Here’s another quilt story. So many of my quilts, and probably yours too, have stories. My friend, Sandy, lives near Austin. But, I met Sandy in the early 80’s when she lived in Lake Charles. The first time I remember seeing Sandy, she was singing in the Christmas play at our church. She looked about 10 months pregnant. She had the baby on February 2 – a daughter, Leanna. I’m not sure how we got to know Sandy and her husband but they ended up being some of our best friends. They guys did things together, the girls did things together, we did things together as couples. The baby that was born on February 2 was their second child. Their older daughter was about 4 years older than Leanna. This was at the time I was trying so hard to have a baby and I loved Sandy’s girls. When Leanna was 3 or 4, probably in 1984, they moved to Austin, TX. I was devastated. I knew it was crazy but I was so sad that those girls were moving away. As so often happens, with the distance between us, we grew apart. Worse, both couples ended up getting divorced.
In about 2001, somehow we got in contact with each other and then we met up on Facebook and have stayed in touch since then, though neither of us have met the other’s husband and we haven’t seen each other since some time in the mid 1980’s.
In 2008, Sandy was working retail and she and I were talking about Black Friday and how rude some of the shoppers were to the workers. Sandy was dreading working that day. I decided to make her a quilt and I named it “Black Friday”.
But before I sent the quilt to her, I decided to include it in the last book, 60 Pieced Borders. I figured Black Friday wasn’t a good name for it so for the book, the quilt’s name is “Working Girl”. I had told Sandy I had something to send her but never said anything else about it. I was thinking I’d get the quilt back in 2010, once the photography was done for the book, and I’d send it to her then.
AQS usually keeps one quilt from each new book and that quilt travels around to the quilt shows and is displayed in the Author’s Exhibit area. This is the quilt they chose to keep. Just last week, I got it back so I’ve now mailed it to Sandy, along with a long story as to why it took so long for me to send it.
Here’s the backing . . Sandy loves cats.
That was probably one of those fabrics I had a hard time using on the back side but I’m glad I did. And, I’m glad it’s finally on its way to Sandy.
Angie says
Beautiful quilt and lovely gift! I especially like the border!
Doe in Mi says
Bet she will be so happy with that gift. I know I would – its pretty, bright, and joyful. Love it.
Regina says
🙂 great story – and a wonderful quilt! I hate Black Friday – I do most of my shopping all year round and the rest of the gifts I usually make, so Black Friday to me is a crafting day- much much less stressful and for me, lots more fun.
Missy says
When I worked retail, I always opened, but on that day I would ask if I could come in 2 hrs after opening so I could shop first, they were always so surprised I planned to get all my shopping done in 2 hrs that early in the morning and then come to work – that they always said yes. LOL And some of the customers are very rude, just as some of the cashiers are very rude too. Both irritate me!
carolyn says
Oh what an awesome story! I can’t wait to hear what she says when she opens the box! it should be a priceless picture.
Lori says
What a wonderful story. I especially love the boarders and I love all of the bright colors. That is my favorite color combination. I’m sure she will be absolutely thrilled to recieve it.
Libby says
It’s my favorite quilt of all of yours that I have seen on this blog and a wonderful story to go along with it.
My part-time retirement job is retail. Everyone should work retail once just to get a shopping perspective. I have met some wonderful people butI am appalled that I can go days without ever hearing the word “please”.
Debi McIntosh says
Judy, life sometimes has the way of getting in the way – lovely that you used the cats – I bet she will love it – and be so surpirsed by it – it is a lovely quilt – good on you – friendships are important 🙂
Sandy Preslar says
I got the quilt from Judy and was in shock. Our friendship has always been bound by our unique personalities even though we seem to be so different. Our roads have taken some weird turns but they seem to be merging again. Judy is a jewel and a treasure, a true friend and the value of the quilt: priceless….now what can I paint for her?
Sandy Preslar says
By the way, my cat, Chili has already expressed his approval of the “Working Girl” by laying on it immediately to get warm. He did not have my permission. He really likes the side with the cat print!