Memorial Quilt

 I recently received an email from Sue and Gene Greer about the memorial quilt. For those of you who don't know the back story, you might want to check out this previous post and the interesting synchronicity involved.

One side is covered with the veteran's favorite t-shirts (see photo above).

The other side has the flag received by his widow along with many of his favorite hats, that were deconstructed by Sue and Gene.

Gene is in the process of quilting words onto the front of the quilt. It will soon be finished.

I can only imagine what it will be like when the widow gets to see the result...all those memories to wrap around herself. Hopefully, it will be a great comfort in many ways.

What is it about quilts?

Detail from Little Trickster

What is it about quilts?

I am not a quilter, though I think I have a quilter's sensibility.

Detail from Blue

Many of the designs that end up on my dolls look a bit like quilting blocks...though some more like quilting blocks gone askew...

Detail from Rammie

Last night, I gave my Playing in the Kitchen talk for Friendship Star Quilters in Gaithersburg, Maryland. What a welcoming group!

After my talk, there was show and tell, where members get to come up and show what they've been working on or share quilts with the group.

Now, I am truly a lover of art quilts. But there is just something about the utilitarian quilt...all that work, patience and love embedded in the fabrics and designs. All that tradition being passed between generations. Quilts for celebrating good times and to give comfort to a sick loved one.

There is just something about that that is very special!

A Little Bit of Healing Magic

Butterfly hanging in my studio

Yesterday, while working at Potomac Fiber Arts Gallery, some magical things happened.

I was training a new member who is originally from Korea. At some point while we were talking, I decided to show her my mom's 80th birthday hamsa.

She was really intrigued by it and told me that it reminded her of Korean shamanic symbols. I wanted to know more. I was surprised to find out that Shamans in Korea are women. That this title and role in the community often passes from mother to daughter. But on occasion, there will be a woman who is not of shamanic lineage...she is called to this duty by a natural ability to communicate with the spirits of the ancestors...

Later in the day, a young woman came into the gallery. Although somewhat hesistant, she wanted to ask a question. Did I know of someone who might be willing to make a memorial quilt for her. Her husband, a member of the military, had recently died in action. She had his uniform and some of his clothes and could not bear the thought of giving or throwing them away.

I immediately thought of the wonderful quilting couple, Sue and Gene, who had just taken my weekend workshop. The words that best describe these two are warm and generous. They work together to create commemorative quilts and what I can best describe as healing quilts. I was most moved by the quilts they make for very young terminally ill children. These are always butterfly quilts which comfort the children and later comfort the parents.

I sent them an email last night with the young woman's information. This morning, I received an email that they looked forward to getting in touch with the young widow.

All I can say is that perhaps a bit of shamanic magic was involved...or at least a little bit of healing magic.