Sunday, August 21, 2011

Sacred Work

A friend and colleague had a tragedy this summer.  Her husband died suddenly in a freak accident.  I asked if I could make her a quilt from her husband's shirts, and she was glad to let me.



She gave me a dozen of his shirts.  A few other colleagues came to help.  All were new to me and new to quilt-making.  I wanted to cry most of the weekend.  It felt like very important, sacred work. 

Here's what we made.  Pretty good for mostly new quilt makers! 



 I'll make the quilt back from the shirt backs, arranging them something like this.

From the scraps, I'll make quilts for her two teenage daughters as Christmas gifts.  

Aren't you glad to have a skill that can provide such comfort?  I'm feeling very fortunate today.
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35 comments:

  1. Julie FukudaAugust 22, 2011 at 1:50 AM

    You are a blessing to your friend, her children, and her friends. God has given you a gift for just this purpose at this time. The quilt will be a lovely comfort to all.

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  2. UnknownAugust 22, 2011 at 3:55 AM

    What a fabulous thing that you did! I am sure that she will cherish this quilt forever. And more for her daughters, they will definitely be comforted for a long time to come.

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  3. Pinkadot QuiltsAugust 22, 2011 at 4:49 AM

    What a wonderful thing to do! They will cherish them forever.

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  4. MB in MIAugust 22, 2011 at 5:03 AM

    May God bless you. What a wonderful way to use your hands and your heart.

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  5. Theodora quiltsAugust 22, 2011 at 5:07 AM

    what special quilts they will be for the family,your offer is truly one of a true friend,how lucky your friend is!! and I also read your previous post and I also follow marits blog and also love her work,we have built a small quilt community in this big world of ours ,and have managed to somehow tie ourselves into a small circle through the net ,it is amaizing.xoxo theodora

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  6. BonnieAugust 22, 2011 at 5:43 AM

    What a wonderful thing to do for someone. Indeed, these quilts will be a treasure.

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  7. ChrisAugust 22, 2011 at 6:30 AM

    There are many places, besides a house of worship, where we can stand on holy ground - which you found out this weekend. Thank you for sharing.

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  8. AnitaAugust 22, 2011 at 6:40 AM

    What a wonderful way to remember a loved one!

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  9. smazoochieAugust 22, 2011 at 6:53 AM

    Bless their hearts and yours too.

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  10. PokeyAugust 22, 2011 at 6:59 AM

    You really ARE using your love of quilting to give more love here. The quilt is really nice looking, great stars! Your title is so precious ~
    :-}pokey

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  11. sallgoodAugust 22, 2011 at 7:23 AM

    A beautiful treasure, made with love.

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  12. fiberchickAugust 22, 2011 at 7:53 AM

    What a lovely way to memorialize their father. They can be comforted visually by thoughts of him everyday...

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  13. Miki WillaAugust 22, 2011 at 8:19 AM

    Brilliant. This is so very kind of you to do. What a wonderful way you have provided for the family to continue to celebrate the life of the husband and father.

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  14. Vicki WAugust 22, 2011 at 8:56 AM

    I agree. I've made 2 memorial quilts for the sons of a friend. It's the most meaningful thing I've ever made and I know that the teenagers treasure the quilts made all from their Dad's clothes.

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  15. Sujata ShahAugust 22, 2011 at 8:59 AM

    A really beautiful thing to do.. They are going to love it and treasure their memories forever through these gifts.
    It is the most rewarding and humbling experience at the same time.

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  16. ~Niki~August 22, 2011 at 9:03 AM

    my friend also lost her husband 2 years ago. i got all his shirts and made her a chinese coin variation quilt. she loved it. cried. i can say, i was happy to do it, but cutting all those shirts were harder than i thought. he actually worse some pretty funky pinks/oranges as well, so it came out great. i'm going to try to get a pic of it to post on my blog if you wanna come by this week and see it! love yours!

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  17. SharonAugust 22, 2011 at 10:37 AM

    How kind. I'm working on a comfort quilt for someoen right now, it needs quilted and bound. I feel so lucky to be able to do this for her. This is lovely, and great that others came to help out. It will make the quilt that much more special.

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  18. reganAugust 22, 2011 at 10:58 AM

    What a wonderful quilt you have made for her family....it will surely be loved and inspire wonderful memories for them for many years. What a blessing!

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  19. AngieAugust 22, 2011 at 1:01 PM

    That is such a special gift from your heart, to take his shirts, and together with other quilters, make a memory quilt. Such a treasure for all of you.

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  20. antique quilterAugust 22, 2011 at 4:24 PM

    I agree nothing better then being able to use our passion and make quilts to comfort others.
    I am so glad your making the daughters quilts too.
    they will treasure those quilts forever.
    what a wonderful thing you are doing.

    Kathie

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  21. pat sloanAugust 22, 2011 at 4:54 PM

    wow... what a special project... big hugs to all

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  22. JanetAugust 23, 2011 at 12:49 AM

    These quilts will be so cherished just as you have all sewn so much comfort into them. Well done to all involved, it's wonderful.

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  23. Victoria Findlay WolfeAugust 23, 2011 at 9:23 AM

    Beautiful, heartfelt and fabulous...what a beautiful gift to her.

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  24. BarbAugust 23, 2011 at 9:51 AM

    what a blessing and comfort it will be for her. I've made several mourning quilts from clothing. It's always sad making them, but finishing and gifting them is a joy.
    How lovely of you!

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  25. Sew Create It - JaneAugust 23, 2011 at 3:39 PM

    What a wonderful gift you are giving your friend and her children...((hugs))

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  26. EmAugust 23, 2011 at 8:54 PM

    You are amazing! I have tears in my eyes and what a gift....Cannot put into text what I am feeling. This hobby is such a gift! Love, EM

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  27. KimAugust 24, 2011 at 6:58 AM

    Oh yes and what a productive way to grieve with friends making a tangible keepsake for your friend to have and hold.
    Life is so unpredictable and fragile, handle with prayer.

    Bless you all that worked on the gift

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  28. Cheryl's Teapots2QuiltingAugust 24, 2011 at 6:21 PM

    Great job. This quilt will be cherished for years to come.

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  29. AnonymousAugust 25, 2011 at 5:38 AM

    To make a quilt is the best way of mourning for us.

    As the african american quilters say: the quilts made with old clothes keep the spirit of the people alive and they give us confort when feeling pain.
    Your friend wil find that confort in this quilt in the harderst moments.

    Sorry for the lost of your friend.

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  30. Michele BilyeuAugust 25, 2011 at 8:38 AM

    A lovely blessing. I am always so deeply touched by the sacred giving that I participate in. You can feel the energy flow in the circle from them to you and back into the universe again and it is deeply moving. Bless you for knowing and feeling this. They are further bless by this gift from you heart and your hands.

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  31. Andrea, the little collectorAugust 25, 2011 at 3:28 PM

    Truly one of the best parts of quilting! The quilt is lovely and will be so CHERISHED! Thanks for sharing it.

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  32. meli BAugust 27, 2011 at 5:20 PM

    What a beautiful gift. I have been eying my dad's shirts for a while now and I know Mum would love something like this.

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  33. Tonya RicucciAugust 28, 2011 at 1:54 PM

    it's a beautiful quilt and so very sweet of you all to make it. hope it provides a great deal of comfort to your friend.

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  34. Quilter KathySeptember 5, 2011 at 1:43 PM

    Absolutely sacred work...what a privilege and a joy to make these quilts.

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  35. SuzanneFebruary 27, 2012 at 5:45 AM

    I made a quilt for a friend who lost her husband to brain cancer. I know just what you mean on so many levels about the process and its sacredness. It is truly good work.

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