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"Children Taken By The Family Courts" Quilt

 

This year, the Battered Mothers Custody Conference is going to host a community quilt entitled "Children Taken by the Family Courts."   The quilt will be modeled after the AIDS quilt that was started in 1987 and that has since grown tremendously, gaining wide publicity for the cause of combating AIDS and HIV infection.  

We are asking mothers who have lost physical custody of their children through family or divorce court proceedings to create a panel to commemorate their child(ren).  We will be providing sewing materials and other necessities to help mothers construct their panel during the weekend of the conference.   

Mothers do NOT need to attend the conference in order to have their panel included in the quilt; instructions for mailing in a panel are included here. 

Here are the instructions for creating a panel:

Design the panel

Display the following on your panel:

1. The first name(s) and last initial(s) of the child(ren) of whom you lost custody as a result of family or divorce court proceedings

2.  The child(ren)'s date of birth and the county and state of the court system through which you lost custody

3.  The month and year you lost custody of your child(ren)

4.  Any drawings or artwork that makes the panel meaningful to you
5.  On the BACK of the panel, in an inconspicuous place (one that does not show through to the front) please write YOUR name, phone number, and e-mail address.

Construct the panel

Your design can be vertical or horizontal, but the finished, hemmed panel must measure 1.5 feet by 3 feet with a 1 inch seam allowance.  The edges can be left raw but please tape or hem the seam if the materials fray.  If you can't hem it yourself, we'll do it for you. Batting for the panels is not necessary, but backing is recommended. Backing helps to keep panels clean when they are laid out on the ground. It also helps retain the shape of the fabric.

Remember that the quilt will be folded and unfolded every time it is displayed, so durability is crucial.  Since glue deteriorates with time, it is best to sew things to the panel. The fabric can be traditional quilting fabric found at any fabric or craft store or can be made up of scraps pieced together to meet the size requirements.  A medium-weight, non-stretch fabric such as a cotton duck or poplin works best. 

You may use most techniques and or embellishments, as long as they are secured well, including but not limited to: appliqu�, piecing, embroidery, fabric markers, fabric paints, stenciling, beading, ribbons, sequins, or buttons. 

Applique: Sew fabric, letters and small mementos onto the background fabric. Do not rely on glue - it won't last.

Paint: Brush on textile paint or color-fast dye, or use an indelible ink pen. Please don't use "puffy" paint; it's too sticky.

Stencils: Trace your design onto the fabric with a pencil, lift the stencil, then use a brush to apply textile paint or indelible markers.

Collage: Make sure that whatever materials you add to the panel won't tear the fabric (avoid glass and sequins for this reason), and be sure to avoid very bulky objects.

                                   

Write a statement

Please put your name, e-mail address and phone number on this statement.  Please take the time to write a statement about your child(ren) and briefly describe how you lost custody.

                                                                                                                      

Sending in your panel:

1.  If you will be attending the Fourth Battered Mothers Custody Conference on Jan. 12^th-14^th, 2007, you can work on your panel over the weekend of the conference.  Personal help and materials will be provided; you also are encouraged to bring materials along with you.

2.  If you will not be attending the conference, please ship your finished panel (make sure to use adequate protective packing material) to:

 

Dr. Mo Hannah, Chair

BMCC IV

26 Purtell Avenue

Latham, New York 12110

contact:

mhannah413@aol.com

518-210-2487

www.batteredmotherscustodyconference.org