I created this quilt from a old cross stitch pattern I never seemed to have finished in the 90's. The quilt pattern was totally drafted in Excel (stems from my daily spreadsheet nerdiness!) and created in 10" blocks. This allowed me to work on any block I wanted to help break up the process. I saved most of the harder blocks til the end! The quilt was started in June 2015 and I just finished it up in July 2016, just in time to enter it into the State Fair of Texas. Sadly, I didn't place, but just taking the plunge and putting myself out there was enough pressure for me this year. Hopefully next year I can create something worthy of a winning ribbon.
I created this especially for my younger sister who absolutely LOVES Mary Poppins. She even has the top part of this same image tattooed on her upper arm. She is truly an inspiration to me. Though we lost touch for about 14 years, we recently (the past 2-ish years) have become reacquainted and I've learned of the hardships she's had to endure during the time we lost touch. She suffers from Neuromyelitis Optica which is a rare disorder caused by the immune system attacking the body’s healthy cells, with attacks directed mostly against the eyes and spinal cord. This causes inflammation of the spinal cord and optic nerve, which can cause loss of vision, mobility, and sensation. Although there is no cure for NMO, investigators are seeking a treatment to prevent additional attacks or relapses. Together with NMO, she is the super-mom to two kids in the Autism Spectrum. She and her husband are true angels on earth for all God has given them.
Even though I was hoping to win a ribbon in the fair with this quilt and have it hang for all to see who visited the fair, that just means that I am that much closer to gifting it to her. It's going to be a total surprise!!
The finished quilt measures about 65" x 100". The top is made from only Kona Black and White. The back is a lovely cloud fabric that I purchased online as well as the rainbow paint-stroked binding.
I hope that this quilt will give her comfort when she is feeling down or has to go have her port flushed or to snuggle up under when she's receiving chemo treatments. I want it to be a constant reminder that I love her and am always here for her. She lives in Utah and I in Texas. Not too far away, but still too far to hug her every time she needs it. Hopefully this quilt will help fill that void.
My local longarm quilter, Janie, did a spectacular job on the quilting. It's called Popcorn, but totally looks like puffs of clouds!
Enjoy!
Jenn
