I want to share with you a beautiful account of a diverse community coming together to celebrate a very special man.
In spring of 2008, Longtime DeppFan, a moderator for Depp Impact’s message board, asked for suggestions for what the membership would like to do for Johnny Depp’s upcoming birthday – not an unusual activity for any fan board. Many good suggestions were submitted and one was chosen. At the same time, discussion began for another suggestion for Johnny’s 2009 birthday. Wanting to do something in which each person could be personally involved and would also include those who aren’t able to be part of a fund raising project, a quilt made from blocks signed by Johnny’s admirers was chosen.
Planning for the quilt began immediately. Quilting books were consulted. Rough patterns were sketched out on graph paper. A color palette and fabrics were chosen. By June it was set to go. All that was needed were participants to sign the blocks. Just days into September the call went out.
The first notice of the project appeared, surrounded in secrecy, on Depp Impact’s message board. The information revealed was only that something special was being planned and that it required lots of hands. Those interested in receiving more information were encouraged to respond by email. Inquiries came in and details of the project were sent out.
Early in the planning it was decided that this was to be a special gift – one that would tear down the barriers between the many individual Depp-communities. Administrators and moderators of the larger individual communities were sent information and invited to participate. Those communities that so kindly decided to support the project recruited their members in a manner similar to Depp Impact - surrounded in mystery. Additional requests for information poured in. Details were sent out. The smaller Depp-communities became aware of the cause from the larger communities and joined in spreading the word.
In the end, nearly two hundred inquiries were received. Fourteen individual communities participated. One hundred forty squares were mailed out and one hundred twenty-one were signed and returned from Depp-admirers all over the world. The result was an amazing gift filled with love, admiration and respect.
~susan
Yes, it's me.
Time Line
*Click on the thumbnails to view photos*
Please excuse the quality of some of the photos
April 2008
- Suggestions for Johnny’s 2008 Birthday Project were requested on Depp Impact
- Quilt selected for 2009
May 2008
- Rough draft of the quilt pattern created
- Color palette chosen
Pattern Draft
June 2008
- Fabrics chosen
September, 2008
- Recruitment of participants began
Instructions sent with fabric square
September 19, 2008
- 48 squares mailed
September 21, 2008
- 70 squares mailed
September 23, 2008
- 1st signed square received
September 25, 2008
- Goal reached of 120 squares mailed out
- Wait list started for potential use pending the number of squares returned
September 27, 2008
- 6 signed squares received
First 6 squares
September 30, 2008
- 3 blocks pieced
First 3 blocks
October 5, 2008
- Do to popular request from participants to keep informed of the quilt’s progress, periodic email updates began.
- Total of 29 squares returned
October 11, 2008
- Total of 52 signed squares returned, 36 pieced into blocks
35 pieced blocks
October 18, 2008
- Total of 72 signed squares returned, 52 pieced into blocks
- Wait list activated
- 20 additional squares mailed out.
October 25, 2008
- Total of 80 signed squares returned, 63 pieced into blocks
80 squares
November 1, 2008
- Total of 88 signed squares returned and pieced into blocks
- Request for quilt name suggestions opened
Piecing a square into a block
November 8, 2008
- 55 quilt name suggestions submitted.
- Three selected for a vote by the community: Namaste - Symbolic of love and respect. Popular interpretations include "I honor the Spirit in you which is also in me." and "Your spirit and my spirit are ONE." Caravan - A group of people traveling together. Of Hearts and Hands - A more poetic way of expressing our sentiments
November 16, 2008
- Polling closed – Namaste was chosen by popular vote
November 26, 2008
- 7 columns of 13 blocks assembled
- Last 4 squares in route
December 18, 2008
- 9 columns of 13 blocks assembled and joined
- Borders added
- Quilt top complete
Completed quilt top
January 3, 2009
- Layers assembled to create the quilt
- Quilting complete around 3 columns of signature squares
Quilting around a signature square
January 18, 2009
- Quilting complete around 5 columns of signature squares
The quilting continues
January 31, 2009
- Quilting complete around 7 columns of signature squares
Moving the quilting ring
February 17, 2009
- Quilting complete around 9 columns of signature squares and border
- Binding attachment in progress
- Dedication Square ready to be attached
February 27, 2009
- Quilt complete
Sections of the completed quilt
Dedication square
April 27, 2009
- Quilt mailed
Preparing the quilt for shipment
May 6, 2009
- $213 donation made to Children’s Hospice and Palliative Care from surplus donations toward the cost of materials for the quilt
June 1, 2009
- Letter of appreciation received from Johnny
