Thank you

I am a bit overwhelmed with your gracious response to my last post.  Thank you for all of your kindness and sweet posts about my mom's quilt.  It's always comforting for some reason to know that others have experienced similar things.

While I would like to leave it just as her hands left it, I can't.  I know her.  She was too practical to want it to hang on a wall.  She wanted things to be used - nice clothes, precious china, keepsakes, etc.  Unfortunately, this can't be used, because it's not quite complete.  The squares themselves are intricately done, but they are barely connected to each other by a few pieces of string.  I will definitely keep you up to date with the quilt as there are further developments.

A bittersweet surprise

Press play for the soundtrack to this post...This is a great song.

My mom died a few years ago, about a year before my son was born. We were very close. I miss her so much, even still. After she died, I listened to this song called "Butterfly Nets" by Bishop Allen a lot. I especially love the line, "Should you be blown back, know that I will always run to greet you, still surprised to catch you every time."

This past Friday, I cleaned out one of her old closets to give my dad more room.  I brought some of her stuff to my house.

Saturday, we held a baby shower for my cousin at which she received the most beautiful handmade gifts I have ever seen given, including a quilt made by the baby's grandmom. In spite of my efforts to be thankful for what a strong, amazing mother I have, even if she is no longer with me, I found myself feeling sad that my baby boy wouldn't get to know his mimi. That's what her grandchildren called her, and she lived for them.  Sunday night, I went through the things I brought from my parents' house. As I opened a beautiful basket, I pulled out some unused fabric, wondering what I could do with it.

Underneath, I pulled out an unfinished project (who can't relate to that?) of 4 x 4 hand quilted patches sewn together.  She obviously put a lot of hard work into it.

I am still surprised to "catch her" every time she "blows back" into my life.  It always seems like she comes when I need her most. How she knows, I'll never know.

Now I know what to do with the rest of the fabric. I'm going to finish the quilt for my son. Notice how it's blue (for a boy) and red (the main color in his room).  Actually that would be very meaningful if I could finish it, but I can't quilt. So, I'm going to have the quilt finished. Know any excellent quilters? I can't trust this special project to just anyone. It's a gift from his mimi, his angel.