung in the second floor open gallery space at the Lacombe Memorial Centre.

Ten days.  I can hardly believe it.

And yes, it's ready to go.

The MOB III stump socks have been stuffed.

The MOB II squares -- 27 and counting -- have been assembled into a mobile. (Below is a sample; we're going to spread them out a bit at the actual exhibit so they'll be more visible.)

MOB II: Making My Mark

And MOB I is now complete.  Here it's hanging in the only spot available in my house to show it in its entirety -- over my bed:

That's definitely a better view than I gave you in my last post, eh?

Posters have been sent to and put up by various friends and neighbours -- in the local post office, churches, store fronts, pharmacies, libraries, quilt shops and doctors' offices.  Postcard invitations have been sent to "my" galleries, friends, family members, JDRF and CDA offices and at least two researchers at the University of Alberta, where some of the finest research into the origin, treatment and cure of T1D is happening.

My speech for the Opening Reception has been written. (I'm used to public speaking but need prayers I won't collapse over that one, okay?)

Meet the Press...

Publicity is beginning, too.

There's been at least one radio 'spot', and the newsprint is starting.  First up was the publication of the poster image in The Chautauqua, a locally-produced newspaper that serves all the mall communities in these parts.  A free publication, it's paid for by advertisers and donors...and has a fairly wide reach.

From The Chatauqua Oct. 7-2016 edition

And now there's been an online tribute...from a friend who lives so far from here that she won't be at the debut...my Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) and long-time cyber-friend, Linda Miller.  To read her beautiful post about this project, please click HERE...and then read her other posts and take in her fine artwork. You won't be disappointed.

Thank you, Linda.  Thank you, all my SAQA friends and colleagues who've contributed your time, your stitching, your encouragement and your dollars.  Thank you Lori, and Anna, and Gwendy, and Andrea, and Shawna and Shirley at The Shop.  Thank you Terry and Laura at the libraries.  Thank you Karla at the Post Office.  Thank you Caroline at Homespun Seasons and that other gal, the one who owns Wildflower Creations.  Thank you Deb and Denise and Andrea and Gracie at "my" galleries.  Thank you Lee at St. Cyprian's, Lacombe.  Thank you, Beth at The Chautauqua.  Thank you to all who've bought books online because you can't get here to see the exhibit in person.

There are many more people I could, should, and will thank -- but you're all in the book's Acknowledgments...

See you at the Opening, eh?

September 29, 2016 - Preparing for an Installation II

Mainly visuals this post...as it is coming together...

The books arrived last week and have begun to be distributed -- first to two of the area libraries (Mirror and Bashaw)...and in the next few days to two more (Alix and Stettler).  Nine have been sold online and another by mail order directly from me.  And one has been 'drilled' so that it can be attached to the podium for the duration of the installation.



Meanwhile in the 'sewdio'... MOB I is finished.  Here it is on my design wall.  Trust me, it'll look better hanging from the ceiling and viewed on both sides!  :-)

MOB I on the design wall

And here is a close-up of the "syringe fringe" -- twenty insulin syringes donated by a friend who now uses an 'insulin pen' instead -- trimmed of their needles, and secured inside the hem through grommets to the outside.  

The "syringe fringe" close up

Yesterday, the labels for the twenty-eight MOB II squares received thus far were turned into tiny quilt 'sandwiches', in preparation for being suspended on twill tape so they can hang on a mobile:

"Sandwich" in the making

Stacks of MOB II squares.

Press releases have begun in the form of radio 'spots' (public service announcements) and soon (I hope) in print, as Maureen, my contact at the City of Lacombe, has been working hard to put these out.  The best news thus far?  Lucibelle Tan, the Fund-raising Coordinator for JDRF's Calgary Office, is including information about the Opening in their October newsletter.

Onward and upward!