Friday, June 8, 2012

Blue Brick Quilt

I had really big sewing plans for this week.  (What else is new?)  Alas, my day job has been acting up (as it does from time to time) and 14 hour work days (including weekends) don't leave much time for sewing or blog reading.  For as much stress as I often get from my job, though, I have received so much more from the friendships built during those stressful times.

 

This quilt was inspired by one that Sarah made, using a tutorial from the Moda Bake Shop.  It is going to a very dear friend of mine, all the way in India.

See my "helper" peeking through the window?

I "met" Sujay last summer, at 3am (my time) during a conference call for a project we were working on which was (obviously) not going well.  I am the Project Manager, he is a tester.  Most of the testing is done offshore (while I sleep) but from time to time, issues arise that mean I'm (semi) awake and working for crazy, overnight hours.

 
The issue we were having was not Sujay's fault, but he stayed in the office for more than 24 hours straight to help me get it resolved.  Wasn't his responsibility to do so, but he refused to let me (who he didn't even know, except as a voice on the phone half a world away) struggle through it on my own.


We have gotten to know each other better over the past year or so, and I just adore him.  I would adopt him as my own if I could.  He's had a rough year for a number of reasons -- things that I, as an American, won't ever fully grasp.  I wanted to make him something to let him know that even though I'm half a world away, he'll always have a friend in me.


The top to this quilt was done in April.  The quilt tag was finished in May.  The quilting and binding took forever, and I'm hoping it gets to India in less time than it took me to make.  



Sujay, if you are reading this, know you are loved and hugged and appreciated every single day!


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Linking up with: 

Confessions of a Fabric Addict for "Whoop Whoop Friday"
Sew Many Ways for "Find a Friend Friday"
Pieceful Life for "Show Off Friday" 
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~*~ May your day be full of Love and Ladybug Hugs ~*~


Thanks for stopping by!
~ Kat ~

14 comments:

  1. Kathy that is such a wonderful, thoughtful gift. I know how hard it is to sew and quilt when you're tired from work, so I really hope he loves and appreciates it!

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  2. Thank you Kat for finding my blog and now I have found yours. My daughter and I shared the love of gardening and so the day after she passed away, a ladybug landed on our windshield while I was in the car waiting for husband and son-in-law, who were in the mortuary to make arrangements. She sat there, for what seemed forever, bringing me such comfort that everything would be okay...her last words to me before she slipped into a coma were, "I'm Happy."
    Several months later, our granddaughter, Maddie (my oldest daughter's daughter, who is 3), wanted a ladybug pillow pet (a fad) and after much negotiating Erin asked her why she wanted it. She pointed to a photo of Kelly and said, "She told me to get it." So, Erin asked, "Maddie, what's the ladybugs name," expecting her to say Kelly or Auntie Sissy, but instead said, "Her name is Happy!"
    I loved your story of why ladybugs mean something to you and feel this connection already. Strange, but since Kelly urged me to start a blog, I feel I've met so many wonderful women who care about one another, even though we've never met.
    I loved the ladybug quilt on Cottage Quilter, do you have that one? Love, Susan

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  3. Thank you Kat for finding my blog and now I have found yours. My daughter and I shared the love of gardening and so the day after she passed away, a ladybug landed on our windshield while I was in the car waiting for husband and son-in-law, who were in the mortuary to make arrangements. She sat there, for what seemed forever, bringing me such comfort that everything would be okay...her last words to me before she slipped into a coma were, "I'm Happy."
    Several months later, our granddaughter, Maddie (my oldest daughter's daughter, who is 3), wanted a ladybug pillow pet (a fad) and after much negotiating Erin asked her why she wanted it. She pointed to a photo of Kelly and said, "She told me to get it." So, Erin asked, "Maddie, what's the ladybugs name," expecting her to say Kelly or Auntie Sissy, but instead said, "Her name is Happy!"
    I loved your story of why ladybugs mean something to you and feel this connection already. Strange, but since Kelly urged me to start a blog, I feel I've met so many wonderful women who care about one another, even though we've never met.
    I loved the ladybug quilt on Cottage Quilter, do you have that one? Love, Susan

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  4. Fantastic story!! I love your helper in the tree house window;)

    The quilting is wonderful:)

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  5. quilt is great. i fount you on sew many ways

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  6. What a great quilt, made with good memories, well you know what I mean ;) Such a sweetheart to make that for him, he's going to love it. Hopefully the work hours will lighten up soon.

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  7. Such a nice quilt to go to a nice friend....communication is wonderful in this day and age....

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  8. Great send for a friend! I love that pattern, in fact I have it cut and ready to sew. Thanks for sharing your story.

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  9. You did such a beautiful job with that pattern - isn't it wonderful? So easy, but it looks wonderful. Your quilting is lovely too - and it's such a great gift for your friend. Whoop whoop!!

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  10. that is very sweet. i can mail something in the usa and it takes 3 weeks but something from another country get here the next week great mail we have

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  11. This is sooooo sweet and generous of you. Truly paying it forward.

    Pamela in SOMD

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  12. I know sewing during stressful times can be restoritive for me and I hope it was this time for you too. I am sure he will feel so loved and appreciated to recieve such a generous gift. I love the different blues together and the simplicity of the pattern really shows them off so well.

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  13. Kathy- I just love you!

    Thanks for this amazing gift! Though it did not reach to me. However, the memories will always be with me!

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