Nick and Mam with their original design Everyone with the Everyday Angels quilt Nick and Chris in front of the Every Day Angels quilt

Nicky Harrall tell us about the quilts that she and her quilt group 'Not just Quilters' made for the new Neo-Natal ward at Christchurch Womens Hospital.

"We presented the quilts with a waiata - Te Aroha - which was our blessing, walking from the Pounamu Room (a room set aside for families and babies when baby is about to die), down the corridor to the family room where the quilts were blessed and karakia was said. After this we formally presented the quilts amid tears from both sides. There was a huge amount of personal sadness and joy sewn into these quilts.

"The group making the quilts included mothers and daughters, in fact my mother and my daughter both made a block each which was lovely. As you can see the 'Golly Gosh' quilt underwent a miraculous transformation - an understatement I think! Nevertheless it was this pattern which inspired the circular quilt entitled "Otautahi - Waitaha, Christchurch - Canterbury, Our Children - Their Place".

"This is an original design that I created especially for the project and which 11 women with little or no experience of sewing each took part in by making a child representing all the nations in our region. This quilt hangs in the Neo-Natal reception area just as you step out of the lifts.

"The 'Everyday Angels' quilt was renamed "maumahara ë te tau - In memory of my love". Chris did an amazing job co-ordinating the colours, fabrics and the 8 people who together made the 12 blocks. This quilt is truly a stunner! It hangs in the corridor outside the Parent Lounges in the Unit.

"Thank you so much for your generous support of this project. Everyone felt (quite) rightly proud of what they had achieved and we know these gifts will grace the walls of the new hospital for many years to come."

Nick Harrall