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01/30/2007
Quilt update
From Beth's blog:
I was prepared for the worst when we took Sweetpea home. After the horrible time in Addis, after being rejected every single day, after having her choose to be held and loved by anyone else but me, after the screaming fits on the plane, she is a lovely, funny, affectionate child...
My baby is a sweet loving child who melts me when she reaches out for me to hold her or softly strokes my face as she goes to sleep.
I am overjoyed to report that Beth's daughter Freweyne is home, thanks in large part to the kindness of all of our friends inside the computer. (Don't look at Beth's pictures of the two sisters together unless you want to weep like a little bitch.)
And, in some embarrassment for its tardiness, I am relieved to report that the quilt proceeds apace. I have finished piecing the quilt top, and it is ready to be quilted.
It's taken me a lot longer than I expected it to, and for that I am sorry. The last couple of months have been rough, and I've been falling behind on a lot of things that are important to me. Thanks for your patience as I finish it up. And thanks, most of all, for your amazing generosity in helping to build a beautiful family.
Comments (51)
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My GOD that is beautiful.
Offer of knitted goods for runner-up prizes still stands--email me if you would like some fancy socks.
Okay, you're apologizing for falling behind on doing something so wonderful for another family because you're experiencing quite a bit of angst with your own?! Julie, you do so much for others, cut yourself some slack.
And that quilt is stunning. I can't get my act together to mend the pillow on my couch that's been ripped for about a year and a half...
That is the most beautiful quilt I have ever seen, and I work with the Amish!!
How did I miss this the first time!?!?
Is it too late to enter to win?
I'm stunned by how beautiful your quilts are, each and every time.
And yes, I'm crying like a bitch and grateful for the opportunity and all it represents.
So so beautiful! I don't know if it makes me sad that my own quilts are no where near that beautiful or inspires me to work harder and become a better quilter. A little of both, I guess.
And the story of the family finally being complete is also beautiful. I love that so many people can come together and help things like that happen just a tiny, tiny bit.
If you need runner-up prizes I would be happy to donate a simple baby quilt, though I won't be able to work on it until April b/c I have a freelance job that is kicking my butt right now.
your work is absolutely stunning.
The quilt is gorgeous. The story is inspiring. Are "raffle tickets" still available?
The quilts that you have generously made as a way to help other families have been beautiful. This one though... you've outdone yourself. Stunning. I'm amazed you've been able to complete as much as you have! And I was so glad for the opportunity to help Beth bring home her daughter. But! I have to admit that I really want that quilt. Really really want it. Lots.
That is spectacular. I want it NOW.
I am jealous of the quilt's owner to be (I can't remember if you've drawn the raffle yet?).
Violently so.
It's beautiful that you donate your creativity and art so generously.
bj
Forgive me for repeating myself, but you fucking rock!
Wow! The quilt is beautiful and the two little girls are beautiful. What a great project!
WOW!! I can't get over how amazing your quilts are!
And I am now hooked on Beth's blog ;) Her girls are adorable!
Crying.Like.A.Bitch--and I have run out of kleenex
Oh, Julie ... the quilt is positively, breathtakingly gorgeous!
Your talent is amazing!
that is so beautiful i near wept. ok, i did weep. loveliness all around.
Yup. Crying. :-)
Julie, you quilt like an angel. I'm in awe.
That quilt is so beautiful! I'm very impressed, because I tried quilting a few years back (though entirely by hand as I don't have a sewing machine) but threw in the towel after a month working on the same square! You're a talented quilter!
That quilt is gorgeous, but even more beautiful are those two little girls. I'm so glad they are finally living together again.
If I weren't at work right now, I'd be weeping like a little bitch. I may still.
Beautiful story, and lovely to see the sisters reunited.
Your quilt is amazing. As others have asked, is the raffle closed? I seem to recall you posting a winner, but if not... I'd still love to enter!
Thanks for the wonderful update.
Breathtaking doesn't quite cover it. Incredible? Spectacular? Gorgeous? Nope, all these words fall short. What an amazing piece of art you've created, all the lovelier for its amazing purpose. Wow.
Can I ask, after you piece the top of a quilt, do you quilt the layers by hand or machine? I'm a hand quilter who's made many a baby quilt but am trying to learn how to machine quilt and don't quite know how to go about it. (I have one queen-sized quilt I've been trying to finish for no-shit EIGHT YEARS now). Any suggestions on that would be massively appreciated...
That quilt is so incredibly amazing. And I thought you were just a fantastic WRITER! I aspire to be you :)
What a sweet story about the girls, I'm glad everyone is home and happy.
What a beautiful quilt, and what a beautiful thing for you to do. And Beth's story is wonderful. Bless you.
Hi all,
I guess I will officially thank you all onmy blog, so please please come on over. For those not wanting to make the trip, I thank you from the center of my soul for your generosity of spirit and wallet. Dreaming, you are unbelievable. My children will know you as their own special angel.
Love to all,
Beth
Quilt is beautiful -- nearly as beautiful as Beth's girls. What an amazing happy ending.
It's beautiful. (can't remember if I donated! that's just wrong that i don'at remember) And really, how long it took? That is what you are worried about?
It's really not about the quilt anyway.
The quilt is absolutely stunning, the most beautiful quilt I ever saw! When does the raffle end? Or did it already? Sorry my brain cells are no longer what they used to be.
Beth's daughters... a wonderful story!
What a glorious, glorious quilt! Almost as beautiful as the picures of the two sisters reunited at last.
There must be a special place in Heaven for all those who put so much time and effort into selflessly helping others. Congratulations Julia, it's a tribute to caring.
Julie - the quilt is absolutely gorgeous. It simply radiates light.
Hope that the days are a bit lighter for you too
This quilt is divine. But where is the sperm/embryo/vulva quilt?, I ask you. ;)
In all seriousness, I still can't believe that you can find the time to do this with a toddler in the house. I'm so jealous I could spit! I am supposed to be knitting a scarf for my husband's birthday, but I have taken it out and started over 5 times because I keep getting interrupted, which makes me screw up. Also, being blue sucks any desire to do anything right out of me. You are incredibly amazing. Your quilts make me cry like a bitch :)
Whoa. Wow. That is amazing. The girls and the quilt are beyoootiful. I have no idea how you find time to work on it at all. What a wonderful, giving person you are, Julie, to do these grand things for deserving people.
That is one gorgeous quilt; each one is better than the last! What an amazing talent you have!
I'm glad to read/see that the sisters have been reunited. It gives me a warm fuzzy feeling in my heart to know that complete strangers can help each other out like that.
I am crying like a bitch into the sushi quilt, which B. has adopted as his own. Excellent absorption materials. Those two smiles on Beth's girls are amazing!
Totally moving. Just totally moving. So precious.
Any chance I could give just a little bit $more? Or mail a card to them? I feel so strongly that I must give, and feel it would probably be more useful than baby bath and toddler toys.
Please let the internets know, ok?
I think you're a champ. Such great work!
Those are such beautiful little girls. What a proud and happy big sister!
Julie, that quilt is gorgeous, and so is the heart and soul of the person who created such a generous gift.
Now I must selfishly admit that I hope I am the one who won your raffle. When do we find out?
It's really not about the quilt, it's about the girls....that makes it wrong that I want the quilt so, so bad, right?
Julie - this is the quilt with the fabrics you hand-dyed? did you use instructions for that? How long did it take to do all? and how much of each color did you do?
It is gorgeous btw. I started the japanese fan quilt off quiltworx.com a few weeks ago.
Thanks
Sharon
All I can say is that quilt and all the others you have made is simply quite beautiful-- I have found your site and made it one of my homes away from home- i hope you do not mind- i will no longer be a lurker- please feel free to visit my site- We are in the ivf boat-- Unfortunately with my dh's job (he is a leo) financialy we cannot afford ivf and that is our ONLY hope well besides a complete MIRACLE-- Once again thanks for giving me hope!
I am a dedicated lurker, but just wanted to say that the quilt is amazing! You first posted Beth's story and your quilt raffle a week after my son was born, and I think I donated at around 4am during yet another sleepless night...I was beginning to think I'd hallucinated the entire thing!
Julie,
Beautiful!!!! The girls (oh,oh just wonderful), the quilt , the whole story. There- you made me cry. I hope you are happy.
Gem
Georgeous. Stunning. Don't get it near me, I'll drool with envy on it :)
Gorgeous, gorgeous!
I can't recall, where did you learn to quilt so beautifully?! I am soooo jealous!
Julie, the quilt is beyond stunning. Your talent is surpassed only by your generous heart.
A suggestion...maybe you need to pad future quilts with Kleenex, since we're all sobbing like a bunch of little b*tches over here...
It is a glorious, glorious quilt!!!!
I want to win!!!!
I just want to know why there is so much information on the steps, symptoms, etc of getting pregnant, yet no information on womens choices of abortion...no medical methods, advice for young women who are too young to have children and have to deal with the emotional stress and guilt of abortion...information on emotional aspects of how to deal with abortion is a vital topic that needs more attention!
Like some other commenters up there, I can't remember whether or not I actually followed through on purchasing those raffle tickets. The altruistic part of my brain hopes that I did so that I could help that beautiful family. But the part of my brain that moved me to set that quilt picture as my desktop (the same brain part that forces me to stare at said picture, in awe, daily) knows that really it's because I covet that quilt for it's indescribably wonderful colors, impossibly appealing shapes, and amazingly many pieces.
If I didn't enter the raffle, and if I don't win (which, let's face it - chances are slim,) would you ever consider quilting for commission, or are your works only acts of love? (As a knitter, I would totally understand if you wanted to keep your craft seperate from pressures of finance, business, etc.)
Either way, congratulations on such an amazing quilt, and on being such an amazing friend. You're awesome.
Margo - SERIOUSLY? I am sure that if you need advice on abortion, you can find it. I am sure there are blogs and chatboards on abortion. Perhaps you should consider the phrase "There's a TIME and a PLACE" and big girls need to know when and where that is. Let me give you a clue - not now, and not here.
*blinks in disbelief*
Sorry about that! Just had to VENT! Now, like every other person here I just had to say WHAT A QUILT! I love it! I have wanted to learn how to quilt for many a year, but I am too impatient, too unskilled, and too busy. I could look at this for hours. YOu have a gift!
and now I hate that I lost even more so