After I agreed to do some pattern testing for Shannon at Shannon Fraser Designs for her #IrishVortex quilt pattern that will be released next month, I received her directions and I began my fabric pull.
I had settled on a crib sized quilt (the pattern will include 8 different sizes) and I wanted to use some of the "Captain Frog" fabric that I had in my closet...
All of this fabric is stuff from a stash from a retired sewists (or is that sewologist? may be simply sew-er, because sewer doesn't look right). Either way... What a gift! That Captain Frog fabric was purchased from an Alco and dated back to 2003... it's been around a while!
Now, I have to say you will not want to miss this pattern. It is a wonderful pattern that will be loved by beginners as well as some more advanced... because, well, you know that even those of us that have been quilting for some time can use some simple, fast projects in our libraries! Shannon will announce the release in October... watch for it
As I started this quilt it was Labor Day weekend. My husband and I had attended the local parade and spent some time enjoying some social interaction (need I remind you that we are self-employed and have little face to face interaction with our members of our community? And my husband is an extrovert?) It was fun to bump into friends we hadn't seen or talked to in months.
**Spoiler Alert** There is an emotional story of an event that played out as I progressed on this quilt...
Upon our return home we received the terrible news that the 8 year old son of friends we hold dear in our hearts had also been in a parade in the North Denver area and had fallen off of the float and died.
The parents (Jimmy & Melissa) as well as the grand-parents and numerous aunts & uncles are people we hold so dearly to our hearts because they have such generous hearts and only want to live to share the love of Christ, their Lord and Savior. We have been blessed for the past 15 years to watch their family & faith grow. You see, all that Melissa had ever wanted in life was to be a Momma. She and Jimmy struggled with infertility for several years before receiving their first miracle in January... and then just a few months after her arrival came to discover to find that miracle #2 would be born in the same calendar year! Yep, Irish Twinsies! Followed by a third little blessing a few years later.
We have watched their little family grow in numbers and in faith. Just in July Melissa was able to participate in a mission trip to Guatemala.
And they were participating - as a family, all five of them - in an outreach event with their church that was promoting the opening of a new church campus in the town where the parade was being held. Little "Brycen Boy" fell off of the float and the rest... well, details don't need to be shared... (I don't even know of all the details because I chose not to ask) but one can imagine how horrific they would be...
By the end of the day a go fund me account had been set up by Jimmy's employers to help cover any expenses the family might incur from the tragic event. To date, more that $87,000 has been raised.
A few days later Brycen's parents, with the strength and courage that could only come from God, released a statement saying that Brycen never would have wanted to cause such pain in his death and encouraged everyone to
"...serve each other with unselfish hearts, be generous beyond reason, play as hard as you can, hold the door open at every opportunity, and seek Jesus with the faith of a child."
So... as I pieced (and un-pieced a few times - maybe I was a little distracted...) the blocks for this quilt I naturally thought of the Zerby family... and the irony of the name of this quilt "Irish Vortex" ...
that little red-headed, freckle faced boy, who was an Irish twin with his sister... and the swirling of life events moving in slow motion, yet spinning out of control, as his family simply moved forward with funeral plans for the end of the week.
You can get a sense of the swirling motion that this pattern gives in the photo below...
Brycen's grandmother shared with me that following his funeral there were seven (7!) individuals that committed their lives to Christ. I sit here in tears even now just thinking about this. The soul of one little boy gone, yet through the actions of his parents and family members saved seven for Eternity.
It is the promise from Romans 8:28 that those surrounding the Zerby's cling to...
we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him...
It was with mixed emotions as I finished this quilt... I had a bit of "the luck o' the Irish" with my bobbin...
It was the last seam on the last block... It was as if I was playing Russian roulette and I won!
I had mentioned it to Dave, and he suggested that I go buy a lottery ticket since my luck was so good! lol...
I added a border, but not too much of one, allowing it to still have a standard width of fabric - Captain Frog fabric - backing.
I contemplated how to quilt it as I spent an hour or so laying awake in bed in the wee hours of 9/11. I thought about a simple all over lattice... or even straight line quilting...
but then it suddenly occurred to me, free-motion stars and loops!
It was shortly after that revelation that I fell back to sleep.
Does anyone else "quilt" in their mind when you can't sleep? Please tell me I am not alone!
Leave a comment below... you know I love to hear from my followers!
My plan for this quilt is to sell it with all proceeds being donated to the Zerby family.
Are you interested in purchasing this quilt? Let me know. You can e-mail me at MelvaLovesScraps@nolanqualitycustoms.com ... While every quilt that I make is "blessed from above and made with love", this one may have had a tear or two shed on it... But I don't think that is a bad thing. 😘
Be blessed!
Melva
Melva Loves Scraps - Home of the Quilters Through The Generations series
Linking with:
Blogger's Quilt Festival at Amy's Creative Side
A beautiful quilt and tribute to a young life that ended way too early for our earthly standards. You're right -- a few tears in the making contribute to it's beauty. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a cute quilt from a tragic story. So sorry.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and heartbreaking tribute. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sad story. My daughter just recently died at 34 yrs but we had a few days to prepare(3 weeks) and it was devastating so I can imagine the horror of such a tragic accident. I like the quilt,I had never heard of Captain Frog but that will be fun. Yes I quilt or plan when I can't sleep and sometimes the planning is why I can't sleep.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry for your loss as well. I am glad to hear that I am not alone in the quilting and planning when sleep is difficult. Be blessed.
DeleteMay many come to know the Lord Jesus because of the testimony of this dear family and because of this sweet little boy...Thank you for sharing...
ReplyDeleteA sad story that is yet filled with hope. I don't exactly think about quilting as I lie awake, but I do often wake up with a quilt design in my head, or the easier way to do something! Bless you for dedicating the proceeds of this quilt to the family.
ReplyDeleteSo emotional and I was very touched by the story & it's a lovely quilt. I also quilt & design in my mind when I can't sleep, so no, you are not alone. Take care.
ReplyDelete