The First Annual Dream Quilt 2003

By Colleen Dugan

What comes to mind when you think about a quilt of dreams? Perhaps you imagine a sense of warmth and comfort as you snuggle into bed for the night. Maybe you imagine bedtime stories woven with adventure and enchantment, which gently lull you to sleep and into dreamland. Others may think of an inspiring work of art that describes the vision, skill, and accomplishment of the craftsman.

This Dream Quilt, which will be on display at the APSS meeting in June, is all of the above, plus much more. It artistically chronicles many interlocking journeys through the mysterious world of dreams, while simultaneously compelling its audience to greater awareness and continued progress.

The focal point of the quilt is the large, center square, which commemorates the 50-year anniversary of the discovery of REM sleep. This historical event set in motion a continuum of scientific research for neurological disorders affecting sleep, such as narcolepsy. From this central focus, the remaining 46 squares of the quilt are joined in symmetry - like history in progress. These squares, made by individuals from the sleep community-from the sleepy to those who study sleep- share a piece of their personal journey through their artwork.

Michelle Hemingway, the person responsible for creating and organizing the Dream Quilt, was diagnosed with narcolepsy and cataplexy at the age of 18. The disabling impact of narcolepsy on her educational and career aspirations forced her to find inspiration through creativity and art. In 2002 she founded Sleepy Seeds, a greeting card company with a mission to "plant awareness" about narcolepsy and the importance of sleep education and advocacy. But her creativity had more to offer the world.

"I wanted to find another avenue to generate greater public awareness about narcolepsy," explains Michelle. "I have never quilted. So when I thought about creating a quilt to increase sleep awareness - similar to other organizations who exhibit quilts to advocate their cause - I wasn't sure of how I was going to make it happen."

Michelle clarifies that last statement, "I never doubted that I had it in me. But because of my narcolepsy and cataplexy, I haven't known what it is to set a goal and strive to accomplish it successfully. However, with Xyrem, I have been rewarded by knowing that I can. For me, the quilt is, in many ways, really what dreams are made of.

The 50-year anniversary of the discovery of REM gave Michelle the final inspiration to introduce the Dream Quilt project at the Narcolepsy Network Conference in October 2002. She handed out flyers to anyone who would take them, and before the end of the conference, many people pledged their commitment to turn the idea into reality.

Michelle then sent fabric squares to sleep centers, narcolepsy support groups, and pharmaceutical representatives around the country. Within a couple of months, beautifully completed squares were returned, ready to be quilted together. The quilt was scheduled for its debut during National Sleep Awareness Week in March 2003, which at the time, was one month away.

During the first weekend in March, Michelle and ten other friends from the narcolepsy community gathered together in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to sew the squares together to form the top layer of the quilt. Afterwards, Michelle had a professional quilter in Charlton, Massachusetts finish the quilt. With the combined efforts of many, the goal was reached, and the Dream Quilt was displayed in Washington, DC at the National Sleep Foundation's annual gala, "A Night of a Thousand Dreams". The response from the sleep community was overwhelmingly positive.

It was by accident that the two efforts for sleep awareness, the Dream Quilt and Sleepy Seeds would compliment each other. This summer, an image of the 2003 Dream Quilt will be available on a Sleepy Seeds note card.

Michelle reflects, "The small amount of motivation and inspiration I gave out to people somehow grew within them, and returned to me in greater measure. I want to continue the Dream Quilt project with a new quilt each year that can be displayed simultaneously in the United States, and perhaps across the world, bringing awareness to the public eye."

Looking at the finished work of art, the purpose of the quilt becomes apparent. As each square portrays an individual's experience and expression, such as breakthroughs in sleep science, unbounded creativity, burdens of exhaustion, and fortitude of hope, it inherently compliments adjacent portraits, and is predictably bound together by threads of community. Greater awareness and continued progress is its message of inspiration that will make the vision - a cure for narcolepsy - possible.

The quilt will be exhibited in Atlanta at Narcolepsy Network's Annual Conference in October. Suggestions for additional display opportunities are invited. You are also invited to join in and become a part of the 2004 Dream Quilt. For further information please contact:

Michelle Hemingway
Sleepy Seeds
PO Box 70
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Phone: 508-347-7435
Email: sleepyseeds@charter.net