I have a friend (I shall call her P) and I have decided to make her a quilt. P is the kind of gal who does everything for her family. Once a week she hosts a family dinner and cooks complicated recipes from her family's Armenian heritage. The head of the family is her father, an irascible gent close to 90 who can't do much for himself (except complain). P may or may not be getting a divorce and moving out of the home she built with her husband almost 40 years ago. She recently took care of her daughter who had all four wisdom teeth extracted at the same time. Her son's dog has some intestinal issues so she makes dog food for him once a week. Both of these kids are over 30.
Now whatever each of us may think about P's devotion to her family - those are our own opinions. We (and certainly not me) do not know the WHOLE story. But P and I have been having lunch once a month throughout the pandemic over FaceTime and every month it's the same thing. P takes care of everybody else. Who takes care of P? It's as if she is invisible to her family.
It pissed me off.
Since I am sort of between projects, I decided the next quilt I make would be for P. So I thought of colors for her. I thought of blues and greens, and maybe some lavenders. I thought of birds and flowers. I started pulling fabrics.
Then I told her. I probably shouldn't have, but I did. She was overwhelmed and started to cry. I had got her colors exactly right. "How did you do that?" she wanted to know. I don't have an answer, but stuff like that has happened before, so I don't question it any more. At first she resisted, telling me not to go to so much trouble. Well, too late. Besides, for me, making quilts and creating is like breathing. Everybody in my family already has one of my quilts, I have a studio full of fabric and I'm not getting any younger. I'm going to make quilts anyway, I might as well spread love around while I do it. I have a houseful of quilts....
Eventually we came to a compromise. She will pay for the quilting and I promised not to go out and spend money on fabric for her quilt. When I sent her the picture of the preliminary blocks, (above) she texted back, "I feel like I've won the lottery in so many ways."
We should all feel like that.
So I'm doing a squirrel run.
If you want to make a Slashed Squares quilt, I have a tutorial for that.
11 comments:
Boy,you nailed it with "Besides, for me, making quilts and creating is like breathing". That is exactly how I think. I just have to make them. I know people like P and it is maddening how invisible they are when they are the glue and superstructure of the lives around them.
The blocks in the picture don't look slashed. I really like what you have there sans slashing. HA It's good that P has you in her life.
Ah, you are like mum with her crow-shay. She just has to do stuff, so then she needs to find a home for stuff, so it gets given away!
Brava, Lynne! If anyone ever needed and deserved a quilt, it's your friend P.
It's great when you work out something someone likes......
There is no better feeling in the world than doing something for someone who is so appreciative. Your kindness and thoughtful ways will be returned to you in many unexpected ways! P is deserving and you are both blessed to be friends. Enjoy stitching love into this quilt!
This is BY FAR the VERY BEST kind of squirrel!
What a good friend you are. I am sure this quilt will be truly loved and appreciated. Such a small gesture of kindness can really change a person's' perspective. Thanks for being you!
You are such a good friend:)
Giving something you made is amazing and so are your quilts.
Yes, quilters gotta quilt!!!!!!
Couldn't be a better reason for chasing a squirrel.
Your friend absolutely needs a quilt! It's nice for her to know that someone cares for her.
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