For Carol

 Carol and I met in grad school at Chicago State in 1974.  We were both graduates of religious colleges and landed jobs with the Chicago Board of Education as high school English teachers.  While I was at Farragut and Englewood, she was at Morgan Park.  By a stroke of luck and some racial integration, we both were at Hyde Park High during the ‘80’s and early ‘90’s.  When I left for Kennedy HS, she returned to Morgan Park, and these are the school we retired from in 2005.

My friend Carol is sick. She has acute myeloid leukemia. Chemotherapy hasn’t been successful.  So she now lives with a low white count and blood transfusions almost weekly.  She started treatment at the University of Chicago, but now uses Little Company of Mary for her blood testing and transfusions.  And Carol, above all, is a people person.  Predictably, she is a favorite of the nurses there. Little Company recognizes outstanding employees with monthly Daisy Awards. Carol asked if I would make a Daisy wall hanging.  This is about 21” x 31”. 

Of course there must be a label.  But it is hard to imagine anyone walking by this piece and looking at the label.  So I put the label, with Carol’s words, on the front. 

I was with Carol at Little Company when she gathered the nurses and presented it to them.  It was a joy to see how pleased they were with this gift and how happy Carol was to present it to them.  One nurse even got all teary.  And that’s every quilter’s goal, right?  Tears! 

Carol is a woman of strong faith.  Her friends are deep and many.  Her family is precious to her.  She is facing what’s ahead with grace and mental strength. She has spent a lifetime giving to others.  And now she’s on the receiving end.   No matter how she receives from her cadre of carers, it will never be as much as she’s given over the years. She’s a remarkable woman whom I love. 

For Ali

   

This quilt is good, isn’t it?  It’s now in my sister’s  guest room in Ann Arbor.  I loved making this quilt mostly because I love these fabrics from designer e bond.  Since I still had more of these fabulous prints, I continued to sew.  And I came up with this.

This top has been complete for over a year.   I thought I would have it longarmed, but longarming is too expensive, especially for a quilt with no destination.   So I hit my bolt of Warm and Natural for batting and searched through my stash for backing.  Once all was pin basted, I started hand quilting it.  My niece Ali was in town a few weeks ago and saw this.  She loves it!  It’s hers!  So happy that this quilt has found its owner.  Ali is moving from Indiana to California.  And this quilt loves taking road trips. Happy trails, Ali!