Currently Empty: $0.00
0 Comments
My name is Eleanor Crane, founder of Ellie Star Blanket, a small Indigenous-owned textile business. I’m reaching out to request your support through a donation toward the purchase of a Long Arm sewing machine, a vital tool that will help us continue creating meaningful, high-quality Star Blankets.
A Long Arm sewing machine is primarily used for quilting large projects. Unlike domestic machines, it allows the machine to move over a stationary quilt, kicking the process, making it faster, more efficient, and less physically demanding, especially for large, intricate designs like Star Blankets.
My Story
Ellie Star Blanket was born from a deeply personal journey. After the sudden passing of my late husband, Scott Ferguson, and shortly after, my auntie Rita Bragdon—the last of my
mother’s sisters—I was gifted my auntie’s sewing materials. Among them, I found pieces of
an unfinished Star Blanket. Seeing her work brought back memories of watching her sew
these beautiful, symbolic blankets.
In our culture, Star Blankets are gifted to honour loved ones who have passed. I completed
five Star Blankets for my husband’s memorial. Two years later, I faced another challenge: a
breast cancer diagnosis. With the support of my two children, I underwent surgery and
treatment. I’m now proud to say I’ve been cancer-free for four years.
After my recovery, word spread that I could make Star Blankets, and orders began to come
in. In 2021, I officially founded Ellie Star Blanket.
About Ellie Star Blanket
We are a for-profit Indigenous textile company with a mission to create and promote a work
environment and product that reflects the values represented by the eight-point
star: kindness, humility, respect, healing, forgiveness, wisdom, and love.
Our vision is to bring warmth, protection, and comfort into every home we touch.
Why We Need a Long Arm Sewing Machine
- Quilting Large Projects: A Long Arm machine will allow us to quilt large Star Blankets more efficiently and beautifully than a domestic machine.
- Increased Efficiency: It will significantly reduce production time, enabling us to fulfill more orders and meet growing demand.
- Custom & Pantograph Quilting: With computerized capabilities, we can create intricate Indigenous designs and pantographs, adding even more meaning to each blanket.
- Professional Quilting Services: We’ll also be able to offer quilting services to other quilters in our community.
The Investment
We are seeking support to purchase the Bernina Q20/Q24 Long Arm Machine with a 24” throat and a large 13’ frame.
Total Cost: $33,999.99
This investment will help us continue honoring life’s most significant moments—births, graduations, marriages, and the passing of loved ones- through the timeless tradition of Star Blankets.
Thank you for considering our request. Your support will help us preserve a meaningful cultural tradition and empower our small business to grow.
With gratitude,
Eleanor Crane
Founder, Ellie Star Blanket
