Friendship in August

I am in the homestretch of my Friendship Swap blocks. Here are the August blocks.

I love looking at the in-progress and finished version of this block. There was nothing complicated about the block. It was just putsy; lots of little steps along the way. When I got to the point where I had nine mini-blocks ready to go, I was wishing the block would just be done. Once it was totally assembled, I was relieved. As I look at the pictures of the block, I think it's pretty cool. I didn't think I would ever want to make enough of these to make a quilt, but I think that as long as I was moving at a leisurely pace, it could be lots of fun. I can't imagine how striking all the blocks will look together!

For the second block, there were no parameters other than to use a foliage fabric. I found a lush green and paired it with a cream. Though there is no Celtic look to it, the block feels Celtic to me. I can only imagine how lush the greens are in Ireland. My father has been there and I understand they are a one-of-a-kind sight to behold.

Lucky for me this wasn't the specified block because for reasons I couldn't ever understand, my center block never sized out the way the directions indicated. I checked and rechecked, scratched my head, and moved on. Ha-ha! I added a 1/2 inch border to the inner block and called it good. In the end, it all worked out just fine because it allowed me to add more of the lush green to the block.

As I am the recipient of one of the September blocks, and I've already made the one of the two October blocks, I only have two more blocks to go. Well, I suppose I will make some of my own, too, but I should probably wait and see what I get before I try to make it all go together sight unseen. Then again, it could prove interesting to randomly work ahead. Hmm. What to do? ;)

Caring, Cozy, Comfort

Two weeks ago, today, I received a call informing me that my daughter's classmate had lost his father of a sudden heart-attack. I just sat there and cried. Though I know the mother and children because of their activity in the school, I didn't even know the husband/father, Ted. It didn't matter. In that moment, I realized that this life cut too short could have just as easily been me or my husband. Being faced with your own mortality is frightening. Imagining the devastation of his wife and all the ways his children will miss out on a lifetime of memories with him is overwhelming.

Later that evening, speaking with my friend, Jen, whom I've lovingly dubbed Queen of Comfort Quilts, I said that I would really like to make the kids each a comfort quilt; something soft to snuggle into when the arms they most long for aren't able to be there. Wanting and doing are two different things, though. But, when Jen offered to share the load and help me get them done, I had hope that we could get these completed before the kids were grown. I should have realized that enlisting Jen's help would put us on a whirlwind pace and get them done in record time (at least, record time for me!). We hashed through the details, and though it was 10 p.m. and there was much else to do, Jen had a good hunk of fabric already on hand and got right to work, nearly completing the top before bed. That was the beginning of a week filled with trips to the store and back-and-forth passing of materials, each of us contributing time, talent and material to both quilts.

Here are the end results.

For the boy, I chose a super-hero fabric; Batman!

For this quilt, I pieced the top and did the binding. Jen quilted. This is a nice picture of the beautiful quilting. Both quilts were backed with minkee fabric for extra snuggle-softness. As an added benefit, though they were backed in solid colors, each looks very intricate because of how nicely the quilting stands out on the minkee.

For the girl, Jen chose Wizard of Oz fabric and maintained the theme by choosing to piece it as a Yellow Brick Road, dropping the borders and adding a focus panel. (It turned out so nice, I think I will have to replicate something similar for my daughter.)

Look at that quilting! I just love how visible it is against the minkee. For this quilt, Jen did the piecing and quilting. I did the binding.

These took nine days, start-to-finish. The last one came out of the dryer Sunday morning and I was able to deliver both to the family Sunday evening. Of course, there are no words that seem appropriate for such an occasion. As it turned out, not many were needed. On what was one of the hottest days of the year, both kids seemed content to claim their quilt and wrap-up it around themselves. It was quite a sight, especially as the mother and I were dripping in sweat. It was heart-warming and I hope it brings them comfort for a long time to come.

And, of course, a special thank you to Jen for all she contributed and her motivation to get things done. Truth be told, it was her kindness that inspired me to even consider the project. Here is the comfort quilt that she recently gifted me.

What a comfort, indeed! It's amazing; beautiful in color and texture and design, quilted with loop-de-lou's, which make me smile. Everyone knows to keep their hands off; this is Mom's quilt! (For a better picture and more information about it in Jen's words, check out her post at Cre8tive Quilter.) To be found quilt-worthy has left me humbled and speechless.