Friday, May 29, 2009

Namaste:

The Story Behind the 2009 Depp-Community Birthday Project

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

Happy Birthday, Johnny!

On your birthday, we celebrate you.



Anyone who is so kind as to want to send something to Johnny, please use the following address. The use of any other address may result in it being lost.

Johnny Depp

c/o Ms. Spanky Taylor

3727 West Magnolia Avenue

Burbank, CA 91505

USA

To obtain the most recent fan mail address, please contact Spanky at
johnnydepp@celebrep.com