Happy Birthday Karen Orvin!!!

   

  Both of my boys were in Karen Orvins 1st grade class.  To this day, one of their favorite teachers is Karen Orvin.   They called her Aunt Karen, but she is really not kin to them.  She was married to their cousin who passed away when Waylon was in her class.  But she has law at looked after my boys and made sure they succeeded in school.  My boys have a love for her that I could never explain.    

     Karen approached me a few years ago about making memory quilts for her family.  I at first told her no,  I was not confident enough to do it myself.  But a little over a year ago I told her I would take the challenge on.  At that time and a few times after she told me she wanted a quilt with the most different tops in it!! As I was cutting I decided what quilt would be hers!  It took me the longest time to cut apart all the shirts and pants.  I decided as I was cutting that I would leave the front pockets in the panels and make a pocket quilt.  

     All I could think was how awesome it would be to have a quilt where she could still reach her hands in the pockets that Herbie did.  The same place I saw him reach many times.  I just think it's neat to know that she can share that connection with him.  

     So here is the pocket quilt.  I squared up all the panels.  I put all the panels in order from longest to shortest. I decided on a width and sewed the sorts together to make up that with.  If there was an extra section needed to make it equal, I  used a shirt panel without a pocket. I made 3 rows.  This made the quilt dimensions are about 54x70. 

     I backed it with the same Carolina fabric I used on the others and black.  I stipples a swirl pattern to quilt it.  I  quilted around all the pockets to leave them open.   I then bound it with Carolina fabric. 

     I placed a special message on the back of the quilt using one of his shirt sleeves.  I did not sew this on too neatly. I am hoping this unravels a little and makes soft edges.  One of the looks I like!

     I left this quilt on Karen's porch this morning for her birthday.  I take photos of my quilts in special places usually to those I am making them for.  Herbie called his home his Ponderosa.   I drive home from work in Charleston in the rain.   When I got to Karen's house it stopped raining.   It was like someone knew that I needed to take these photos.   In my family we call rain, tears from heaven.  Today is is one of those days that I think it's evidence to be true.  

     I left the quilt like this in the rocking chair.  I hope Karen loves it as much as much I did making it.  

The End of A Very Busy Holidays

     This has been a very busy year.  I have learned many lessons.  This year I took on more then I could chew in the crafting business.  I feel like I sewed so much for others that I could not do for myself.  From outfits to items and quilts.   I made the 3 memory quilts from the previous post and another for a friend in high schools mother.  These are very time consuming but give me such joy!  I have learned a new method of quilting and used material that I have never used before.  I have sewn up new objects as gifts.  I have decided that next year I will work on Christmas all year.  I will not have to wait to the last minute to do for myself. 

     Here is the quilt I made for my friend Melissa's mom.  It has a Rayon Scarf, flannel baby blanket and 2 t-shirts in it. I boardered it out in a paisley brown fabric.   I used a cream Damask fabric to bind it and a red flowered backing.  The fabrics I used blended with the colors in the shirts.  I was really surprised how the Rayon scarf held to the stabilizer.  I just wonder how it will hold up in future. 

     

    I have really learned this holiday, that even though making for other makes me happy that I must take care of my own first.  A change for next year.  A way for me to remember the reason for the season.  Her is to a difference in 2014!!

Cherished Memories Carry On After Death

     A seven years ago my husbands cousin died.   He has a very close family and my kids actually called him their uncle.  His mother kept my boys when they were babies.  My sons still stop by just to eat with her.  Herbie, was the towns dentist and my dentist even before marriage.  He was also the same age as my mother in law and they grew up like best friends. And Karen his wife taught both of my boys in 1st grade.  He loved High school sports and that's the memory that I think thousands have of him.  He use to sit on the edge of the stage in the gym at Macedonia High School and cheer the foxes on.  His love was for all sports.  He could be seen cheering the Volleyball, Softball, basketball, baseball and football team on.  He had 3 kids who were all bright and well rounded  in sports.   I worked at the High School for a period and Katie (his daughter) was one of the students there. Katie had her daddy so involved in school projects at times that I don't think he had time for himself. And during ball season he was the dad who was always there.  His family was his life.  He was the kind of man that I believe any woman would love to marry.  He loved Karen in an amazing way.  He ate lunch each weekday with his mother and family.   Our community and family lost a great man when he passed.  

   Last year, Karen asked me to make quilts for her kids.  At that time I did not feel comfortable enough to do this.  Earlier this year, she asked again.  I knew that I needed to do this for her.   Her family has done so much for mine that I needed to give back.  I spent hours and days cutting apart his cloths.  Then planning and cutting.  I learned that T-shirts were not the best material for quilts, but I could make them work, holes and all!!!   The shirts were anywhere from his high school jerseys to some from when I was in high school to those of his kids high school years.  Shirts that spanned at least 30 years.  I seperated them by sports and then size.  I then placed iron on stabilizer on each.  One of my favorites is his coaching jersey that I sewed shut and left the buttons on.  I used his jeans and khaki's to make the boarders and some collared shirts as the corner squares. Every part of the top was out of his clothes.  I backed it with University of South Carolina fabric and binded it with the same.  I quilted it with a thread that went from red to burgundy.  The colors of his high school and college teams.  Katie's was quilted with a swirl and the boys with curves. On the back,  I placed a pocket with a saying from Karen on it.  The pocket was actually a part of his khaki pants and can be buttoned,  I left the pocket open where you can put your hand inside of it. This was my favorite part.  They are not perfect but I tried my best. 

     I enjoyed every moment of making these.  I loved to quilt and most of all, love the comfort that each quilt gives a person.  I am excited to know that these quilts will bring Happiness to Tyler, Katie and Jared for years.  

     I took these photos in the area that Herbie parked at his dentist office.  I don't know why I chose there, but I know he has seen them and his spirit is in them.