A Labor of Love

One of the quintessential symbols of country life is the quilt.  While I appreciate the artistry of every quilt I've ever seen, it is the love, time and energy poured into each that humbles me.  Being wrapped in a homemade quilt is like being enveloped in an embrace.  When I look at an old quilt, I don't see a tattered bunch of rags.  No, I only imagine the stories it could tell:  of infants swaddled against chilly weather; of family picnics on river banks; of "forts" crafted over furniture during dark winter evenings; of comfort provided during times of sickness and loss. 

I am no seamstress.  While I can do a small bit of embroidery, sewing a straight line on a sewing machine is beyond the scope of my abilities.  I do, however, desire to leave behind a quilt for each of my children.  I have ordered some quilt patterns, and I am going to attempt to hand sew a couple for my kids.  These quilts will most likely not be completed until Annabel and Thane are in college, mind you, but I'll finish them one day!

In the meantime, Jordan's mom and I collaborated on a quilt for Thane's vintage-cowboy bedroom.  (And by collaboration I mean that I picked out the fabrics and she did all of the work!)  Thane eagerly watched his "queelt's" progress, and he was beyond ecstatic the day we brought it home and placed it on his bed.  The underside of his quilt is a soft flannel, and he cuddles up under it every night with a contented smile.  Thanks Mamma!

My sister is also a sewer, and she has created many beautiful quilts, such as the one in the top photo of this post.  She made this throw to be used in our cabin, but I'm not sure my family will ever let it get moved up there - they enjoy it too much at home!  I am in awe of my sister, and not just because of the quilts she has created for us.  As many of you know, Kim has a set of 14 month old twin boys. Yet, she has spent most of the exceedingly miniscule amount of spare time that she has had in 2011 crafting one child-size quilt a month for kids in Haiti!  Twelve displaced children will sleep warm in their beds next year, wrapped in a blanket made just for them.  I can't think of a more tangible way to share love.