We loved Johanna. She was a member of the Charlotte Irish Quilters and a special friend. In September she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer...not a good thing. Did it keep her down?? No it did not. She had a sense of humor coming to the booksigning saying, I thought I had better show up before you all had me dead and buried. She came to quilting, she came to book club, she had outings with her lovely family and wonderful friends, she went to a wedding. She had a smile on her face in public, despite the private pain.
The Charlotte Irish quilters made this quilt for her when she was diagnosed. We sat at the machines and tables at my house and organized the squares and sewed the strips on the blocks. Johanna had painted two water colors for me which hang in my dining room. My husband scanned the paintings and printed them on Timeless Treasures computer fabric. I cut that fabric up to incorporate into blocks. The fabric was added to show who Johanna was. Since she was from Northern Ireland, sheep fabric was a must. So were the shamrocks; music fabric since her husband and son are musicians..flowers for the garden club, a yoga monkey for her yoga, the dog label for the dogs she loved etc. She was a healthy eater so I latticed it with cucumbers! I quilted the quilt and delivered it in three weeks time for her to enjoy with chemo and all. She died last month. Johanna's quilt is my entry for this festival...for love, for dignity and for her memory.
28 comments:
Beautiful quilt and story
I agree! What a beautiful quilt and testiment to your friend! i am getting my quilt post ready too!
Beautiful quilt! What a lovely and thoughtful gift!
How lovely she could wrap herself in the warmth of this heartfelt and very special gift.
That is an amazing quilt with a wonderful story of love behind it. What a comfort it must of been to her to be reminded of her friends' love in her most challenging hours.
What an amazing quilt and story. I have no doubt this quilt was a soft embrace of love for your dear friend.
beautiful Qult and what a story Congratulations
A heartfelt story of true friendship. Thanks for sharing your quilt and your story with us all!
What a very special quilt .
Truly a special gift. Quilts made with love are those that are treasure the most!
Thanks for stopping by my little blog earlier. You were very sweet.
Beautiful quilt. Great story.
SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
What a great personalized quilt-I really like the idea of printing out part of her watercolors and including them in her quilt. I'll bet she relly appreciated that and I'm sure she found the quilt very comforting. I'm sending a virtual hug along for your kindness.
Sandra
A beautiful quilt and a lovely gift for a very sad occasion. Quilts can be so meaningful ways to show appreciation of friendship and love. Thank you for sharing!
And thank you for your nice visit, too...
What a stunning quilt and a very moving story to go with it, thank you.
Thank you so much for sharing this quilt and its story. It really touched me - and all those details you put in must have given your friend a very strong "We love you!"
You all stitched your love for your friend and she felt it. What a great quilt. Thank you for describing the cucumber sashing, I was wondering what that was--it makes a terrific graphic! So sorry your friend is no longer with you, but thank you for telling the story of her quilt.
What a lovely quilt you made for your brave friend. I'm sure her family appreciates it.
A beautiful and fun way to remember a friend. I'm sure she cherished the quilt while she could.
Beautiful story and quilt. I am so sorry for the loss of your friend.
I've always loved that Tina Givens bird in the lower right, it reminds me of Dr. Seuss for some reason. Great quilt, great story.
A beautiful quilt for a beautiful lady. I am glad she was able to keep warm by all the loving hands who made the quilt. You will have her memory forever. Take care:0)
A beautiful quilt with a beautiful story.
Such a beautiful story and how wonderful to have a quilt to commemorate such a beautiful friend.
... thank you for sharing the quilt and the story with us. it is truly a beautiful gift.
What a beautiful quilt. Thank you for sharing.
O my gosh. What a beautiful quilt, and what a beautiful story. I'm sure she loved it. Thanks for sharing.
what a beautiful quilt and such a precious reason to make it for your friend! just love the paintings she did that you could incorporate in it and all the other wonderful memories--it will be a treasure for her family
A quilt as beautiful as the story that goes with it - thank you for sharing.
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