This quilt is for Sue. Sue is the full time caregiver for the mother of my friend, Lisa.
I have never met Sue. Lisa's parents and Sue live in Santa Rosa county, in California. They all needed to evacuate because of the fires last month.
Before she left smoky, on fire Santa Rosa, Sue went to her second job (yes, she is a full time caregiver AND has a second job) at a retirement/nursing care center. Because of Sue's insistence that every one of the elderly residents there MUST be evacuated in the single, small shuttle van, no one was hurt as the fires swept behind them soon after. The van normally holds 11 or 12 people, but Sue directed folks to sit on each other's laps so that no one was left behind.
Sue is a hero! And as she worked to save others, Sue's house burned to the ground. I felt she needed to be thanked for her unsung heroism and comforted on the loss of her home. So I made her a quilt.
The fabric is from the Robert Kaufman Imperial collection. It features Asian-inspired florals and geometrics in gorgeous plums and browns and blues with metallic gold accents. Worthy of a hero.
I pieced it in a simple yet dramatic pattern, sashed vertical rectangles that let the fabrics shine and came together fairly quickly. Because, having nothing else now, Sue needs her quilt soon.
I quilted it free motion, with a different motif in each color: curvy crosshatching, ribbon candy, stipples, figure eights, spirals. All that quilting adds lots of texture and warmth, because I figure Sue could use a little quilty comfort right about now.
The backing is a small pinky plum floral on white, because it's pretty. And the binding is gold metallic with a pink inner flange, because that felt kind of fancy to me. And I think Sue deserves pretty and fancy, don't you?
I'm linking to Sew Some Love, where Kat asks us to show our charity projects. But this quilt didn't feel like charity work to me. It was a deep honor to make it for Sue, who deserves so many thanks. It went into the mail today, to Lisa's parents' home, where Sue is living temporarily. I hope she likes it.
I've named this one Sue's Quilt, because if I were a quilt, I'd be honored to belong to Sue. Wouldn't you?
It's a beautiful quilt for a very special,inspiring woman. And you are very thoughtful to show your appreciation in such a tangible way.
ReplyDeleteSue’s story is wonderful and sad at the same time She must be a very loving and caring person. I am sure this beautiful quilt will give Sue much comfort as it wraps her with the love and appreciation you stitch into it. Thank you for sharing Sue’s story. Claudia
ReplyDeleteSue is definitely a hero! So glad you made her a quilt.
ReplyDeleteYES she does!!! Aren't you glad we can make people like her a special gift like a quilt that they can cherish and use...but it also celebrates them. Good job!
ReplyDeleteIt is a really lovely quilt. A way to bring a smile to someone who has had such loss. I particularly like the wavy cross hatch quilting - just gorgeous. Great job.
ReplyDeleteLouise, you're a hero too for wrapping Sue in quilty love!
ReplyDeleteOh Louise, what a lovely thing to do for Sue! She is indeed an amazing woman who should be celebrated, and what better way than wrapped in a quilt! The quilt is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI love it! Striking and full of texture for that amazing woman who is not only a hero, but a warrior. The story is full sadness for the loss but hope for the surviving. Thanks for sharing this and I know she will love the quilt for all the right reasons.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful true story! And what a wonderful thing for you to whip up. Send our love to Sue.
ReplyDeleteYes, what a wonderful thing for you to do, and a beautiful quilt at that ! Hugs to you and to SUE !
ReplyDeleteIt is beautiful and she sounds like a beautiful soul. They belong together.
ReplyDeleteThat is such a wonderful story, and bless you for wrapping Sue in a warm quilty hug. I am sure she will be thrilled to pieces with such a warm gesture after what she has been through.
ReplyDeleteOh, honey, I have goosebumps all the way down to my toes! What a wonderful, heartwarming gesture. Sue is going to be over the moon upon receipt of this beautiful quilt! You’re a hero, too!
ReplyDeleteA lovely special quilt for someone who sounds lovely and special too.... Its lovely to recognise one of the worlds unknown hero's...
ReplyDeleteHugz
SUCH a good story, SUCH a good person, SUCH a lovely thing you have done. SO SO glad she had the seniors sit on each others' laps and they all got out. So sad that her house burned. It seems unimaginable that that kind of thing can happen today, but it does...look at Fort McMurray in my home province a year and a half ago...So wonderful to do something tangible directly for someone so giving; often I wonder where/who/how after I've sent off a quilt for a charitable cause.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful woman who puts the needs of others before herself in those circumstances. It is heartwarming that you have made her a quilt, if anyone deserves it she does. The world would be a much poorer place without people like Sue, and people like you, who makes people happy in so many ways.
ReplyDeleteSniff, it's hard to type as tears are forming. Congratulations for you for choosing such a worthwhile project. It is an awful story in many ways but thank goodness for wonderful people like Sue. Thank you for giving such a lovely quilt to such a deserving member of the community.
ReplyDeleteSue is one of those women that don't come along often in one's life. Her unselfish soul is what this world needs more of. Thank you so much for sharing the story with us & for making this very, very special quilt for Sue. It's beautiful & I know she will cherish it all her life. Yes, I too would be honored to belong to Sue.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a beautiful, heartwrenching story--well story doesn't seem to be the right word because it is REAL life with all its tragic circumstances, but love and hope and heroism. So thankful for people like Sue and people like you. You are just the right person to make this special quilt because of your personal connection and your ongoing commitment to giving so much to so many. Such a lovely quilt, worthy of a hero for sure!
ReplyDeleteListening to reports of that fire was horrible--more so the experience of living through it. I'm sure Sue found comfort in the beautiful quilt. claire aka knitnkwilt
ReplyDeleteWhat a powerful story! Thanks for sharing and reminding us all that there are still utterly amazing people out there - Sue and yourself included.
ReplyDeleteI am bawling my eyes out. :( Thank you for doing this for Sue.
ReplyDeleteTalk about a hero! Wow, what a difficult experience for her and how sad to have lost her house and, at the same time, how generous and caring of her to make sure the senior citizens were safe. Your quilt is really beautiful and I'm sure she appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right -- Sue IS a hero! The quilt is lovely. I'm sure she will cherish it for years and years.
ReplyDelete