The Duncan Project: March 2025

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

Quilt #132 Mary Beth Lauritzen donated by Flo Graham

Quilt #132 was presented to Mary Bethy Lauritzen. Mary Beth fell last week and broke her hip. Her recovery will be 8 to 12 weeks. She spent her 87th birthday today in a rehab center. Her spirits remain high and her attitude is positive. She told us she has never had a pieced quilt before.

This happy quilt was made by Flo Graham, a friend of Mary Beth's. There is lots of love to wrap up in. Love in the stitches...

Quiilt #131 Carrie Carter donated by Melissa Kasparian, Terrie Johnson and Mary Duke

Quilt #131 waus given to Carrie Carter by Melissa Kasparian, Terrie Johnson and Mary Duke.

Carrie walked in to have lunch with friends (Mary being one of them) a few months ago with two broken arms. She had fallen when she went out for a walk. As they were talking and laughing about being so klutsy, Carrie told her friends that she has Non-Hodgekins Lymphoma, Sarcoidosis and breast cancer, they call it the trifecta!

With tear-filled eyes, Mary decided she needed a Duncan quilt.

Sandy Solt started making this quilt, then donated it to the Duncan Project unfinished. The colors were perfect for Carrie. It was a sweet experience putting this quilt together.

With each stitch. there is not only love, but also a prayer.

Quilt #130 Ray and Donna Gowdy donated by Kathy Jackson, Silvia Milner and Mary Duke

Quilt #130 was given to Ray and Donna Gowdy by their friends Kathy Jackson, Sylvia Milner and Mary Duke.

Ray was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis disease several years ago. It is a disease that thickens the tissues in your lungs and causes scar tissue to form eventually making it impossible to breathe. Ray has been put on hospice and is not expected to live through next year.

Meanwhile, Donna has been having issues with AFIB which causes an irregular heartbeat and is very dangerous. She has been hospitalized twice in the last month.

We want Donna and Ray to know how much they are loved. This quilt is a small way to show our love for them. There is love in the stitches....

Quilt #129 Sterling and Kaylene Harris donated by Young Women of Heritage Park 6th Ward

Quilt #129 was given to the Sterling and Kaylene Harris Family. The Harris family had a baby boy named Milo who died of SIDS when he was 3 months old.

When the Young Women of the Heritage Park 6th Ward heard that this sweet family lost their baby, they were heartbroken, and all agreed that they wanted to make a Duncan Quild for this sweet family. So for the next month these Young Women got together often to make this beautiful quilt of love.

We hope this family will use this quilt and feel our love as they wrap themselves up in it. There is so much love in the stitches....

The Beginning

The Duncan Project was conceived one day shortly after Duncan's passing while I was out walking the dog. At the time, I was praying and pleading for understanding and acceptance. One of the tender mercies I received was a very clear answer that it was God's will and that "it's okay." Armed with that knowledge, I looked for a way to process my own grief, while turning my heart to God and honoring Duncan. To learn the lessons Heavenly Father has for us and in response increase my love and support to those in need.

I remember distinctly two separate occasions in my life of great distress where I received a handmade quilt. These were not merely blankets for warmth (which in one instance was very much needed) but works of art. The best loving hands have to offer and I felt deeply comforted. I could feel the love in the stitches.

My mind started to contemplate if these quilts could be created as a comfort and a way to show love to those in time of joyful or difficult transition. Would this also be the means of healing for my broken heart? The Spirit whispered yes. I have invited close friends and family to join me in making quilts and identifying recipients. In this blog, I will tell the stories of givers and receivers. So the journey of a 100 quilts begins....