Quiltsy Cares Christine Vinh of StitchesnQuilts

Today's Quiltsy Cares team member in the spotlight is Christine Vinh of StitchesnQuilts. Christine donated a lap quilt to Shawl Ministry at the Cancer Institute of MedStar Washington Hospital Center at  www.medstarwashington.org.

When asked why is this charity special to her, her answer was "I have partnered with the Cancer Institute first on a quilt project, Common Threads: Healing Hands and Hearts, and then with the Shawl Ministry.  We accept shawls, lap afghans, and lap quilts which are then available for selection by cancer patients as they begin their treatment.  There is a virtual community who donate items, including my local guild, Arlington Quilters Unlimited who chose this as their charity for two years.  There is also a monthly Sit, Knit and Crochet group that meets at the hospital.  The group includes volunteers, staff, and patients and over the years has become a support group for many of the participants.  Several started after receiving a shawl as a patient and joined so they could give back.  Right now we have a few members who still come to the meetings though they can no longer participate as they near the end of their own life".  

Christine donated a lap quilt this month which is a strip quilt using African fabrics.  A large portion of the patient population is African American so it is fitting to honor their heritage.  The quilt she donated last year, instead of going to a patient, now hangs in the new infusion center for all to see.

About Christine and her shop – I worked at the hospital for 35 years moving from nursing to hospital administration.  When I left, I reactivated my right brain and spend my time with fiber – fabric and yarn.  I love color and texture and the small art quilts and hand knit items I sell reflect that passion.

Christine lives in Arlington, VA, and has been quilting since 1983. She has been a Quiltsy Team member for 5 years. Her favorite thing to make in her Etsy Shop is the small quilts that also include hand stitching.

Here are two more pictures of quilts donated including some from her quilt guild:

Written by Pat Young of PatsPassionQuilteds, Quiltsy Team member since May 2011.

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"Quiltsy Cares" featuring Christine Vinh of StitchesnQuilts

Items donated at a previous prayer shawl session.

Today we are featuring Quiltsy Member, Christine Vinh of StitchesnQuilts with her charity,  Prayer Shawls 
at Washington Cancer Institute,
MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

I asked why this charity is special to her. Christine replied, "When I retired from this hospital after 35 years, I was looking for volunteer work. When I couldn't find something that "called to me", I decided to start the shawl ministry at the Cancer Institute. I had previously partnered with them on a quilt project, "Common Threads: Healing Hands and Hearts:, where we helped cancer survivors make quilt squares representing the hands and hearts of the people who helped them through their cancer experience. The squares were then made into banners that hang from the atrium in the lobby. We also worked with the staff to provide quilts in waiting rooms and exam rooms to create a healing environment. The shawls, lap afghans and quilts are made by volunteers, patients, and staff and are made available to new patients as they begin treatment.

My donation will be a lap quilt, using African Fabrics from French Connections NC (Etsy shop) as many of the patients at the center are African American." The photo below shows the quilt as a "work in progress" (WIP in quilter's language).

Christine lives in Arlington, VA  and has been quilting for 35 years. Having had a left brain job in hospital administration for many years, she is now able to utilize her right brain to express her love of fiber, color and texture.







As a quilter and who enjoys other forms of needlework as well, Christine says, "I work mostly in small quilts and mixed media, along with hand knitted scarves and hand bags. I love working with     a skein of handspun art yarn, but am also having lots of fun now making 12 inch square art quilts."

Social Media Links:

Charity- Washington Cancer Institute

    Find Christine on:

    Etsy

    Facebook

    Pinterest

This post was written  by Barbara Wood of DownHome Designs, a Quiltsy member since 2008.