In the case of this 45″x 54″ quilt/wallhanging I designed for Island Batik’s “Looking Back” challenge, the title is sadly ironic.
You see, I began designing this fun little quilt a few months ago. The challenge was to take a vintage quilt pattern and use it as inspiration for a modern style quilt. I chose the traditional “Hourglass” block, also commonly called a quarter-square triangle. This pattern features 3″, 6″ and 9″ Hourglass blocks, and I titled the pattern “Plenty of Time.”
In mid March, my life was turned upside down, when my mother was diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer. My weekends, usually my quilting time, were suddenly spent sitting by Mom’s hospital bed, and the top for this quilt was sewn during the few evenings I had to myself in a hotel room. The doctors had told us we might have up to six months. As it turned out, we had just six weeks. We said our goodbyes on May 15th.
For the last week of her earthly life, I slept in a recliner next to Mom’s bed at Peace Hospice in Great Falls. One night I dreamt of her passing from this world into the next, and into the welcoming arms of my grandparents and a host of friends and family members who have gone before.
I have tried several times to change the title for this quilt, but it won’t let me. “Plenty of Time” just seems right.
Thanks to Island Batiks for providing the fabrics. I used a package of 5″ squares, and the “Stash Builder” bundle of 5″ x 21″ strips, cut into 5″ squares, plus a few larger scraps and yardage.
The quilt was sewn with thread provided by Aurifil, and quilted by Kathy Brown at the Creative Needle in Shelby MT.
Batting provided by Hobbs.
Want to see more great quilts inspired by vintage quilts? Check out the blogs of my fellow Island Batik Ambassadors:
Quilting Affection Designs
Adventerous Applique and Quilting
It’s a very lovely quilt, and I can’t believe you got it done at all. So sorry that your mum has gone, I hope you will find some comfort in the caring of the quilting community and of course take any blog breaks you need to process your loss. hugs.
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i’m sorry for the loss of your mom. It is so hard to lose a parent and then to such a devastating disease. This is a lovely quilt and I am sure I could not have continued to sew during that difficult time. Your dream sounds like a message across time and I hope it will give you comfort when you think of it.
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I’m sorry for the loss of you mom. Your quilt is lovely!
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Beautiful quilt and I am so sorry about your mom, it is so difficult to lose a parent.
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My deepest condolences on the loss of your Mom. I’m so sorry for your loss.
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That is a lovely quilt, and maybe it can remind us that there isn’t always plenty of time, so we should make the most of what we have. I’m sorry to hear of the loss of your Mom.
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So sad to lose a loved one. She was blessed to have such comfort & love at her bedside for her last few weeks. Peace~
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