Oma Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 Quite a few years ago, my friend Suzette's elderly grandmother's health was failing miserably and she came to stay in their home for hospice. She was hand embroidering some printed quilt blocks at the time. During her illness Suzette's mother sat with her for hours and one day reached over and picked up a block and started embroidering it too. So there they sat for hours on end working on these quilt blocks. Suzette's grandmother succumbed to her illness and her mother put the blocks away and life went on. Suzette's mother's house caught fire years later and these blocks were severely scorched. It was very painful for her mother. She couldn't bare to throw them away and she didn't know how to save them so she again put them away. A couple of months ago she found them and was going to throw them away when Suzette took them. She brought them to me and ask if we could do anything to save them. Well, I figured they were ruined anyway so I had her use liquid bleach gel for colored clothes...soak them for just a little bit...scrub with a toothbrush then put them through a complete wash in the machine at least twice to make sure she had gotten out all the bleach. I just prayed it wouldn't disintegrate the fabric or fade the embroidery thread. Almost all of the blocks had big scorch marks as big as the bottom of an iron. OMG! The huge scorched spots were gone. If you look really close you can see a couple of small light brown spots here and there on a few, but this was a miracle. Suzette lovingly ironed them and we stacked them up and I told her I would teach her how to make a quilt with them. The more I looked at them I realized she had enough blocks for two quilts. A plan was hatched. I would teach her to make two quilts and she could give one to her mother this Mother's Day and she would keep one for herself. We've been working on them in between Suzette's hectic work schedule and my illness. Trimming them all to the same size (they weren't) and sewing them together then adding borders. She came over yesterday and we loaded one on the Liberty and I sat up one of Michael's Circle Lord boards, Cosmos. I got everything lined up and put her behind the machine. She has made every part of the quilt with just me showing her how to do something. I sat on my chair in the front of the machine and talked her through it. She LOVED it! She is definitely hooked on quilting. Today she came over and we finished quilting it and put the binding on while the quilt was still loaded on the longarm. Then I showed her how to use the DSM to sew the other side down by lining it up. She didn't want to hand sew it. It came out perfect and she is just so absolutely enthralled with it all. We still have the other one to get quilted and we have to make labels for both quilts. She is looking for a picture of all three of them together so we can put it with the story and create the labels. It will be so wonderful. I'm really tired today, but it's a good tired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leigh Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 Oma what a wonderful thing to do. They will both be able to remember. I hope you are feeling better soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamache Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 It turned out beautiful! What a wonderful gift you gave your friend, and Mothers Day is going to be special. :-) Love your story. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 My eyes are full of tears. Thanks for sharing this uplifting story, Oma. I can only imagine what this will mean to your friends mother. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luz2Quilt Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 So many gifts to cherish forever just through your kind and generous heart...the story, the memories, and the beautiful quilts. Thank you for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbams Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 What a beautiful story and beautiful quilt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlsa3 Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 What a great story and a beautiful quilt. I know she was thrilled. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sallyquilt Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 Thank you for sharing the lovely story and e pictures. But mostly thank you for sharing your skills with your friend. You've both worked together to make a very meaningful Mothers Day gift that is sue to bring happy tears to her mother's eyes. Hope you continue on your road to recovery without any bumps along the way. Sally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T Row Studio Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 We all have special talents that we can share. You have shared a special moment with your friend she will not forget. Her family will have this special quilt that has memories that will last for a long time. Oma you are a special person, I hope you get feeling better soon. My thought are with you. Have a great Day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMALKB Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 That is so pretty. Delicate............ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKQuilts Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 Beautiful quilt, beautiful story and you are indeed a beautiful person! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonbon Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 Now that's a real treaure! Gorgeous! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie in Ok Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 Great story from a great person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 What a treasure this will be for her mother and her. They turned out just beautiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggienoella Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 Both are quite lovely...great job and so nice of you to do this. Joan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RitaR Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 Your post is a Big Plus, all the way around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pepsi Girl Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 Wow! A beautiful story, beauitful quilt! What a wonderful blessing given to all, thank you Oma Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbustle Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 What a wonderful story and beautiful quilts that are sure to be treasured! Thank you for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lkl Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 The quilt and the story of its making is delightful. Leslie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenscratch Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 Thanks for sharing. You and your friend will both cherish the memory of this. It looks great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaC Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 Awesome Everything, Oma! Very heart warming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted April 7, 2015 Report Share Posted April 7, 2015 I wanted to add---next time someone asks here about stitching over embroidery, I'll direct them to your photos. A perfect example to show that it works well and looks great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenslug Posted April 7, 2015 Report Share Posted April 7, 2015 What a wonderful loving story and gift from you for this mother and her daughter. They will remember this lovely gift forever. Marilyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harcathy Posted April 7, 2015 Report Share Posted April 7, 2015 Beautiful quilt and beautiful story behind it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cagey Posted April 7, 2015 Report Share Posted April 7, 2015 Outstanding story, and quilting. I am sure the two of them will love them. They will be heirlooms to pass down through the generations connecting the young with the old. Thank you for sharing. Cagey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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