The Old and the New

The old...when we were in Calgary visiting Andrew, Christy and Molly I noticed that Andrew's first quilt was looking a little worse for wear. Taking a closer look I realized that the binding was disintegrating and needed replacement. I suggested I'd bring it home and replace it, wash the quilt and let it blow in the sea breeze for a while. Molly was particularly intrigued that the quilt would come back smelling of the ocean!

I made the quilt about 35 years ago, back when fabric choices were very limited here in NS. A friend and I had ordered a lot of Ely and Walker calico prints and the local Woolco had a few other cotton prints. These are a few of the Ely and Walker that I have left.

I think this is the only quilt I have ever made using just 3 colours! If I was making this quilt now it would probably have at least 30 or 40 different prints. The quilt block is called "Andrew Jackson Star", it seemed appropriate for a boy named Andrew, though his middle name is not Jackson!

I was pretty sure I still had some of the red print in my stash, I was delighted to find it and had more than enough to replace the binding. I have done repairs on old quilts before and I always felt odd taking out someone else's stitches. This is the first of my own that I have repaired. I hope it lasts at least another 35 years before I have to replace it again!

The new...I just finished basting granddaughter Molly's new quilt. She had helped me pick out many of the fabrics last year when we visited, all pinks. This had to be a pink quilt! But I couldn't use just a few pinks, I think I have used more than 30 different ones. It was fun to piece and now I am looking forward to quilting it. I am quilting it by hand so it will be a while before she gets it. I just hope she has inherited my patience! 

300 Quilts and Counting...

A little over 4 years ago my daughter gave birth at 26 weeks to identical twin boys, Ben and Liam. While in the NICU for several months, I soon noticed that there was a small supply of little quilts being used in many ways : for Moms and Dads to cuddle their newborns, to shelter them from the lights and noise, to use in the incubators and cots to cover the sterile plastic mattresses. They provided a little softness and yet brightness, a little bit of home in this uncomfortable world of the NICU.

I talked to the nurses about the quilts - where did they come from, who brought them in? It seemed as though they would just appear out of the blue. So I said "I know quilters, we can keep you in quilts for the babies, for the parents, we can do this". So a little over 4 years later and I have another pile of about 36 quilts to deliver.  That makes over 300 we have delivered so far. I get butterflies when I go there. It is a place of great joy and great sorrow for us. Little Ben, who started out life at 2 pounds, is now a healthy, happy 4 year old who has a laugh that would bring a smile to any curmudgeon and lots of love to share. He loves to sing when he thinks you aren't listening and he does a mean break dance. We had the gift of Liam for 7 weeks. He will be in our hearts forever and will never be forgotten. My daughter wrote beautifully about Liam, a gift to us all.

I hope these quilts, made with love from quilters across Nova Scotia and beyond, will bring some comfort and peace to other families.

I can't thank enough the members of the Mayflower Quilters Guild and the Mahone Bay Quilters Guild for their continued support of this project, to always have quilts in the NICU.

Two Quilts - Done!

One quilt took almost 2 years to finish, it shouldn't have but life intervened for almost a year when I didn't get much quilting/sewing done. I know the recipients understand, it is a wedding quilt signed by all the guests at the wedding. I have made 5 of these, all for very special couples, mostly for family or for friends who are more like family. I hope they like it, they haven't seen it yet!

Naomi and Nick were married on a beautiful beach, under a wedding chuppah. Family and friends came from far and near to celebrate the happy occasion.

It is machine pieced and handquilted.

I like to piece the back with fabric that reflects the bride and groom's life. So this back includes footprints in the sand, lupins and lobsters, camping and cycling, running and travel, Christmas and Hannukah. I stitch in the labels which have pictures of the bride and groom and their baby...the quilt took so long that they are now the proud parents of baby Gwen. Congratulations Naomi and Nick, may this quilt bring you memories of a happy day and warmth for many years to come!

The second quilt was much quicker, not much piecing and a brave attempt at machine quilting on my part (not my favourite pastime!). I made it for Quilts Recover, a Calgary based group that will send quilts to families who have experienced a massive tragedy. The first quilts will go out to families in Slave Lake, Alberta. I was really glad to participate in this worthwhile cause and to be able to deliver it to Cheryl in person soon.

Jungle Friends