Monday, November 30, 2015

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.










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49 comments:

  1. Sujata ShahNovember 30, 2015 at 8:27 PM

    There is so much love in this post LeeAnn! Sending hugs to you and our friends in France.

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  2. BéaNovember 30, 2015 at 9:38 PM

    Merci.

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  3. SharonNovember 30, 2015 at 10:52 PM

    It's so crazy now. You just never know what tomorrow will bring. Today, we do what we can to make it a good day and a better day for others, that's a small thing we can do to overcome the horrible events happening around the world. Thanks for sharing this quilt with us.

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  4. Mystic QuilterNovember 30, 2015 at 11:13 PM

    What an absolutely wonderful thing for you to do in memory of those who died and are injured in France.
    You have created a beautiful quilt in memory of all those people.

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  5. audreyNovember 30, 2015 at 11:32 PM

    Just incredible. What a wonderfully heartfelt quilt. And so you.:)

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  6. Quilting StoriesNovember 30, 2015 at 11:38 PM

    Very touching post. Thank you. Your quilt is beautiful.

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  7. la tulipeNovember 30, 2015 at 11:45 PM

    Merci beaucoup...

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  8. Ailsa (Cape Pincushion)November 30, 2015 at 11:51 PM

    What a beautiful gesture. Thank you for sharing.

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  9. Quilteuse ForeverDecember 1, 2015 at 12:03 AM

    Merci du fond du cœur LeeAnn.

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  10. Bricolos du LundiDecember 1, 2015 at 12:12 AM

    Thanks for this beautiful patchwork .. and for this message !
    Merci !
    Claire

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  11. SusanDecember 1, 2015 at 2:25 AM

    A beautiful way to try to make sense of such a senseless waste of life...50 orphans- how sad!

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  12. Juliann in WADecember 1, 2015 at 5:13 AM

    Beautiful quilt and such heart in your reflection.

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  13. DianeDecember 1, 2015 at 5:19 AM

    This quilt is really a beauty. What a lovely and touching memorial. I hope you find comfort in those stitches for a very long time.

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  14. MargaretDecember 1, 2015 at 5:41 AM

    I, too, have found comfort in meditative quilting to deal with grief, and join you
    in your healing wishes for all the victims.

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  15. not so zen -quilts in ParisDecember 1, 2015 at 5:52 AM

    Your quilt is beautiful LeeAnn, and i love the use of my little scraps. The saddness still echoes over town, but nothing is forever and we will overcome this too. Hugs for both and i remember the sunny days of June and the view over Paris from the hidden corner in Montmartre....

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  16. KyleDecember 1, 2015 at 7:51 AM

    A beautiful memory quilt.

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  17. the girlfriend gapDecember 1, 2015 at 8:45 AM

    Sharing your sadness in this senseless act. Hugs to all affected. Janita

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  18. Hilacha (loose strand)December 1, 2015 at 8:52 AM

    The quilt oozes sadness, and the border looks blood-stained seen from afar.
    What a precise rendition of your feelings, which I guess we all share...

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  19. mamifleurDecember 1, 2015 at 9:44 AM

    MERCI Lee Ann for your kind words.

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  20. MartineDecember 1, 2015 at 10:22 AM

    Thank you so much for your delicate and comforting thoughts

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  21. JulieroseDecember 1, 2015 at 10:51 AM

    I love your posting words on your feelings and your fabric interpretation of your sadness...wonderful work and very meaningful...hugs, Julierose

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  22. MarlyDecember 1, 2015 at 11:00 AM

    This is a lovely quilt to contain so many big thoughts; a great way to keep the memory alive and to the fore. Thank you for sharing.

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  23. SophieDecember 1, 2015 at 1:34 PM

    Merci for your care and beautiful blog ! Love fron France

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  24. bumblebee53December 1, 2015 at 3:49 PM

    Your post is so moving, your quilt of remembrance and honor is beautiful. Thank you for acting to help heal the grief.

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  25. O'QuiltsDecember 1, 2015 at 5:08 PM

    absolutely lovely!!

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  26. Mary KeaslerDecember 1, 2015 at 6:27 PM

    You have created the most perfect tribute. Viva la France!!!

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  27. jenny.m@laposte.netDecember 1, 2015 at 10:19 PM

    Merci Lee-Ann, merci.
    jenny from Nantes

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  28. AndréeDecember 1, 2015 at 11:56 PM

    Merci USA !
    Merci Lee Ann très touchée par votre délicatesse
    Que la paix reste dans nos cœurs par dessus tout

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  29. ChantalDecember 2, 2015 at 12:47 AM

    Merci ! nous sommes très touchées ...

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  30. Elisabeth LeguayDecember 2, 2015 at 5:52 AM

    Thanks for sharing our sadness. As usual, your quilt is so beautiful...
    Elisabeth from France.

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  31. fiberchickDecember 2, 2015 at 5:56 AM

    Such a beautiful quilt born out of such an ugly event.

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  32. Rebecca in AKDecember 2, 2015 at 11:38 AM

    A beautiful and touching tribute!

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  33. RachaeldaisyDecember 2, 2015 at 11:41 AM

    Recent events have been heartbreaking. Your use of hour glass blocks are a great reminder that every moment is precious. You're quilt is beautiful especially so for the sentiments and wishes that it represents.

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  34. smazoochieDecember 2, 2015 at 7:12 PM

    I hope no one near & dear to your French friends were harmed.
    What a world we live in. I hope your quilt will help keep that chill away.

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  35. RuthDecember 3, 2015 at 3:17 AM

    I come here after another mass shooting, in San Bernadino.

    Like you, creating is the response that comes to me in times like this. Your quilt is wonderful. Yes, there is sadness and grief in it, but it still feels joyful in its beauty. Thank you for responding to horror with beauty.

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  36. BarbDecember 3, 2015 at 5:01 AM

    Your quilt is beautifully sad. You've put your heart into this mourning quilt and it shows.
    You must feel this devastating tragedy more than most of us.
    Peace - I hope and pray that it is possible

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  37. BarbDecember 3, 2015 at 5:02 AM

    p.s. What a luscious collection of stunning prints and I love love LOVE the border fabric (curtains - brilliant!)

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  38. RuthDecember 3, 2015 at 8:01 AM

    Thank you so much, LeeAnn, for your wonderful comment at my blog, and for adding me to your blogroll. Exciting to connect with you. My email is ruth dot mowry at gmail dot com.

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  39. RuthDecember 3, 2015 at 8:07 AM

    LeeAnn, are you on Instagram?

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  40. Diane Harris, Stash BanditDecember 3, 2015 at 8:48 AM

    Beautiful gesture, beautiful post. Peace.

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  41. VictoriaDecember 4, 2015 at 6:37 AM

    Feeling overwhelmed and deeply saddened for all the continued violence happening around the world, I take some rest and comfort by those, (such as yourself) that manage to, (through love) grow beauty from the ashes of senseless cruelty. xo

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  42. JudithDecember 4, 2015 at 10:57 AM

    How special that you have been putting fabrics from better Paris days in your quilt. Well done

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  43. Quilteuse ForeverDecember 5, 2015 at 3:31 AM

    So sadly the shooting in California seems to be from the same organization. Thinking of you so much. We only want to live in peace.

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  44. AnnemiekeDecember 6, 2015 at 6:37 AM

    Beautiful quilt and post. It is a world out there I totally don't understand. Thanks for your wise words here.
    Groetjes
    Annemieke

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  45. FacilececileDecember 7, 2015 at 9:34 AM

    Merci merci 💔🔝🇫🇷🇫🇷

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  46. LucyDecember 8, 2015 at 11:40 AM

    Very touching. You made a beautiful quilt from beautiful fabrics.

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  47. apiecefullifeDecember 9, 2015 at 3:40 PM

    I have only just got around to reading this. A lovely thoughtful post. It is so hard to speak of these things and I think you have paid a heartfelt tribute. I have been to Paris many times, even stayed close to that part of Paris.
    Thank you

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  48. MaritDecember 10, 2015 at 3:34 AM

    Lovely, lovely quilt... a beautiful and compassionate tribute.

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  49. Tonya RicucciDecember 11, 2015 at 10:12 AM

    beautiful quilt made for such a sad reason. Great colors, love that they aren't in your face national flag colors.

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