Voice Messages, Music and Chemotherapy

Last winter, we talked with Joyce, a Mom that created a VoiceQuilt for her daughter, Michelle. Michelle was fighting breast cancer and Joyce had asked everyone to call in encouraging messages. Read more here.

As the messages came in, Michelle’s sister suggested that they upload inspirational music, too. We just love it when our service is used in new ways!

Thanks to Michelle and her family, we’re talking with local chemotherapy infusion centers about donating FREE phone time to families of chemotherapy patients. Most centers suggest bringing an iPod with soothing music to appointments. This is just a slightly different twist on that idea.

It’s easy, too, because the VoiceQuilt mp3 can be downloaded at the last minute for FREE.

Maybe a family records voice messages just like Michelle’s friends did. Or maybe they ask everyone to record a song dedication, explaining why a piece of music is important.

Either way, we’re gratified to help a cheering squad like Michelle’s get heard – literally.

P.S. A recent medical study suggests a link between music and patient quality of life.

Music's Link to Memories (and VoiceQuilt)

“Music shapes your personality. When you’re young, music is a huge building block. Part of your identity is finding something you really love and can hold on to. It’s not only that it’s a soundtrack, it’s an exposition of who you are.”

Tim Westergren, Founder of Pandora
Quoted from Wall Street Journal Magazine


Late last week, we thought of this quote as a Father’s Day keepsake was being finalized. An obscure (at least to us) oldie was last on the playlist: "Frenesi" by Artie Shaw. "Frenesi" was the most popular song in 1941 (we looked it up!) and the song reminded the Father's Day VoiceQuilt recipient of his wife and their courtship.

We’re seeing more and more gift givers including songs. With that in mind, we scanned our database of birthday VoiceQuilts for the most popular song upload.

The answer? "It’s a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong.

For anniversary VoiceQuilts, the most popular upload was “I Love You Because” by Jim Reeves.

We know an 11 year old who is a Justin Beiber fan. "Baby, Baby, Baby Ooh" on end...Enough said. Nothing against the talented Mr. Bieber, but this older music is a very pleasant change....

VoiceQuilt - Finding Dad's Softer Side

I saw this thought-provoking article in today's Wall Street Journal about father-daughter ties...Finding Dad's Softer Side:

"Why is it so hard for a grown woman to bare herself emotionally to a man she's loved all her life?

And why would a man have trouble discussing something sensitive with a woman he helped raise?"

It’s a difficult issue. Since a VoiceQuilt keepsake includes emotionally intimate toasts, tributes and favorite memories, I wondered if our customer data suggested anything different.

But it didn’t. Looking at year to date 2010, the majority of VoiceQuilt gift givers are women. It's also the case that the majority of VoiceQuilt recipients are women – or couples that include a woman.

The good news is this: the friends and family that phone in toasts, tributes and favorite memories are a good mix of men and women. Just take a listen here.

If brothers and fathers can leave sentimental messages for mothers and sisters, the reverse will surely come to pass! Hopefully, soon!

VoiceQuilt MP3s - Perfect for an iPod, iPhone or other digital music player

Most VoiceQuilt gift givers order a physical keepsake AND download a VoiceQuilt mp3. The latter is like a podcast: the VoiceQuilt messages are combined into a single file for easy download.

A few months back, we began working on making each individual VoiceQuilt message available as an mp3 – formatted so that the VoiceQuilt Title, message description, and message number appear on the display of an iPod, iPhone or other digital music player.

Drum roll, please!

Next week we’ll introduce a USB drive that contains VoiceQuilt mp3’s. The best part is this: we can create mp3s for any VoiceQuilt -- even those very early VoiceQuilts created over 3 years ago. Cool!

VoiceQuilt: Dear Abby "Gets It"

In Today’s “Dear Abby” column, a writer shares a Father’s Day gift he received: 365 written messages from his 4 children, each relaying a different favorite memory (one for every day of the year).

In some respects, this is a written VoiceQuilt.

Of course, we can’t imagine what it must have been like for 4 long distance siblings to write down 100+ memories (each on a separate piece of paper) and to get them mailed in one package to Dad in time for Father’s Day.

We think a VoiceQuilt is so much easier! (And of course we're biased! Wouldn't it be great to hear the emotion behind those memories -- in the voices of the children?)

Nevertheless, we're thrilled to see that Dear Abby understands the emotional impact of this kind of gift. She clearly "gets it".





















VoiceQuilt allows you to invite anyone with a phone anywhere in the world to record a special message then share those messages.

Tell that special someone how much you care... Go to www.VoiceQuilt.com and click "Get Started".

VoiceQuilt - "I was surprised by the creativity of the callers"

I thought it would be fun to share some comments from VoiceQuilt gift givers when we ask, "What was your biggest surprise?"

"The quality of the player was top-notch and the presentation (beautiful box, nice ribbon, well-wrapped for shipping)." Thu, Jun 3, 2010

"A friend from Belgium called in the international line!" Tue, Jun 1, 2010

"The emotional impact of the messages of support shown to my wife a two-time brain cancer survivor." Tue, Jun 1, 2010

"I was surprised by the creativity of the callers." Thu, May 27, 2010

"How quick it was to get the product completed and delivered. Thank you so much! And our party invitation fit perfectly in the "photo" section of the lid of the keepsake box. It was a beautiful gift." Thu, May 27, 2010

"The way everything came together and the recipient's surprise - it was truly a great keepsake that I know she will cherish." Thu, May 27, 2010

"One nephew left messages from "around the country" with different accents." Wed, May 26, 2010

Create a unique, personalized, sentimental VoiceQuilt gift to commemorate a special occasion - Birthday, Anniversary, Retirement, etc. Go to www.VoiceQuilt.com and click "Get Started".