this is the quilt that i made for my sister ruth. it was one of my earliest quilts, an eleanor burns log cabin, and is simply tied with primary colored cotton floss. the fabrics are all vintage, and backed with simple, plain white muslin. i used little white "pencil" borders and did 2 colors of praire points as well as a traditional binding....i was brave and ignorant back in those days and was not intimidated by stuff.....it seems the more you know, the more you end up fearing--not a good thing....siobhan and providence are the holders of the quilts. ruth used this quilt everyday, and it amazes me at how well it held up after all that use and washings.....
caitlin's 20th birthday was the monday after her mother's death. i thought it was cool that she had her mom's quilt draped around her while she was opening her gifts.....in a sense having her mother there with her.
for my gift to her, i finally finished her quilt.
caitlin has been thru alot. when my sister had had her cancer for 1 year, her other daughter jennifer got cancer at the age of 20. jennifer is cancer free, and just recently turned 26, but that was tough for caitlin to have the 2 women she loved most be challenged so.......i have also made jennifer a quilt. anyway....several years ago (i think 3) i told caitlin i wanted to make her a quilt too, and to pick the pattern (she picked the hardest one in the book! also eleanor burns--this one is twin sized) and also her fabrics. my sister paid for the fabrics and then ultimately the quilting (again by christi close--and another amazing amazing job!!!) i got most of the quilt made very quickly and then just set it aside--i think it was funky thinking that if i never finished the quilt, that then my sister could never die......yet i knew it was important to her that i get it done. when i saw my sister this past end of july, i told her i would have it done for caitlin's birthday in september. i rushed home and put the borders on and got it to christi. i got to pick it up the night before i left for my sisters this month
, got the binding on and trimmed and took it to ruth's house to get hand sewn.....my sister never got to see the quilt clearly, she was so drugged, but she did know it was finally done--i am sure it gave her great joy to know that caitlin was getting it--a gift from her mom and me.
for my gift to her, i finally finished her quilt.
caitlin has been thru alot. when my sister had had her cancer for 1 year, her other daughter jennifer got cancer at the age of 20. jennifer is cancer free, and just recently turned 26, but that was tough for caitlin to have the 2 women she loved most be challenged so.......i have also made jennifer a quilt. anyway....several years ago (i think 3) i told caitlin i wanted to make her a quilt too, and to pick the pattern (she picked the hardest one in the book! also eleanor burns--this one is twin sized) and also her fabrics. my sister paid for the fabrics and then ultimately the quilting (again by christi close--and another amazing amazing job!!!) i got most of the quilt made very quickly and then just set it aside--i think it was funky thinking that if i never finished the quilt, that then my sister could never die......yet i knew it was important to her that i get it done. when i saw my sister this past end of july, i told her i would have it done for caitlin's birthday in september. i rushed home and put the borders on and got it to christi. i got to pick it up the night before i left for my sisters this month
, got the binding on and trimmed and took it to ruth's house to get hand sewn.....my sister never got to see the quilt clearly, she was so drugged, but she did know it was finally done--i am sure it gave her great joy to know that caitlin was getting it--a gift from her mom and me. so, here is caitlin, with both quilts--her father has given ruth's quilt to her also. as beautiful as her new one is, i am sure it is the humble one of my sister's that she will treasure the most.
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