[♪♪] >> HI AND WELCOME TO "INSIDE LOUISVILLE" WHERE WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS THAT MAKEUP KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY.

MEET SUNSHINE JOE MALLARD.

ONCE YOU IMMEDIATE HIM YOU WILL KNOW WHY EVERYONE CALLS HIM SUNSHINE JOE.

HE BRINGS LIGHT TO WHEREVER HE GOES.

HE IS A MASTER QUILTER AND PERKING HIS CRAFT FOR 60 YEARS HE LEARNED FROM HIS GRANDS MOTHER FROM MISSISSIPPI SUNSHINE JOE HAS CALLED LOUISVILLE HOME SINCE 1973 CREATING TAPESTRY QUILTS THAT CHRONICLE EVENTS.

SOME ARE ON DISPLAY IN THE MUSEUM.

THE OBAMA THAI QUILT WHICH TELLS THE STORY OF BARACK OBAMA'S PRESIDENCY WAS ACCEPTED IN THE PRESIDENTIAL CENTER IN CHICAGO.

>> IT JUST DOESN'T GET BETTER THAN THAT.

AND TALKING ABOUT DREAMS COME TRUE, YES, THEY DO, THEY DO.

>> SUNSHINE JOE MALLARD'S DREAM BECAME A REALITY WHEN HIS MASTERPIECE CALLED THE OBAMA THAI QUILT WAS ACCEPTED AT THE PRESIDENTIAL CENTER.

>> I CALLED THAT WINTER IN AMERICA.

FROZEN DREAMS, FROZEN ASPIRATIONS, UNEMPLOYMENT WAS HIGH WHEN HE CAME INTO OFFICE.

>> THE PRESIDENTIAL CENTER DISPLAYS MATERIALS THAT HELP TELL THE STORY OF THE 44TH PRESIDENT.

MALLARD'S QUILT INTERPRETS THE HISTORY IN A CREATIVE WAY DERIVED FROM THE LEGACY OF QUILT MAKING IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

>> THIS KIND OF HISTORY WAS RECORDED WITH A NEEDLE AND THREAD.

USUALLY IT'S WRITTEN OR IS DOCUMENTED IN PHOTOGRAPHS BUT THIS IS DONE IN NEEDLE AND THREAD.

>> HE STARTED THE OBAMA TIE QUILT DURING THE 2008 ELECTION BEFORE BARACK OBAMA WAS ELECTED AND SENT IT OFF TO THE PRESIDENTIAL CENTER LAST JUNE, 16 YEARS TO THE DAY HE STARTED THE PROJECT SENDING HIS QUILT FROM LOUISVILLE TO CHICAGO WAS THE PINNACLE OF A LONG LIFE IN THE ATTARS HE LOVE, HE SAYS WAS KINDLED BY HIS GREAT, GREAT GRANDMOTHER.

>> I WOULD COME HOME FEELING REJECTED AND NOBODY CARED ABOUT ME AND I WOULD TELL HER HOW REJECTED I FELT AND I CAN HEAR HER WORDS.

SHE PULLED ME CLOSE TO HER, AND SAYS HONEY I WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS.

I DON'T WANT YOU TO EVER WORRY ABOUT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE SAY YOU CANNOT DO, BUT I WANT YOU TO FIND SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN DO AND I WANT YOU TO DO IT.

AND SHE ALLOWED ME TO THREAD HER NEEDLES.

WE ARE LUCKY TO WELCOME JOE MALLARD INTO OUR STUDIOS.

FIRST, HOW DID YOU GET THAT NAME, SUNSHINE JOE.

>> FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AS YOUR GUEST.

I GOT THIS NAME I WAS WORKING IN A CLASSROOM WITH FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS AFTER I FINISHED MY PRESENTATION, THIS YOUNG LADY RAISED HER HAND AND ASKED IF SHE COULD GIVE ME A NICKNAME AND I SAID YES.

SHE SAID SUNSHINE JOE.

AND I SAID WHY WITH YOU CALL ME SUNSHINE JOE?

THE SUNSHINE BRINGS LIGHT AND YOU DO TOO, I WANT TO CALL YOU SUNSHINE JOE AND ALL THE KIDS RESPONDED AND IT JUST STUCK SO I'M SUNSHINE JOE.

>> IT'S OBVIOUS THAT YOU DO BRING SUCH LIGHT.

SO, WE SAW THAT STORY ABOUT YOUR INCREDIBLE CAREER IN QUILTING.

HOW DID THIS START?

WHERE DID THIS PASSION OF QUILTING START?

>> WHEN I WAS A KID, IN SUMMIT, MISSISSIPPI, THAT IS WHERE I WAS BORN AND WENT TO SCHOOL.

AND YOU CAN LOOK AND TELL I'M VERY SKINNY BUT IMAGINE ME IN THE NINTH GRADE.

I WAS SKINNY.

AND I DESPERATELY WANTED TO PLAY SPORTS.

BUT NOBODY WANTED ME ON THEIR TEAM AFTER SCHOOL.

SO I WOULD WALK HOME AND MY GREAT, GREAT GRANDMOTHER WHO WAS BORN INTO SLAVERY WOULD BE SITTING ON MY FRONT PORCH MAKING QUILTS.

AND I WOULD TELL HER HOW REJECTED I FELT BECAUSE NO ONE WANTED ME ON THEIR TEAM.

I WAS AN OUTSIDER.

SHE PULLED ME CLOSE AND I WILL NEVER FORGET IT SHE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID, HONEY DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE SAY YOU CANNOT DO, BUT I WANT YOU TO FIND SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN DO AND I WANT YOU TO DO IT.

AND SHE ALLOWED ME TO THREAD HER NEEDLES HER EYESIGHT WAS DIMINISHING.

FROM THAT POINT, I WAS EXCITED ABOUT SEWING.

BUT I DIDN'T PURSUE IT I JOINED THE BAND.

AND I PLAYED IN THE BAND FROM HIGH SCHOOL THROUGH COLLEGE.

AND IT WAS ONLY AFTER I WAS ABOUT 23 YEARS OF AGE, WHEN I SAW ROSIE GREER ON THE MIKE DOUGLAS SHOW DOING NEEDLE POINT AND I SAY IF A BIG GUY LIKE THAT CAN DO NEEDLE POINT A SKINNY KID LIKE ME CAN DO IT.

I BROUGHT EMBROIDERY HOOP AND AND STARTED STITCHING ON MY CLOTHES AND MY FRIENDS CLOTHES.

>> AND THAT IS A FOOTBALL PLAYER, BY THE WAY.

>> HE PLAYED FOR THE LOS ANGELES RAMS AND HE WAS A PART OF THE FEARSOME FOUR, THE LINEMEN THAT PROTECTED THE QUARTERBACK.

AND HE WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITES.

>> AND HE INSPIRED YOU.

>> BECAUSE HE WAS DOING NEEDLE POINT ON TELEVISION.

>> YEAH.

>> AND AFTER SEEING THAT IT TOOK ME BACK TO MY CHILDHOOD DAYS AND THAT IS WHEN I REALLY STARTED TO PURSUE IT.

>> WHEN DID IT BEGIN TO TURN INTO THIS PASSION WHERE YOU CHRONICLE HISTORY THROUGH YOUR QUILTS?

>> WELL, THE VERY FIRST QUILT THAT I MADE, WAS FOR BARACK OBAMA.

AND DURING HIS FIRST ADMINISTRATION, THE THOUGHT OCCURRED TO ME THAT HISTORY WILL BE RECORDED AND THE NEWS MEDIA, MAGAZINES, TELEVISION.

BUT I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS GOING TO TAKE THE TIME TO RECORD THIS PART OF AMERICAN HISTORY WITH NEEDLE AND THREAD.

SO I TOOK A NOTEBOOK AND I STARTED WRITING DOWN CURRENT EVENTS THAT HAPPENED DURING HIS FIRST FOUR YEARS.

AND I WANTED TO CHRONICLE THINGS THAT HAPPENED ON A LOCAL LEVEL HERE IN LOUISVILLE, ON A NATIONAL LEVEL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL.

AND I PUT -- WROTE AS MUCH AS I COULD WRITE AND WAS STITCHING SIX HOURS A DAY SIX DAYS A WEEK AND OBSESSED WITH IT.

AND A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, WHO IS A QUILTER, MJ KINMAN HELPED ME TO PUT THE QUILT TOGETHER WHEN IT WAS ALL FINISHED.

AND SHE AND I RECEIVED A GRANT TO CHRONICLE TO RECORD ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT I HAD INCLUDED IN THE QUILT.

SO THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF RECORDING HISTORY.

NOW, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WHEN QUILTS ARE MADE, QUILTS EITHER TALK ABOUT A PAST EVENT, FOR EXAMPLE A BIRTH YOU MAKE A QUILT FOR A CHILD'S BIRTH OR FOR SOMEONE WHO WAS IN THE MILITARY SERVICE OR YOU DO SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE, WEDDING, CELEBRATION.

BUT MY QUILTS CHRONICLE CURRENT EVENTS OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME WHILE IT IS HAPPENING.

AND THEY TAKE USUALLY FOUR-AND-A-HALF TO FIVE YEARS TO COMPLETE.

>> FIVE YEARS?

>> IT TOOK ME FIVE YEARS TO COMPLETE PRESIDENT OBAMA'S QUILT THAT COVERED EVENTS THAT HAPPENED DURING THE FIRST FOUR YEARS OF HIS ADMINISTRATION.

>> WHEN YOU WERE DOING THAT, WAS IT A GOAL OF YOURS TO HAVE IT IN HIS PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY?

>> FROM THE VERY -- EVEN BEFORE THE QUILT WAS FINISHED, MY DREAM WAS TO HAVE THE QUILT IN HIS POSSESSION.

I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WOULD GO TO HIS PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY OR HIS PRESIDENTIAL CENTER OR IF HE WOULD GET IT PERSONALLY.

I JUST WANTED TO GET IT INTO HIS HANDS.

>> AND YOU DID.

>> I DID.

IT'S AMAZING.

IT WAS A FRIEND OF MINE LINDA, WHO WROTE A BOOK ABOUT QUILTING.

NOT SO MUCH THE ART OF MAKING QUILTS, BUT THE HISTORY OF QUILTING.

AND AT THE FRASER MUSEUM, SHE HAD AN INTERVIEW THERE AND SHE INVITED MJ KINMAN AND MYSELF TO BE A PART OF THIS.

SO WHEN I WAS SHOWING THE OBAMA QUILT AND TELLING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF IT, THE AUDIENCE JUST GOT EXCITED AND THEY SAID, WHAT IS THE QUILT WORTH?

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

I DON'T KNOW I HAVEN'T HAD IT APPRAISED.

DO YOU INTEND TO GET IT TO HIS OFFICE?

YES, I WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT.

AND PEOPLE STAYED I BELIEVE WE CAN HELP YOU DO IT.

THE PEOPLE THAT HAD CONTACT WITH THE OBAMAS, GOT TOGETHER WITH THE PEOPLE AT THE FRASER MUSEUM RACHEL PLAT WAS THE LEADER IN IT.

AND THEY INVITED ME TO THE FRASER AND WE MET.

AND THEY CONNECTED US WITH THE CURATOR, Dr.

MOLTEN FROM THE OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER.

AND WE WORKED OUT THE DETAILS AND FINALLY, I GOT THE APPROVAL THAT IT WAS OFFICIALLY ACCEPTED AND IT WILL BE IN THE PERMANENT COLLECTION OF THE OBAMA CENTER.

>> INCREDIBLE.

>> TALK ABOUT A CREAM COME TRUE.

DREAMS DO COME TRUE.

>> BUT IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU HAVE CREATED SOMETHING FOR A PRESIDENT.

YOU WERE JUST TELLING ME THE STORY ABOUT WHAT YOU CREATED FOR PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER WHILE, GET THIS, YOU WERE WORKING IN THIS BUILDING.

>> I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THE SHORT VERSION OF IT.

I HAD WORKED FOR BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA FOR 10 YEARS ALMOST 12 YEARS.

AND I WENT TO WORK ONE DAY, AND I RECEIVED A LETTER SAYING AS OF TODAY, YOUR SERVICES ARE NO LONGER NEEDED.

THEY HAD GIVEN ME A CAR EVERY SIX MONTHS AND EXPENSE ACCOUNT AND I THOUGHT IT WAS THE MOST TERRIBLE THING THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED.

BUT IF I HAD KEPT THAT JOB I WOULD NOT HAVE PURSUED BY ART CAREER.

IN ORDER TO SUPPORT MYSELF AS I DID MY ART, I WORKED IN THIS BUILDING AS A JANITOR.

SWEEPING THE FLOORS AND MOPPING THAT HALLWAY.

ON THE FIRST FLOOR HERE.

>> THAT IS A BIG HALLWAY.

>> AND I WENT TO MY BOSS AND I SAID TO HIM, THAT I HAVE CREATED A SHIRT FOR PRESIDENT CARTER AND I WANT TO TAKE IT TO WASHINGTON D.C. TO PRESENT IT TO HIM AND COULD YOU GIVE ME SOME TIME OFF TO DO IT?

AND HE SAID DO YOU HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE PRESIDENT CARTER?

I SAID NO, I DO NOT.

BUT I AM GOING.

HE SAYS I TELL YOU WHAT.

Mr. MALLARD, I WILL PAY YOU WHAT I OWE YOU BUT I CAN'T GUARANTEE YOU A JOB WHEN YOU COME BACK.

HE PAID ME AND I BOUGHT A ROUND TRIP BUS TICKET TO WASHINGTON D.C. AND I TOLD MY WIFE I'M NOT COMING BACK UNTIL I GET THIS TO PRESIDENT CARTER AND I WENT TO WASHINGTON D.C. ON THE GREYHOUND BUS AND GOT OFF.

I WALKED WITH A HUGE BAG OF QUILTS AND EMBROIDERY THAT I HAD.

AND SOMETHING SAID DON'T GO TO THE WHITE HOUSE, GO TO COMMONWEALTH.

CAPITAL.

AND CAPITAL HILL.

AND A SECURITY GUARD ASKED ME IF I HAD A PERMIT TO BE THERE AND I SAID NO, SIR.

AND I TOOK OUT THE SHIRT TO PRESIDENT TO CARTER AND HE SAID THIS IS THE CAPITOL BUILDING WHY DON'T YOU LOOK AT THE DIRECTORY AND SEE IF YOU CAN FIND YOUR SENATOR'S NAME.

AND GO TO HIS OFFICE MAYBE HE CAN HELP YOU.

AND I SAID THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND I WENT IN, AND I SAW WALTER'S NAME ON THE DIRECTORY AND WHERE HIS OFFICE WAS.

I WENT UPSTAIRS KNOCKED ON THE DOOR.

WALKED IN.

AND THE FIRST PERSON I MET WAS CUNNINGHAM.

AND THROUGH CUNNINGHAM, WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE SHIRT TO JIMMY CARTER.

AND THAT SHIRT IS NOW IN HIS PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY IN GEORGIA.

>> INCREDIBLE.

AND YOUR STORY FIRST OF ALL, FOLLOWING YOUR DREAMS, AND IN FEELING INSPIRED TO CREATE THINGS AND PERSEVERANCE OR NOT LETTING THINGS GET IN YOUR WAY.

THAT'S THE -- THAT'S WHAT YOU TEACH KIDS NOW AND YOU DO ALL OF THESE CULTURAL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS AND THAT IS A PASSION OF YOURS.

TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> AGAIN, MY GREAT, GREAT GRANDMOTHER INSTILLED THIS VALUE IN ME.

SHE SAID TO ME AND WOULD TELL ME OFTEN, ANYBODY CAN START A PROJECT, BUT IT TAKES A SPECIAL PERSON TO FINISH WHAT YOU START.

AND THAT STUCK WITH ME OVER THE YEARS.

TWO THINGS.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE SAY YOU CAN'T DO.

YOU GET A DREAM AND YOU FOCUS ON IT.

AND ONCE YOU GET IT YOU HAVE TO FINISH IT.

SO I GO INTO CLASSROOMS AROUND KENTUCKY AND NOT ONLY IN KENTUCKY, THE NATIONAL CHILDREN'S BUREAU HAS COMMISSIONED ME TO COME TO MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA I'VE BEEN THERE TO ONE OF THE FREEDOM SCHOOLS TO TEACH KIDS WE DO EMBROIDERY BUT THE WHOLE IDEA IS WE KNOW EVERY KID IS NOT GOING TO GROW UP AND DO EMBROIDERY BUT IT IS A PERFECT MEDIUM TO UTILIZE TO SHOW KIDS ANYBODY CAN START BUT YOU HAVE TO FINISH.

AND IF YOU DON'T FINISH YOUR SQUARE, THE WHOLE PROJECT WILL BE INCOMPLETE.

SO I'M IN SCHOOL CLASSROOMS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, ALL OVER KENTUCKY, OTHER STATES I GO TO I GO TO QUILTING GUILDS, JUVENILE DETENTION CENTERS, HOMELESS SHELTERS, KENTUCKY SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND, THE CEREBRAL PALSY SCHOOL AND LOOKING AT THE CHILDREN TO BECOME INSPIRED TO WORK AND FINISH THEIR SQUARE.

HERE IS WHAT WE DO, EACH CHILD IS GIVEN A SQUARE TO EMBROIDER.

AND WHEN THE SQUARES ARE COMPLETED, I TAKE THEM AND PUT THEM ALTOGETHER TO MAKE A WALL HANGING TO BE LEFT AT THE INSTITUTION.

NOW, IN MANY CASES, THE INSTITUTION WILL ALLOW THE STUDENTS TO KEEP THEIR SQUARES.

BUT IN MOST CASES THEY WANT TO SHOWCASE IT FOR THE CHILDREN TO SEE IT, FOR THE PARENTS TO SEE IT AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO COME TO THAT PARTICULAR INSTITUTION.

AND I GET SO MUCH GRATIFICATION FROM IT, BECAUSE I CAN SEE THE LIGHTS COME ON IN THESE KIDS' EYES THAT I CAN DO IT, SUNSHINE JOE, I CAN DO IT.

WHEN I GO TO THE SCHOOLS, THERE'S ALWAYS A TROUBLEMAKER AN OPINION MAKER.

AND I TRY MY BEST TO FOCUS ON THAT PERSON.

AND WHEN I SEE THIS KID THAT'S DISRUPTIVE AND HE'S NOT INVOLVED IN WHAT IS GOING ON I CALL THE KID UP FRONT AND ASK HIM IF HE OR SHE WANTED TO BE MY ASSISTANT.

AND I HAVE THEM PASS OUT THE SQUARES AND COLLECT THE SQUARES WHEN THE WORKSHOPS ARE OVER.

AND BY THE TIME THE SIX WEEKS IS OVER IT'S ALWAYS A SIX-WEEK PROJECT THIS KID IS INVOLVED, HE'S WORKING, THE KIDS ARE EXCITED AND THE TEACHER COMES TO ME AND SAYS SUNSHINE JOE, WHAT DID YOU DO TO THIS KID?

IT'S ALMOST LIKE MAGIC?

AND THIS IS THE DEAL... CHILDREN WANT ATTENTION.

AND IF YOU DON'T GET IT IN A POSITIVE WAY, YOU ARE GOING TO GET IT IN A NEGATIVE WAY.

SO WHEN THIS KID RAISES HIS HAND AND HE IS IGNORED, AND AFTER A WHILE HE STOPS RAISING HIS HAND AND HE GETS OUT OF LINE, AND THEN HE DISRUPTS THE CLASS.

AND YOU ARE SAYING SIT DOWN, STOP.

I WILL PUT YOU IN DETENTION, TIME OUT.

HE IS GETTING ATTENTION.

AND WOW I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT LIKE THAT.

SO SEEING KIDS TRANSFORM FROM BEING NOT SEEN TO REALIZING THAT THEY ARE IMPORTANT AND THEY BECOME A PART OF THE CLASS, IT REALLY FEELS GOOD.

>> AND IT'S SO SYMBOLIC, TOO, THEY ARE DESIGNING A SQUARE ON A QUILT TO SHOW THAT THEY ARE PART OF THE BIGGER PICTURE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND THEN WHEN WE HAVE THE PRESENTATION AT THE SCHOOL, AND THE KIDS' PARENTS COME THEY ARE EXCITED THEY WANT TO POINT TO THEIR SQUARE I DID THIS ONE.

AND I DID THAT ONE.

AND IT'S JUST A POSITIVE FEELING.

AND NOW, IF I GO TO THE SHOPPING MALL OR WHEREVER I GO SOMEONE SAYS, SUNSHINE JOE, I SAY YES, YOU WERE IN MY CHILD'S CLASSROOM WHEN THEY WERE FIFTH GRADE.

AND YOU GAVE THEM A POEM THAT YOU WROTE AND THIS KID HAS GRADUATED COLLEGE NOW AND DOING THIS.

SO I'M NOT ONLY FOR THE MOMENT IMPACTING KIDS' LIVES BUT OVER LONG PERIODS OF TIME.

AND THIS MAYBE AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO RECITE THAT SHORT POEM THAT I RECITE EVERY TIME I GO TO A CLASSROOM.

AND THE POW WOMEN GOES LIKE THIS.

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL AND IT CAN BE REAL, IT ALL DEPENDS ON YOUR FREE WILL.

GOING PLACES AND DOING THINGS, JUST NATURALLY SPREADING YOUR WINGS.

BEING HONEST AND BEING REAL IS THE ONLY WAY TO GIVE YOURSELF A FAIR DEAL.

KEEP YOUR MIND OPEN AND YOUR SPIRITS HIGH, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING EVEN TOUCH THE SKY.

AND I RECITE THAT EVERY MORNING AFTER I GET OUT OF MY BED AND HAVE MY DEVOTION HE R I RECITE THAT POEM AND IT STARTS MY DAY.

AND NOTHING IS GOING TO STOP ME FROM ACHIEVING THE GOALS I HAVE SET.

>> I READ THAT POEM WHEN I WAS LOOKING, AND IT SAID THAT YOU WROTE THAT AFTERRING WITH DIAGNOSED CAN SICKLE CELL AMEME YEAH AND THAT IS ANOTHER THING YOU HAVE STRUGGLED WITH AND PERSEVERED THROUGH.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> I DIDN'T KNOW I HAD CYCLE CELL UNTIL I WAS 30 YEARS OF AGE.

I HAD BEEN AT A SCHOOL DOING A WORKSHOP AND WAS DRIVING HOME AND I WOKE UP ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY.

I DIDN'T -- I DON'T KNOW HOW I STOPPED MY CAR AND HOW I PARKED IT BUT I WAS IN SEVERE PAIN.

ALL OF MY JOINTS WERE ACHING.

AND I FINALLY GAINED COMPOSURE AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE MYSELF HOME AND I WENT TO THE DOCTOR AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE DEAL WAS AND THEY DID ALL KINDS OF TESTS.

AND THE RESULTS CAME BACK THAT I HAVE CYCLE CELL AMEME YEAH.

AND THAT ANEMIA.

IT WAS MY AFFIRMATION THAT SICKLE CELL IS NOT GOING TO STOP ME FROM DOING WHAT I SET IN MY MIND TO DO.

AND I HAVE THESE CRISIS WHERE IT JUST TAKES EVERYTHING IN ME TO SURVIVE THE PAIN.

BUT I'VE LEARNED NOT TO FOCUS ON THE PAIN, BUT BEGIN TO RECITE THIS POEM AND MAKE AFFIRMATIONS THAT YOU CAN DO IT.

ANYBODY CAN START BUT YOU HAVE TO FINISH.

AND WHEN IT'S OVER, I GO BACK TO STITCHING AGAIN.

I WORK AT IT.

NOW, I'M ABLE TO THROUGH THE NORTON CANCER INSTITUTE INSTEAD OF MY GOING TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND HAVING TO WAIT AND SEE LAY IN PAIN AND WAIT, THEY KNOW MY CASE, THEY KNOW MY HISTORY, SO I CAN DIAL A NUMBER AT THE NORTON CANCER CENTER AND AS SOON AS I FEEL THE CRISIS COMING, I CAN GO THERE NO MATTER WHAT TIME OF DAY OR NIGHT IT IS AND THEY KNOW THEY CAN START THE PROCESS TO DEAL WITH THE DISEASE.

AND THE TIME OF CRISIS IS SHORTER AND I DON'T HAVE TO WAIT AT THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND ACHE.

I'M DETERMINED THAT EVEN CYCLE CELL -- SICKLE CELL I WILL BE 82 YEARS OF AGE IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR.

AND WELL, THE DREAMS HAVE COME TRUE.

GETTING THIS THING TO PRESIDENT CARTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA.

I HAVE AN EXHIBIT NOW AT THE NATIONAL QUILT MUSEUM IN PADUCAH, KENTUCKY ANYBODY THAT DOES THEIR QUILTING WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THEIR WORK THERE.

IT IS A JOY TO MOW KNOW I HAVE ATTAINED THESE GOALS.

I WANT TO MAKE THIS CLEAR.

IF THIS HAD HAPPENED TO ME AT 30 YEARS OF AGE OR 31, WHERE I GOT ALL OF THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, I WOULD HAVE BEEN PUFFED UP AND THINKING IT'S ALL ABOUT ME.

BUT I'VE COME TO REALIZE THAT GOD IS THE SOURCE AND I AM THE VESSEL.

I'M SIMPLY CARRYING OUT THE INSPIRATION THAT I GET FROM GOD.

AND I WANT TO GIVE HIM GLORY THAT HE ALLOWS ME TO USE THE GIFTS THAT HE GAVE ME TO CREATE THESE BEAUTIFUL WORKS.

>> AND YOU ARE STILL STITCHING?

>> I AM STILL STITCHING.

>> WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW?

>> THIS IS ANOTHER NICKNAME THAT I GOT.

ANOTHER FIFTH GRADE CLASS, I WAS DOING A WORKSHOP AND I HAD A MOOSE PUPPET.

AND I WAS TALKING TO THESE KIDS USING MY PUPPET.

AND WHEN I FINISHED THIS LITTLE GIRL CAME AGAIN AND SAID MAY I GIVE YOU A NICKNAME?

AND I SAID YES.

SHE SAID J MOOSE STICKING NEEDLE.

I SAID WHY WOULD YOU CALL ME J MOOSE STICKING NEEDLE.

YOUR NAME IS JOE AND YOU LOVE YOUR MOOSE PUP PELL WE'LL CALL YOUR MIDDLE NAME MOOSE AND YOU STICK YOUR NEEDLE WHEN YOU WORK.

J MOOSE STICKING NEEDLE.

I SAID WOW THANK YOU.

AND I WENT HOME THAT DAY AND I NAMED MY STUDIO MOOSE FARM U.S.A. AND I'M WORKING ON A PROJECT NOW THAT IS A HUGE PORTRAIT OF J MOOSE STICKING NEEDLE HE WAS A SPOOL OF THREAD FOR HIS TOP HAT HIS NEEDLES FOR HIS WALKING CANE, AND IT'S GOING TO BE INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHTS ABOUT REACHING YOUR DREAM, NOT GIVING UP AND LOOKING FOR GOOD AND GO ABOUT DOING GOOD.

>> I WANT TO SAY TO ANY YOUNG PERSON, I GUESS I WOULD SAY ANY PERSON OF ANY AGE, NEVER GIVE UP.

NEVER GIVE UP.

IT'S OKAY TO MAKE A MISTAKE AS LONG AS YOU LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES.

WE DON'T WANT TO KEEP MAKING THE SAME MISTAKES OVER AND OVER.

BELIEVE IN GOD.

TRUST GOD.

DO THE THINGS THAT YOU BELIEVE ARE RIGHT.

WORK HARD.

THINK BIG.

MOVE FORWARD.

FINISH WHAT YOU START.

THAT'S MY MOTTO.

THAT'S HOW I LIVE.

I DON'T KNOW ANY OTHER WAY TO LIVE.

>> WHAT A STORY.

YOU CAN WATCH AND SHARE THIS EPISODE ANYTIME AT KET.ORG/"INSIDE LOUISVILLE" AND CHECK OUT OUR SOCIAL MEDIA YOU CAN HEARD SUNSHINE JOE'S BEST ADVICE AND MORE ON HIS NEXT PROJECT STILL TO COME.

YOU CAN FIND US ON INSTAGRAM AT KET.

THANK YOU FOR SPENDING TIME GETTING TO KNOW LOUISVILLE I HOPE WE'LL SEE YOU HERE NEXT TIME.

UNTIL THEN, MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK.

[♪♪]