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Sunday, January 8, 2012

Pieces of a Life

Joan Miller, the grandmother of my daughter-in-law Rachel, finished her work on earth on New Year's Eve, December 31, 2011. However, she didn't finish all the quilts she had started. So, her daughter, Sharon, (Rachel's mother) gave me a shoe box and a large plastic bag filled with work in progress.I hope to return these pieces to the Miller family after sewing them into something that can serve as a tribute and memento of Joan's life.
I didn't know Joan very well, but I really enjoyed the time we spent together. We intersected at a few family gatherings and as the older women of the group, we gravitated toward each other and generally spent our time visiting over a meal. Joan was a good story teller and loved to talk about her life with the love of her life, Rod. They had been married 55 years and raised six children who all grew to be very good-looking and interesting people.  Joan was a deeply devout Catholic and her faith was always in evidence. I will miss her.
 Joan had cut a stack of 3-1/2 inch squares out of baby flannel. I put them together randomly in this small quilt (28" x 36"). At the Rosary for Joan, her youngest granddaughter, Macy (around 2 years old), wandered around the room carrying a small "blankie" about 18" square and bound in satin. I don't know the story of that blanket, but what a practical thing it was. It was small, portable, and comforting. Taking a note from it, I put a satin binding on this blanket. The purple satin was given to me by my friend Sharon (not Rachel's mother), some fabric she had left over after using the rest of it around a Creche she displays at Christmas time. At Joan's funeral, her casket was placed in front of the Creche at the church which was still celebrating the Nativity.
The back and the batting are some left over from a baby quilt I made a couple of years ago. I don't know who will get this little quilt or how it will be used -- it could be a doll quilt, or a blanket for a cradle -- I hope somehow someone feels Joan's love in it.

1 comment:

  1. I love this: a gift of gifts! Some lucky baby will feel surrounded by gifts, given in love and joy.

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