Shaadee Ighanian didn’t lose his home on Eaton Fire, but when his baby and close friends did, the former Children’s Apparel Designer wanted to help by making a quilt for the 7-month-old Luna.
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When Iganian began to connect the linen quilts, she thought of all the people sheltered. “I wanted to make a quilt for everyone,” she said. “But that was not possible.”
So, a week after the fire broke out, Yganian is selling quilts and sweatshirts on Etsy, and posted on her Instagram account that she is looking for a quilt that will benefit people affected by Eton Fire. did. She only had around 1,000 followers at the time, so she asked others to spread the word.
“For those who have lost everything, quilts are more than just fabric. It’s a concrete embrace, a moment of peace in chaos. So I’ve reached out to my fellow quilters to make it happen. “The caption reads.
Shaadee Ighanian holds a linen quilt that launched grassroots campaign stitching with Stitch:Altadena quilts.
Iganian embroidered her name on the back of the quilt she made for 7 months old Luna.
Iganian knew that the Altadena community could not replace what it lost, but her grassroots quilt campaign, Stitch by Stitch: Altadena quilting gives comfort to people living in temporary housing It may be provided. “I thought it was a gesture to let them know we were here. We’ll see you,” she said.
It took off. “There was a pour from people who wanted to help,” she said. “It got that rhythm and more and more people started reposting it, and it exploded. It resonated with the people.”
Some donated heirloom quilts that had been suffering in the closet. One 90-year-old woman gave the entire quilt stash. Several quilters were offered to make new blankets. When they asked about the deadline, Iganian told them that they didn’t. “It’s going to take a long time to rebuild,” she said softly about her friend.
Many of the quilt donors included handwritten notes with recipients.
Over 100 people responded at the press conference, and 70 quilts were promised or donated. Each of these quilts comes from Los Angeles, Oregon, Ohio, Massachusetts and all over the UK, with unique designs, colours, fabrics and sizes.
Based outside the living room at Glendale Bungalow, she shares with the jokes of her husband and seven-year-old daughter, Iganian. “It’s a stack of me, my notebooks, and my living room quilts,” she laughed, pointing to the colorful blankets.
On the receiver side, people are beginning to reach out to her, including many who contacted her on behalf of their overwhelmed friends. “I ask them what their needs are,” she said. “I send them a photo of what I have into stock and let them choose what they want. A quilt is like a hug. When you wrap yourself in layers of fabric, you can make them. You can feel all the time spent.”
In the living room, octopus and other quilted pieces from Ighanian’s Shaddy Mae apparel line are displayed on the flannel board above her sewing machine.
Adding even more goodwill, Yganian asked those who donated the quilt to include a “love note” and a backstory about the person who made it. One woman wrote a note saying she was offering one of the first quilts she made over 20 years ago. “The quilt looks perfect and brand new,” Iganian said. “I thought it was very special. The quilt went round. This woman was giving one of her first quilts to someone she didn’t know.”
WendySelf, a 55-year-old occupational therapist, was deeply moved when he came to pick up a quilt at Iganian’s house. “Shaddy’s daughter was lying on the couch under a quilt made by her mother. She told me, “I’m sorry you lost your home.” I told her, “I’m sorry, too, but there are many lovely people helping us,” Self shed tears. “The quilt is so pleasant. I sent my 20-year-old daughter back to UCSB and witnessed this young girl being exposed to acts of service and generosity and I’m really stuck with me.”
Self, who lived in Altadena with his family for over 20 years, owned several quilts before the house burned out. Despite the losses, she found hope in supporting the community.
“Art has the power to lift people up when they feel they can’t do anything,” Self said. “Quilt is what I need now.”
With limited space in her living room, which also serves as her sewing studio, Iganian is about to go through the quilt as she receives them. She handed over some of them and made it easier for people, including about 14 people, to the Altadena Kindred Free Store, which disappeared in 15 minutes. She also met a woman in Joanne’s parking lot. “That’s the best part,” Iganian said.
As a designer of Gap and Old Navy, Iganian said she felt far from the act of making clothes. “There were so many hands involved in design, which is part of the corporate world,” she said. However, her hand-covered, groomed sweatshirt is made from hand-dyed fabric, so you’ll be in full control. “It’s very satisfying to make everything with my hands,” she said. “I had a strong urge to create after my daughter’s birth. I will make sure to go to a dye bath while she takes a nap.” Iganian said that for her daughter’s Paloma doll, she was a natural one. I made my first quilt with dyeing material. It led to a crib-sized quilt and then a sweatshirt. “Fun,” she said of custom hearts, cherry, pink octopus, and evil eyes that she quilts and apps on sweatshirts. “They make me happy.”
Iganian wears one of her hand-expressed sweatshirts and receives quilt donations from all over the country, not just in the UK.
Heather Praun, co-owner of the garden centre Plant Material, said Ighanian’s simple act of kindness made her and her family feel lonely after losing their homes. “I was overjoyed when Shaadee brought me the quilt,” Praun said. “It was such a happy feeling. Her generosity and kindness overwhelmed me. It’s a very beautiful quilt. I love seeing it every day and using it.”
Prahn said the quilt reminds her that despite Altadena losing her home, school and business, she is still part of a community that supports each other.
“It was very depressing,” Prahlan admitted. “But we need to continue to help each other so we can move forward.”
If you would like to donate your quilt to Etonfire victims, contact Iganian on Shaadeemae on Instagram.
