Welcome, Blogger's Quilt Festival visitors! Have fun perusing all the amazing quilts out there. Today I am going to share a new finish with you that is dear to my heart. If you would like to see more of my past quilts, you can find my 2011 quilts here and my 2010 quilts here. Thanks for popping by!
When you were a kid, did you ever exchange jelly bracelets with your best girlfriends? Or make up matching embroidery thread ones? It was also a fad when I was young to decorate your shoelaces with friendship pins adorned with beads, made by your buddies. How about one of those heart necklaces that broke into two pieces, reading "best friends?"
It was along this line of thought that I decided to make matching "friendship quilts" for my best friend and me. We became BFFs (long before there was ever an abbreviation "BFF") back in elementary school in the early 1980s. We both had a knack for skipping double dutch and played a mean game of hopscotch. Over the years, our friendship has grown and encompassed all the things that make up a life- graduations, boyfriends, breakups, marriages, deaths and births. And all the little things, too- shared recipes and bottles of wine, movie nights, girl gossip.
I had bought this fabric awhile back with the intention of making these quilts to celebrate our 30 year "anniversary" of friendship, which will be in 2012. But last month my best friend had a heart attack, a freaky one-in-a-million crappy lottery she won, though she never bought a ticket for this- it was 100% unrelated to genetics or health or lifestyle. So, I thought if there was ever a time when someone needed a little love and comfort, it was now. And so I got to slicing and dicing, and here is what we have:
One for her, one for me. I used Anna Maria Horner's Innocent Crush line because I loved the vibrant colors and hints of purple, my friend's favorite color. I cut it into charm squares, as she has often commented that this is her favorite kind of quilt: simple patchwork.
I had intended to do some fancy straight line quilting, but wasn't feeling it when I sat down at my machine- it seems that life's paths are anything but straight at the moment, so a meandering pattern it became. I love the way it shows itself on the plush minky backing.
I made a couple hand embroidered labels for the quilts which I hand stitched onto the front.
(my dog always finds the softest places to nap!)
I hope that, while she is recovering from this ordeal, she can feel a hug from me each time that she wraps herself in this quilt....and I will feel the same when I am cuddled up with mine.
64 comments:
I love the fabric the quilt and the story behind it! you guys are super sweet :)
Friendship quilts! Brilliant. I love them--that minky backing looks awesome! Was it a pain? You're so lucky to have a longstanding friendship in your life!
And those broken heart necklaces--kind of weird, no?
Oh, Kristie, these are fabulous. And oh, yes, I had a big friendship bracelet phase!! And those necklaces, oh my, the memories... The minky backing does look super fab with your quilting, and I love your quilt label, too. Gorgeous, as always!!!
Oh darn, I thought you were going to share some OCD disorder that would help me clean up my quilting cave. Someone around here needs to have a little cleaning ODC disorder, but it hasn't happened yet!! :-)
Seriously, I love your quilts. Scrap quilting is my favorite!
Oh, so sweet. I hope she recovers fully.
Very nice idea and nice quilts! I hope your friend will get well soon!
(your dog is soo cute):-)
What a precious gift of love for your friend. Your quilt is just lovely and so nice that you have a matching one. :o)
So beautiful and thoughtful! No doubt your bestie will feel loved when she cozies up in hers. Smiles~Beth
That is the sweetest thing. Getting teary eyed just reading it. I wish the best for you and your friend
Awwww, the label even has the trademark heart in your signature :) I hope M is on the mend! Di
Kristie, these are amazing. I can't think of a more comforting gift for a friend, and I'm sure this will greatly appreciated! Gorgeous, gorgeous quilts-- great work!
What a wonderful pair of quilts for you and your good friend. It's fun to see them together on the fence for the photo shoot. I'm sure you both treasure the symbol of your friendship in the quilt.
I colori sono stupendi!
Super sweet and love that fabric choice. Nice idea to label the front too.
Quilts won't make your friend better, but they will sure help!
xoxo
Such an amazing gift idea & at a time when your friend is probably glaringly aware of how important her relationships are. I am sure it means the world to her :)
What a great story. I love these quilts.
What a lovely idea. The quilts are gorgeous. I hope Michele fully recovers to be better than she was before.
Lovely! I think they are perfect. :)
Love the idea of the twin quilts and they are beautiful!
oh wow! What a great idea and very brave of you to do a minky back. Isn't that hard to sew with?
what a lovely heartwarming idea, no pun intended. i might have to steal this idea for myself. matching quilts!. i hope your friend is well on her way to recovery.
Those are beautiful quilts, I am sure they will keep you both warm and comforted and I am hoping you friend will be better soon.
What a great idea and it seems your timing couldn't have been better. I hope your friend is okay and I'm sure she feels your hugs every time she wraps up in her quilt.
Those friendship quilts are a great idea! Thanks for sharing it - and your pretty quilts. :)
What a great idea to make friendship quilts - a *little* more work than those bracelets, though. These are both gorgeous quilts and I'm sure your friend is so very grateful that you're there for her during her recovery. (I'm still shocked by that story.)
I am sure she will know how much you care about her and feel the warmth of that love! Such a poignant stry..and i hope she will be feeling better soon. Thsnks for shsring and have a grest day
What great quilts - I just love Anna Maria Horner fabrics and such a lovely gesture. I'm sure your friend feels the hugs every time she's snuggled up in her quilt!
Gorgeous quilts and lovely fabrics. A very special gift to a very special person from a very special friend.
love the quilt!
Margaret
www.quiltsoflove.blogspot.com
If this were a contest based on stories you would win! You are a true friend to her.
What a great idea! I love this and the fabrics too. So pretty!
love when the story of the quilt makes it even more beautiful
30 years of friendship! That alone is something beautiful... and then you go and add quilts. They are perfect. The simple patchwork a great choice for Innocent Crush.
Bless you and your friend!
Jennifer :)
Very fun quilts! Love that line of fabric!
I have a love for scrappy quilts anyways, but your story of friendship and love makes these two quilts even more special! Thanks for sharing, Kristie!
Blessings,
Tammy ~@~
Beautiful and I am sure she's using it as often as she can. :)
What a meaningful gift to such a special friend - and I love that you have one for yourself too! i hope that your friend is recovering well and will be on the mend soon.
You are a sweet friend. xo
What a lovely sentiment and I hope your friend is quickly on the mend! I have some of these fabrics so thanks for the inspiration to do something with them! Lily.
And BTW, I'm a new quilter and yours is one of the blogs I follow on my blog reader. Thanks for your great photos and quilts!
I LOVE this quilt! You can never go wrong with any ANH fabric...ever! Simple shows off the beauty of the fabric itself. Just perfect!!!!!
Kim :o)
A lovely story for two beautiful quilts. Happy BQF, Kristie!
Beautiful quilts and a beautiful story - I'm sure your friend will treasure hers.
Just beautiful Kristie! Your friend is very lucky to have someone like you in her life!
x
What a sweet story, and such a wonderful gift! I love it!
I Love the story and love behind these quilts. Straight from the heart!
So sorry that your friend had a heart attack. I'm sure the quilt will help speed her recovery.
What a coincidence, my quilt for the festival this year is also a simple patchwork using AMH's Innocent Cruch range! I was drawn to your little thumbnail picture but didn't realize what fabric you'd used until I saw the bigger pictures in your blog post.
I hope your friends mends soon. Has she received her quilt yet?
Great Job~! Love the story. I really hit home for me. I too have a girlfriend from over 50 years and completely understand.
Bah! I'm a mess of tears! Beautiful quilts, beautiful friends, you're a match made in heaven. Here's to thirty more! xo
Hey Kristie,
I sat by you at the Sewing Summit during free sewing time and you were working on one of these quilts and told me a little bit about it. Reading more of the details above, truly warms my heart! What a great friend you are and what a lovely tribute! :) So glad you shared them!!!
oh my gosh! what a beautiful sory behind two beautiful quilts!
Beautiful story, beautiful quilts! I hope your friend's recovery is full and speedy and that you have a terrific reunion (the two of you plus your quilts) very soon.
What a great idea to make a set of friendship quilts; I love it! The quilting looks great on the minky back too I'll have to give that a go.
Thanks for sharing!
What a touching story. I love the idea of friendship quilts. And they are beautiful! And that minky backing makes them extra snuggle-able too. Thanks so much for sharing!
What a perfect recovery quilt! and a wonderful friendship. I love the simple patchwork as it's my favorite too, you did a super job!! the back is awesome!!
Wonderful quilts - I'm just loving all the Canadians I'm meeting at this festival!
What a neat idea and I love the colors!
Great quilts! I love that fabric and think it's wonderful of you to cheer her up with something so warm and lovely.
What a lovely thing to do! I hope your friend is well, and you two have another 30 years of fun together! Thanks for sharing.
A wonderful story of friendship. I can't think of a better gift than a quilt full of your love to wrap around her.
Kristie, I love how these turned out! I didn't realize that you were making it for your friend when you were working on it at sewing summit - what a great gift.
Very pretty quilt! I really like how all the fabrics look together.
Wonderful quilts...wonderful story...you are so blessed. Thanks for sharing it with us.
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