Sunday, December 13, 2009

For a Friend With Love

I love quilts.  They are so cosy and comforting.  On a cold winter day there is nothing better than to wrap up in a snuggly quilt with a hot cup of tea and a good book.
This pile of quilts on the chair is what I've been working on for the past while.  I have a dear friend whose husband died of cancer and she commissioned me to make quilts from his shirts, one quilt for each of their three adult children and one for her.

Her husband Larry, was a great guy, a fine Christian man, full of life, a good sense of humor and always thinking of others first.  As I worked on the quilts, I felt like he was watching over my shoulder, in a good way, cheering me on and enjoying the entire process.

The quilts for their sons were made with the more masculine looking fabrics.



I used some of the lighter colors for their daughter.



 I used what was left over for the quilt for my sweet friend Linda. We as parents often give our children the best and take what is leftover for ourselves, so I thought that seemed very appropriate.  I quilted their favorite bible verses from Isaiah 61 instead of quilting a traditional design.  If you click on the photo it will enlarge it and you can see it better.

When I delivered the quilts we both cried.  Sleep well my dear friend.
 
Rhondi xo

36 comments:

  1. Oh Rhondi!

    What a wonderful gift for your friend and her children! They are beautiful and I know they'll be treasured always. Just a lovely idea...

    Chris

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  2. Rhondi these are beautiful. You have such talent! And what a great idea. Truly you have blessed them.

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  3. OH MY... SO BEAUTIFUL, IN SO MANY, MANY, WAYS.
    THIS WEEK, A FRIEND FROM OUR CHURCH LOST HER HUSBAND SUDDENLY. HE WAS SHOVELING OUR FIRST STORM OF THE SEASON, AND HAD A HEART ATTACK. DON WAS ANOTHER WONDERFUL, GENTLE, HUMBLE, HARDWORKING CHRISTIAN MAN. THIS IS A WONDERFUL IDEA. GOD BLESS AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING.

    HUGS FROM MAINE

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  4. Blessing-to your friend and to you ;)
    Also thank you for the lovely idea
    Soft hugs,
    Rhonda in Montreal (PR)

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  5. Hi Rhondi,

    I woke early and can't get back to sleep, so came to visit my blogging friends, and found this beautiful post...it brought tears to my eyes, both for your friend whose lost her husband, her children, who lost their dad, and because of the love I see in the labor of making these beautiful quilts for all of them to keep as tangible memories of their beloved.

    As a quilter myself, seeing these has touched my heart..I know what you felt and the labor of love that went into it as you sewed. I'm so glad you shared this today.

    God bless,
    Mary

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  6. That was a true labour of love, Rhondi. What a privilage it must have been to be invited to create such meaningful heirlooms.
    Bless you.

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  7. What a lovely thing to do for your friend and her family. All of the quilts are just beautiful and personalized so nicely to each family member. I can just imagine how snuggling under them will help this family grieve their loss

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  8. Rhondi, I am so moved by these quilts. What an act of true love. In the making of quilts, I'm convinced we travel "journeys" as we traverse across one side to the next with our quilting needle. We remember and work through problems and feel joy and feel pain. This for her will be priceless.
    Brenda

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  9. These quilts are so beautiful. I know that they will treasure them forever and ever.

    Hugs,
    Lee Laurie

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  10. What a treasure for your friend and her children, to have something of a lost loved one they can wrap themselves in. You are a sweetheart to lovingly make a beautiful gift each will cherish forever.

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  11. Oh how comforting the quilts must be to their recipients! You put so much thought and loving care into them. They are beautiful!

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  12. Oh, Rhondi, these are such beautiful treasures! My daughter wants me to help her make quilts for her three children from their daddy's shirts. She has kept them since he died last year and hopes to do them soon. Yours are so inspiring - I will share this post with her to encourage to make hers. ~Adrienne~

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  13. Very tender and touching. I'm sorry for their loss but what a wonderful remembrance. I've always wished I would have done that with my Dad's shirts. Clothing carries that scent, that imprint, of the people we love. Thanks for sharing.

    Merry Christmas.

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  14. Wonderful, wonderful! Such a nice thing to do for a friend and her children.

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  15. Rhondi.. what beautiful, thoughtful quilts. I love them!

    thanks so much for visiting, commenting and posting about my 300th post celebration! Good Luck. I can hardly wait to see who wins!

    blessings. Dixie

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  16. They are all beautiful and so full of memories!
    Such a kind deed for a friend.

    Take care,
    Carolyn

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  17. Oh my gosh, I have tears in my eyes, what a special gift to receive is a quilt made out of shirts from someone so special that passed on! What wonderful memories you made that will be passed on for generations! They look beautiful and you are such a wonderful person to do this for a friend!
    Hugs, Ann

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  18. Those are beautiful quilts. Even more beautiful is the loving sentiment toward your friend. Blessings.

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  19. What precious keepsakes from your loving hands:>) I love the idea of quilting a bible verse into them!

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  20. I loved this post. What a beautiful idea and a lovely, lovely treasure. You are very talented.

    Chrissie

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  21. What a wonderful tribute to your friend. I am sure they will always treasure the quilts as a reminder of the one they loved. They are all beautiful as are the hands that created them!

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  22. What a beautiful tribute to your friend Linda's husband. I know the family will enjoy and embrace these quilts. It was very sweet of you to complete this project of love.

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  23. Beautiful quilts, Rhondi. A sweet labor of love.

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  24. I love quilts too. My Grandmother had so many. Wish I had some of hers. I am hoping to make some when I get my new sewing machine. I have some tops already made, just need to put backing and filler in.

    Willow

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  25. I am going to do this with some of my daughter's clothes. She passed away in July at the age of 29. I will make a quilt for my other daughter and one for myself. I hope to begin after Christmas...if I make it thru the holidays :( It is so hard this year.
    Thanks for sharing.

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  26. Hi Rhondi, What a special way to remember someone, I had tears just reading your post. It's hard to lose someone especially when the holidays come...I hope the quilts bring them comfort during the season. You do such beautiful heartfelt work....Hugs, Jennifer

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  27. Rhondi this is such a wonderful way to use your talent. These quilts are the first time I have heard of using a loved ones clothes this way! Wonderful!

    Kathy b

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  28. Rhondi, what a wonderful way to remember a loved one. Those quilts are absolutely beautiful.

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  29. I hope I remember this idea. It is wonderful. You did a beautiful job for your friend, Rhondi. Using the scripture for quilting really touched my heart. How very, very special.

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  30. Rhondi, what a beautiful idea and beautiful work. May the Lord surround your friend & her children with warm memories and God's presence

    May the Lord bless you, too.
    Miriam

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  31. How absolutely wonderful Rhondi, I think that is one of the nicest ideas I have heard in ages. The 'Larry' quilts will be treasured for generations to come (it put a tear in my eye reading about them). Very best wishes for the Christmas season from the English Lake District. Love Eli

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  32. Hello Rhondi !
    What a terrific thing and such memories the family will have for years, when they touch these very special quilts....I bet Larry was
    watching as you sewed and sewed - I know how many hours these quilts take....I just love it !
    Kammy

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  33. I love the black and blue together. These are really fabulous quilts.

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  34. I love all the quilts and the quilting of the verses is such a beautiful touch. It's so wonderful that you were able to do this for your friend. It's a very touching story.

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  35. What a wonderful idea.
    The quilts are lovely.

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  36. This is a brilliant idea, and the quilts are amazing, Rhondi. Love the idea that they are made from his shirts and that you quilted their favorite scripture verse into the quilts.

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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Hi
Thanks so very much for taking the time to leave a comment. I always read every one. I am glad you stopped by for a visit. Hope you'll come again!
Rhondi