Tuesday, September 6, 2011

More Sacred Work


 A couple of posts ago, I showed a quilt made for a friend whose husband had died this summer.  She gave me a dozen of his shirts.  This weekend, I made a quilt for each of the two daughters.

 

One is just beginning her life at college, and the other is entering high school.  Each quilt is 48 x 60".



Each quilt has six pockets.  I found that a 6.5" square works well for these.  They can store momentos from their father...


Or just put their hand in, knowing this pocket was worn right over his heart.  

 

From the shirt backs, I made the back of the quilt for the mother.  

The shirts went to good use.  There are almost no usable bits left.

at

41 comments:

  1. Miki WillaSeptember 6, 2011 at 9:38 AM

    These are wonderful. What a special gift you have given to them.

    ReplyDelete
  2. whiteySeptember 6, 2011 at 9:41 AM

    Truly wonderful I recently did this for my Mom with my fathers shirts.

    ReplyDelete
  3. MichelleSeptember 6, 2011 at 10:15 AM

    Those are wonderful quilts -- I can just imagine the memories associated with all of those shirts.

    ReplyDelete
  4. TeodoSeptember 6, 2011 at 10:42 AM

    These quilts are fantastic. How many memories under each piece.
    ciao ciao

    ReplyDelete
  5. SharonSeptember 6, 2011 at 11:45 AM

    You ROCK! These are fabulous and I know they will love them,

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sujata ShahSeptember 6, 2011 at 12:37 PM

    Beautiful quilts with as beautiful purpose! I love the idea of including pockets in memory quilts. LeeAnn, you are so real!

    ReplyDelete
  7. QuiltdivajulieSeptember 6, 2011 at 1:13 PM

    What a blessing you are in their lives . . . THIS is what quilting is all about.


    HUGS to you.

    ReplyDelete
  8. bethSeptember 6, 2011 at 2:51 PM

    What a loving thing for you to do. They are just beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Pinkadot QuiltsSeptember 6, 2011 at 3:11 PM

    That is so touching, they are going to love them forever. How nice to be a part of that!

    ReplyDelete
  10. PokeySeptember 6, 2011 at 3:46 PM

    I've been called upon to do this for a dear friend whose husband was killed this past week. I hadn't considered adding a pocket, I'm so glad you shared that. "over his heart"...man, it hit me!

    ReplyDelete
  11. AlexisSeptember 6, 2011 at 4:35 PM

    These are so lovely and special. I love what you did with the pockets!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Julie FukudaSeptember 6, 2011 at 4:42 PM

    How very special each one is. I love the way you put them together and the thought that went into the process.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ann MarieSeptember 6, 2011 at 4:53 PM

    The pockets are fantastic! What a great idea. The quilts look really great, and I'm sure they will be much appreciated.

    ReplyDelete
  14. HelenSeptember 6, 2011 at 6:13 PM

    I cannot imagine a more perfect memorial. I have kept my late husband's shirts for this very purpose. I want to give them to my three sons. Those stars must represent the two daughters, right?

    ReplyDelete
  15. LynnSeptember 6, 2011 at 6:37 PM

    What special gifts these will be! They are lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  16. meli BSeptember 7, 2011 at 3:16 AM

    Perfect presents to be treasured forever.

    ReplyDelete
  17. BarbSeptember 7, 2011 at 3:58 AM

    What a beautiful and meaningful gift. You really made a treasure that is just the right amount of somber and comfort! Hats off to you!

    ReplyDelete
  18. ClareSeptember 7, 2011 at 4:37 AM

    Fabulous mementos.

    ReplyDelete
  19. smazoochieSeptember 7, 2011 at 5:13 AM

    At 46, I thought I was too young to lose my Father -- these young women were indeed too young to lose theirs. I am glad they will these quilts to keep them warm.

    ReplyDelete
  20. NancySeptember 7, 2011 at 6:41 AM

    Just lovely... these will be treasured without a doubt.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Tonya RicucciSeptember 7, 2011 at 7:18 AM

    oh man, over his heart. so sweet. I would bawl my eyes out.

    ReplyDelete
  22. ChrisSeptember 7, 2011 at 10:15 AM

    What a perfect memento, to be able to cuddle with a quilt that used to be worn by your dad - so special. Somber, and sweet, and sacred.

    ReplyDelete
  23. debraSeptember 7, 2011 at 4:50 PM

    I can feel the love: in the shirts before they became "fabric"... in the quilts during the creative, sharing process... and with the recipients, after they receive them. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  24. KimSeptember 7, 2011 at 6:24 PM

    I love using pockets in quilts....also a good place to tuck a label into on the back.
    I love your sentiment of next to his heart, very touching.
    How kind of you to make these remembrances for his family.

    Happy Sewing

    ReplyDelete
  25. Sherri ~ daintytimeSeptember 7, 2011 at 9:37 PM

    Beautiful meaningful work. So simple and so powerful.

    ReplyDelete
  26. MulticoloredPiecesSeptember 8, 2011 at 7:34 AM

    These quilts are so subtle and yet the idea behind them is so good and decent and loving. And these quilts will certainly be cherished.
    best, nadia

    ReplyDelete
  27. BuffySeptember 8, 2011 at 8:56 AM

    Beautiful, with a special spiritual feeling.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Mary KeaslerSeptember 8, 2011 at 5:23 PM

    Oh LeeAnn, they are perfect. I cannot conceive of anything more perfect. You are such an angel

    ReplyDelete
  29. EmSeptember 8, 2011 at 8:34 PM

    A treasure for each of them. The pocket is so touring and to read how young the children are and the family grieving. What a gift u r to them.

    ReplyDelete
  30. AnonymousSeptember 9, 2011 at 3:02 AM

    So great idea the pocket and to make one quilt for each member of the family. Touching work, powerful too.

    ReplyDelete
  31. BonnieSeptember 9, 2011 at 5:50 AM

    This is just so marvelous and indeed sacred. love the pockets.
    Great job. Bonnie

    ReplyDelete
  32. MaritSeptember 11, 2011 at 2:08 AM

    I love these three quilts. Both simple in design, sober in colors and very powerful in their layers of meaning and comfort.
    Keep thinking of the lovely get together we had. It was such a treat! Love your flying geese blocks. I have washed and stashed the thrifted shirts i brought home, for now...
    ; )

    ReplyDelete
  33. Kathleen CSeptember 11, 2011 at 2:05 PM

    The quilts you have made are truly moving, and they will be treasured.

    On another topic, the slide show of your quilts, scrap and liberated, is my favorite of all those I've come across. I receive your posts through Google Reader, but also like to visit here. The tulip quilts are great! Antique quilts offer inspiration to me, as do your own quilts. Thanks!
    Kathleen in CT, from Lib-Quilters Yahoo Group

    ReplyDelete
  34. GayleSeptember 11, 2011 at 6:19 PM

    Absolutely beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Jenny MSeptember 11, 2011 at 7:26 PM

    These quilts will be treasured forever. What a truly beautiful & thoughtful thing you have done.

    ReplyDelete
  36. JanetSeptember 12, 2011 at 4:48 AM

    I love them, what perfect gifts and the pocket was such a brilliant addition. Congratulations on doing such a wonderful job on them.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Cathy @ CabbageQuiltsSeptember 13, 2011 at 5:43 AM

    These quilts are beautiful and even more precious with the story behind them. What an amazing gift for these girls to treasure, you are so thoughtful. xo

    ReplyDelete
  38. VesuviusmamaSeptember 17, 2011 at 5:45 AM

    How wonderful and touching, especially putting their hands in the pockets that were over his heart.

    ReplyDelete
  39. BiblioMOMiaSeptember 18, 2011 at 1:40 PM

    I just found your blog and your work, and this post and this gift made me sob. I can't imagine losing my father now; I certainly can't imagine losing him when those girls did. This is a gorgeous and wonderful gift, and the real reason why quilts keep us warm.

    ReplyDelete
  40. the girlfriend gapSeptember 23, 2011 at 11:00 AM

    thank you for sharing your quilts. They are an inspiration. we just said goodbye to a friend this week who died of cancer. I am going to bookmark this quilt. she has three children. perhaps I can do something like this for her children. I know it would be a comfort to them. it is amazing that you got all three quilts out of just 12 shirts.

    ReplyDelete
  41. theaOctober 15, 2011 at 9:49 AM

    What a great gift to give someone who has just lost someone. thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete