Tami & Jeremy have their wedding quilt! The happy couple were married in June 2001 and I
just finished their gift. It may be the first and last wedding quilt I ever make. Oh, the pressure! Every anniversary that passed made me feel more guilty. No pressure from these dear friends, mind you, but I knew they were looking forward to receiving it. Little did I dream when I started this project that it would take me so long and they would have 4 children by the time I gave it to them.
When we arrived at their front door and knocked, we heard excited little voices shouting, "They're here!" Wow, what a welcome we got! The children were SO excited. And I think the grown-ups (us included) were, too. We last saw each other at our grandson Caleb's first birthday party, which was over a year and a half ago. It was time for a good visit!
Of course, as little kids will do, they had to bring out all manner of their most prized possessions to show us. I always think that is the way children express they are glad to see someone. They may not have the words to say, "I've missed you" or "It's so nice to see you again" so they put their favorite toys in your lap instead. It's so sweet. We visited for awhile and then it was time for the big presentation!
I think they like it!
Those children were so excited you'd have thought that quilt was a magic carpet or something equally wondrous. They hugged it, rolled around on it, poured over every square all the while giggling their hearts out.. "What does this one say?" "Look at the kitties!" "There's dogs over here." "Whose name is that?" So many questions and so much fun. We spent a considerable amount of time examining the names on the signature blocks, words and shapes I had hidden in the quilting and scripture verses I had written on unsigned blocks. It made me feel better about being so late with this gift, for had I completed it in a more timely fashion, there would not have been these delightful children to enrich the process of giving it.
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| Burying stray threads with the kiddos |
It's a simple quilt of nine-patch blocks comprised of rail fence blocks and solid squares. Tami and I sat together by the fireplace in my family room (way back when we still lived in Michigan and they weren't yet married!) and sorted through my fabric stash, choosing colors and prints she liked. That afternoon is still a pleasant memory for me, as is the memory of their beautiful wedding day on the shores of Lake Michigan.
Tami wanted the quilt to be colorful and cheerful and that's just how it turned out. The fabrics were chosen in friendship and the blocks were signed with good wishes, blessings and love. Then all was stitched together (...slowly...) with more of the same in my sunny Arizona sewing room. I like to think there's a lot of sunshine sewn right into that quilt. I know there's a lot of love.
