A dear friend whose new favorite color is purple needed a quilt. She didn’t know she needed a quilt, but I did. Rather, I knew I needed to make Bonnie a quilt.
You see, Bonnie is having a rough time health-wise. She’s going for chemo treatments every couple of weeks, and in between those she’s having to rest more than she likes to let her body heal.
I don’t live close enough to go with Bonnie to her treatments or to help with cooking and housework. Nor am I close enough for frequent hugs of support. But, as most people know, a quilt is an endless supply of hugs from the maker to the recipient.
I like all traditional quilt blocks (well, ok, most traditional quilt blocks). Four-patches, nine-patches, stars, waves, crowns, all have their appeal. But my go-to quilt block is the basket. I was once part of a mini-group that called ourselves the Basket Cases. The name was probably more appropriate for me than for the others – but you get the idea. We all loved making basket blocks.
So for Bonnie’s quilt, I put together a few purple baskets, one overflowing with flowers and leaves and such. The assembly was quite improvisational, simply baskets on white with white open spaces.
I have a reputation for quilting pieces that are bulletproof because I do like dense quilting. But in this case, I stitched a meandering vine rather sparsely, leaving space for the quilt and batting to breathe, making it more cuddly to wrap oneself in.
The label is a remnant of a vintage doily with a basket embroidered by someone’s loving hand.
As I worked, my whole being was thinking of Bonnie and her treatments. “Every stitch a prayer” kept echoing in my mind. And there are many, many stitches.
Now Bonnie knows that I love her and am mentally traveling with her through her treatments. And I know that she knows.
Precious
Sandy, what a loving soul you are! Thank you for your inspirational example of what friendship means. What a blessing to know you.
Sweet words, Gail. But I’m just sharing the story of a quilt I made.
Sandy, this is just beautiful and what seems to make each “gift” quilt extra special is the way you incorporate a very special label to each one. Such a talent and gift as you bless others!
Thank you, Arlene. And, I love rescuing old discarded bits of embroidered beauties and including them – the work of unknown hands. Somehow the seems to unite the new with the old and with the history of women’s handwork.
What a lovely, heart filled gift of love. Bless you!