The French Connection

Warning:  This is a sad post.

The Paris attacks on November 13 struck me utterly speechless.  

Like most of us, I mourned for the French people and for all of us 

who can no longer take our safety for granted.  

"The French Connection" 58" x 70"

I found myself compelled to make a quilt that reflects this sadness. 

I could not help but drop everything and make this over the last two weeks.

I used simple hour glass blocks.  I knew I wanted to make it quickly.

The somber colors would communicate my feelings.

I started with my small collection of French fabrics.     

The top right block uses fabrics given to me by Willemke and Katell 

when I visited France last summer.

The other fabrics are from my stash, including shirt stripes.  

The blue is another treasure from Willemke. 

The border is an old French curtain.  

Friday was France's official day of mourning.

Katell told me they named all 130 victims on the radio.

Most were in their 20's and 30's, from 26 nationalities, leaving 50 orphans.

I finished the top on Saturday.  

I will quilt it soon and use it all winter,

sending wishes of comfort and healing to the victims, their families, all Parisians, 

the people of France and all of us as we try to make sense of this changing world.  

I know you all are joining me in these wishes.

Peace.