Years ago, to long to remember, my mother gave me a quilt that she had started. The quilt is a kingsize quilt, white and antique white. It was a kit that she bought when her and daddy were first married, and the design was in candlewicking. Most of the candlewicking was done, there were a few spots that weren’t finished. Knowing that I would never finish it, I put it carefully away in a trunk in the attic.
Because of my recent assignments for Quilter’s Home Magazine, my path has crossed with some very talented quilters. One woman who I really connected with after interviewing her for my Thread Therapy piece; Rachel Grieco of Grandma’s Attic in Dallas made quite an impression on me.
I shared with her the story of the quilt and she requested to see it. I took it in and she saved it. She ripped out all the stitching in the quilt, except for the candlewicking (flower design) then she discarded the floofy batting replacing it with 100% loft cotton. After she did that, she sent it off to a professional free form design machine quilter.
I received the quilt back today and I am speechless. It is a work of art! The machine quilter incorporated a beautiful design of feathers, flowers, clouds, hearts and leaves into the original design so that the whole thing flows. It is incredible- honestly, it made me cry to see it. Such a far cry from the half-finished quilt Mother gave me long ago.
While I was at her store, we were talking about cats. I told her about Buzzby and she has decided she wants him! I’m so stoked, because he is such a lovey kitty and he is overlooked here because of the numbers of cats I have. He deserves to be in a home where he will get individual attention. I haven’t been able to bring him indoors because he doesn’t get along with so many cats, but she won’t have that problem at all.
I am so happy that it was such a complete day. Yesterday, it was my birthday, but today was oh so special. I will be driving up to my parents this summer. I want my mother to see this quilt for herself. It will only be for 24 hours because of the animals, I can’t leave for a long time. I wish I could, I would love for Mike and I to just be able to get away and go on a vacation for about 2 weeks. That would be so sweet. No cats, no dogs, no horses, no peacock, just the two of us for two weeks. No responsibilities, no scooping litter, picking hooves, grooming, mucking, who am I kidding? When I went to see my friend Mo for a week, I was missing the critters from the first hour. I’m stuck, I’m firmly in love with all the critters here-