Reasons We Quilt

Here is my friend Ruthie from Maine. I know I've talked about my online group that met when we started doing the Jane Stickle quilt in 1997. (We called ourselves UGRR- underground RR)

This photo was taken in 1999 when a friend of Ruthie's lost her husband. Our little group made heart blocks and she put this quilt together with those blocks and his shirts. The family treasured it.
BTW, This was our first real life gathering, I believe, that happened in PA.

Move ahead twenty year to February 2019- Here is some correspondence with Lisa, who lives in Florida.

 "My name is Lisa . I found a quilt while cleaning out closet Dated 1999. Maybe made for someone recovering from heart surgery ? Each square has hearts."

That's cool! How can I help you?

One of the squares is signed by you.

That was the start of a wonderful conversation! Someone had given her this quilt many years before and she was house cleaning and found it in her closet!!

I had not seen the quilt yet, so wasn't sure which quilt it was, although she told me the names of the other signed blocks and I knew it was a quilt the UGRR's had made.

I immediately wrote to our ugrr group and this was part of Ruthie's response: (names are removed to protect idenity)
 The son who bought the house, B***, asked for it back and was supposed to receive it. I have no idea what happened about that, but I recommend that you give the woman his email address, Lori.  Or YOU can check with him about if he still wants it!!  It is ******      They all loved the quilt, so I just cannot understand how it left them. D*** . She did go to FL, in the winter, and maybe died there. and if I remember, stayed there.  

This is an exciting story!! Thank you Lori and all!  

I wrote to the son, B*** and he wrote back right away! He was excited about the quilt but needed a photo to jog his memory. 

I found this photograph (pictured above), scanned it and sent it to him. He recognized the quilt and was thrilled that the "new" owner would be willing to send it back to him and get it back with the family.

And one more, from B*** wife:

I have always wondered what happened to the quilt!! 

I am so happy this quilt was found. I have thought about it a long time. B*** says that the woman in FL, only identified in Lori’s email to him as Lisa, is going to mail it to us from FL. 

We will offer it to E****, if he no longer wants it my intent is to return it to the Chebeague house, to live there forever. 

I cannot tell you how happy I am to get this news. I always felt grateful to you for making that quilt happen for D*****. I will take a picture when we get it!

What a feel good story of a quilt going home! Thank you Lisa in Florida for making that happen! Lisa's last message to me, "Life is about kindness and caring."

Now, lets make is an awesome week!

Faith*Love*Hope

My stepmom died late fall last year and I got the quilt back from her estate that I had given to my dad. It took me a couple of days to be able to take it out and look at it.

 I made this when my dad had a fall and was recovering from surgery in a nursing home near his home. We really didn't expect him to make it through that rough patch, but he's a hardy Dane. He lived 7 more years and was still fairly mobile.  This is a Bonnie Hunter free pattern that she calls Smoky Mtn stars,  which you can access HERE.

 We were raised religious so I knew my dad would like the addition of the words on top.  FAITH*LOVE*HOPE is what we needed during the difficult days of rehabbing.

 My dad grew up in Montana and Wyoming and although he was raised very poor by his single mom and grandmother, they made sure he had strong men in his life. He learned to make things, fix things, grow things, hike, fish and camp. I know he enjoyed this backing a lot.

His love for the outdoors left an impression on all four of us kids. I know that's why I fish, hike and camp now. I've since passed the love of the outdoors to my children.  (my husband too!)

He made reel after reel of video of our camping trips. We grew up in Seattle, but we went on many vacations, always camping, to Yellowstone, Zion, Grand Canyon, Old Tuscon,  and many other places. Our vacations included investigating old ghost towns, spelunking, visiting family and friends. He wrote a lot of letters and kept in touch with friends from his hometown. It is hard to believe it has been 3 years since he's died. 

I give my mom a lot of credit for doing all of that with 4 kids!

Have a fantastic week, friends!