A few years ago, Margaret Herman, a valued and contributing member of my quilt guild, passed away. Her two daughters, whom I am friendly with and of similar age, held an estate sale with Margaret's fabrics, notions, and sewing machines. Most guild members made a trip to her home to honor and purchase (at great prices) yards and yards of fabric and other sewing supplies, as mentioned. I bought plenty!
While I was wrapping up my purchases, one of the daughters walked out to my car with me, carrying a set of red and white blocks in a large plastic baggie. They were the B.O.M. (Block of the Month) from 1997. Since they were red, pink, and white, they had to be February's blocks. The youngest daughter asked if I'd be able to finish the quilt. I replied in the affirmative and asked if she'd like the quilt back once completed. "Nope" was the answer; they just wanted those blocks into a quilt.
Last November, on our guild's fall retreat, I took those blocks to finish the quilt. I was almost done then but needed to add the inner borders (white) and cornerstones (reds/pinks). I was honored to complete the quilt top that weekend. A longtime member, Rolinda, who had moved to North Carolina but moved back to Maryland recently, came to the retreat! It was so great she came! Many of us got to catch up with her life (and her ours) and all the adventures she's been on in 2024 (Morroco, for one).
When I pulled out the quilt, she was immediately gobsmacked and at my table, looking over all the names on the blocks. Her eyes lit up when she saw her Mom's name, Eileen, and several of Eileen's friends (some have passed on). Rolinda was gushing over every single block (both she and her Mom were members of our guild for years).
Not long after I returned home from the retreat, I Long-Armed the quilt. But as I quilted it, gliding over the blocks and the members' names, I knew this quilt had to go to Rolinda.
Today, at our Show-n-Tell (part of our guild meeting), I surprised Rolinda by taking the quilt out of a bag, calling her up to the stage, and telling her the quilt was hers. I revealed that I talked to my husband earlier in the day about giving this quilt to its rightful owner.
It was a simple decision. If my mom and her friends had signed the blocks, like Eileen (now 94 years young!) and her friends, I would have wanted it for posterity, too.
It feels great that Rolinda now has the quilt, filled with memories of cherished quilting days with her Mom and her friends.
I'm honored to Manufacturing Sunshine for a dear quilting friend, Rolinda!
bSoleille!
Terri
P.S. As we left the meeting, Rolinda told me she would take it to her Mom's care facility to show her the quilt first thing tomorrow morning! What an exciting surprise for Eileen, too! How cool is that?
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