Monday, May 20, 2013

A Special Quilt.....Blogger's Quilt Festival

It happens twice a year!

AmysCreativeSide.com 

Amy brings us a spectacular display of quilts from Bloggers across the globe...

My entry is a quilt that is among my top all-time favorite quilts...


I still can't believe how this quilt came together.  It is a rather lengthy story....so grab a cup of coffee:)

A year ago this Spring we{my family} were going through a very tough time.  My mother had been diagnosed with brain cancer in February...my sister, brother and I spent day and night with her in the hospital for about a month.  By the end of March, my sister and I were living with her and had the assistance of Hospice to guide us through the difficult times. 

    
On April 11th., I received a call from my husband telling me that Kyle had asked for our daughter's hand in marriage. It makes me want to cry just thinking about it....
I knew my mom was dying...so I told her the good news.  She could barely speak at this point and whispered, "Wonderful".....
my mother died later that evening.

Now, I know every good parent loves their children...as it should be...
My love for my girls is so deep and so strong.  I love them with all the passion that my mother loved me and my siblings.

molly, maggie and mary....my dad just before he died with molly and mary...
    
I have 3 girls and they are all about 20 months apart in age.  They have always been the best of friends. My two oldest daughters have had type 1 diabetes since they were small. So life has definitely had it's challenges.  Anyone who has a child or relative with type 1 diabetes knows full well what I mean.

Molly is so full of spunk...bright as can be and so friendly and fun..

molly=bat, maggie=hershey kiss 

I knew I would make a quilt for them before they were married, but I was not sure what design....what fabric...and then like magic it all came together!

The design was fairly easy....I knew she would appreciate a hand appliqued quilt and I would enjoy the stitching after such a difficult year. Sitting and stitching quietly with my thoughts sounded like perfect therapy.

       
        So what fabric?  Her 'theme' was a honey bee.  When I spotted this seed fabric {on my way back to my mother's home to deal with estate business} I knew this would be a great foundation.  Perfect for the center - a great backdrop for the vines and leaves!  Plus it fit her colors....yellow, white, grey and touches of green.

Then what to use for the huge corner triangles....
It was a bit of Serendipity...
I found Bari J's amazing Art Gallery fabric...

  
Perfect!  It had her colors....and a coordinating fabric in grey worked beautifully into the palette.  And best of all the corner triangle fabric has a bee!!! 
Does it get any better than that?

So the quilt was hand appliqued, and completely all hand quilted...

   
There are so many things about this quilt that I love.  The whimsical tabs all along the border....the curvy, rounded shapes....I am much more partial to rounded shapes than to geometric shapes...they flow...

    
Having the time to work on this quilt was a blessing...it helped me  create something to celebrate the hope of the future and it helped me settle into my thoughts and contemplate how life would look without my mother.  

  
It is now on their bed in their new place.  


It is so much more than a quilt...

Enjoy the Blogger's Quilt Festival!
You can find my quilt in the Hand Applique category 
mary 

62 comments:

  1. It's a beautiful quilt and a beautiful blog Molly - they are always so much more than quilts, aren't they?

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  2. I've loved seeing the making of this quilt, feeling the love going into it, but to hear the "whole" story, it brought tears to my eyes! You are blessed, and a blessing! It really is such a wonderful quilt!

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  3. What a lovely, lovely quilt. Indeed, every single stitch is fulll of love and hope. What a treasure!

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  4. This is such a beautiful quilt---and such a love-filled beautiful story...

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  5. Very nice - such a good design and good workmanship - you should be proud. Good luck

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  6. It is truly beautiful. So good to see it again!

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  7. Such a heartfelt story of an exquisite quilt!! Thank you so much for sharing this Mary!

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  8. The quilt is exquisite, and the story full of love makes it priceless.

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  9. This is absolutely incredible! Everything you make always is, but this one is extra extra special! xoxo

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  10. I so enjoyed seeing snippets of this quilt as you made it. And then to see it finished was amazing. And now it is delight to see it again and so moving to read the beautiful words you have written.

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  11. I am very touched by your sharing about your mom as well as your daughters. Despite your loss, you are so fortunate to have had (and continue to) have all that love surround you. Your quilt is fantastic, and reflects all of that.

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  12. Awww, this post had me with tears in my eyes and a smile on my face all at the same time - and what an absolutely gorgeous quilt!

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  13. This post is as lovely as the quilt Mary, I'm so glad your Mom knew about Mollys engagement.
    A true heirloom x
    ps
    loving the return of the socks!

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  14. I'm not surprised you love this quilt so much, it's a beauty and with so much love poured into it so very fit for it's purpose. I'm sure it'll be treasured forever. Beth/thelinencat xx

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  15. A very special quilt indeed!! And a very special post, so beautifully told.

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  16. What a beautiful quilt and such a beautiful story behind it!

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  17. absolutely, positively gorgeous quilt. It's such a beauty.

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  18. Very special quilt. I love the colors and fabric you used! Simply beautiful.:)

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  19. What beautiful work you did! I'm glad it was healing for you. And such a lovely gift for the newlyweds!

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  20. What a lovely post, that quilt is so very special. That must be why it looks so beautiful and the stitching really is the icing on the cake.

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  21. What an amazing quilt and a beautiful story. I'm so glad you shared it with us.

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  22. It is just beautiful! I'm sure they will cherish it :)

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  23. Such a special quilt !
    Many stitches = much love

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  24. Love the story and the gorgeous quilt made with love and tied with thoughts. Really...

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  25. Such a wonderful story and such a beautiful quilt. I'm going through end times with my mother right now and am trying to live in the moment with her. Thank you for sharing.

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  26. Beautiful quilt and beautiful story. I love to do handwork as I think things through or even when I just don't want to think. It's so soothing.

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  27. Such a beautiful quilt and such a beautiful story!

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  28. You have written a touching story about a very beautiful quilt. Your mom would be so proud to see you and your family celebrating Molly and Kyle with this lovely quilt.

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  29. This is a beautiful quilt, and you've made me cry with the strength and time and love you took to go through all of that. Thank you so much for sharing. Quilts are truly amazing!

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  30. What a stunning quilt and touching provenance too.

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  31. This quilt is so very beautiful asI have said before - I didn't realise the love and heartache behind it all - it certainly shines through.
    Love and best wishes - Lurline.

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  32. What a beautiful story,and an equally beautiful quilt.

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  33. This is such a beautiful quilt.

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  34. What a beautiful keepsake of a beautiful memory. I too lost my mother to cancer after we helped care for her at home with Hospice assistance. I truly feel your pain. With that quilt, you've created a lovely legacy for your girls, and Molly will surely always appreciate owning this bit of you. It's a wonderful quilt to enter in the Blogger's Quilt Festival. I hope you win!

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  35. Gorgeous!
    Someone today pointed out that it would be so much easier to just buy a warm blanket, but where's the fun (heart, memory, etc.) in that? The stories behind quilts are often what makes them so very special.

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  36. Such a nice story. My grandson who is 8 was diagnosed with type 1 at age 7. I find it very stressful to deal with when I watch him.
    Your quilt will bring your daughter and her new husband lots of joy with all those beautiful colors!

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  37. Hi Mary!! Your quilt is absolutely gorgeous! I voted for you. :o)

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  38. This story, with the pictures of the beautiful quilt so lovingly made, nearly made me cry. What a treasure.

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  39. This piece is a celebration! It, and its story, are just beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing. :)

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  40. What a great quilt for the happy couple and the story you tell with it makes it really special. Which it is!

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  41. Beautiful quilt and story. More people should take the time to reflect and simply feel life. It was a blessing to read about your journey.

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  42. this quilt is too damn gorgeous! right down to the labels. WOW!

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  43. This post brought tears to my eyes. Both the story behind the quilt and the beautiful quilt itself. Thank you for sharing it with us. xo

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  44. This just such a beautiful quilt, in every possible way. Thank you for sharing it with us.

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  45. Your story is so much about quilting but about so much more! It echo's the tradition, history, and love that goes into the art of quilting. Congrats on a stunning quilt! Gorgeous!

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  46. the story of your quilt has me a little misty over here...the quilt is gorgeous in every way possible.

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  47. What a beautiful story to go with a quilt that was so clearly stitched with love.

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  48. I so enjoyed your post, Mary. You are a keeper, my friend! The quilt = LOVE!

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  49. It is so much more than a quilt! Love the beauty of the story, the love that went into it, and the absolute fantastic looking result!

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  50. Beautiful and you are right so much more than a quilt! It represents just what quilts can be (both during production and after the finished quilt is gifted): comfort and solace during the good and bad times.

    Joy to you and your family!

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  51. gorgeous, and a special present :-)

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  52. You got my vote on Amy's ! Beautiful and lovely!

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  53. This is such a beautiful quilt, wishing you & your family all the best.

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  54. Gorgeous quilt! Fantastic fabric choice, applique and quilting! What a treasure.

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  55. Wonderful quilt, and a wonderful story. You really have a way with words: "how my life would look without my mother" really rang in my heart (my turn's coming!).

    The quilt's message of gardens and bees and seeds of love for the future is such a lovely message to go along with the beautiful appliqué, the sweet tabbed border and the hand quilting. And of course--a perfect label. Thanks for sharing this with us--inspiration in so many, many ways.

    Elizabeth E.
    opquilt.com

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  56. Mary, this is just stunning! What a touching story.

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  57. What a wonderful post, absolutely exquisite quilt and a special tribute to your mother and your daughters! I enjoyed reading the story behind the quilt and your process. It's nice to see pictures of the completed quilt as well as close ups, especially your label. Thank you for sharing your story!

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