Pages

Welcome

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Fabric... Welcome to the Patriotic Quilter where I like to share all things quilty as well as red, white, and blue! Please feel free to look around and enjoy yourself! I would love to hear from you.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Trouble Times

Hi Everyone,

The last time I wrote, I was eagerly sharing the fact that my quilt was on display at the Temecula Quilt Co's blue and white show.  I was also attending our local fall festival and I was excited about it all.  Saturday was a fun day, but it seems a long time ago now.

As many of you know, my husband is in the Army.  He runs a "section" of his unit that has at least a dozen soldiers and maybe another dozen civilians.  Helping him with all of that are his two "right hand guys."  They work hard with him to keep everything running smoothly.  One of them called my husband on Sunday afternoon.  His wife has been having big issues with her knee--repeated infections that they can't cure.  She was on bed rest undergoing an "at home" round of IV antibiotics.  He went to check on her and she wasn't breathing.  They took her by ambulance to the hospital.  They couldn't save her.  She was 34 and leaves two sets of twins, 8 and 12, and a distraught husband who is blaming himself for not saving her.  It has all be completely horrible.  Needless to say, it has been hard to get excited about anything.

But, this activity we all share, quilting--is about comfort.  Handling fabric, using a needle, creating something are all activities that soothe me.  So I have been quietly working on a few things here and there while I try to begin to heal, but whenever I think of the family, my heart breaks again. 

One of the things I was able to do was to make a label for my Dresden Doilies quilt.  The quilting is done and it is on its way home. 

 
I knew I wanted to use an extra Dresden plate for the label, but I didn't want to hand-sew all those zig-zag edges onto the back of the quilt, so I machine appliqued it onto a square.  The square will be much easier to hand-stitch onto the back of the quilt.
 
And finally, my sister did get over to the Temecula Quilt Co shop for the show on Saturday.  This is the picture she took for me.  She even bought me a Christmas present while there.

 
I hope everyone has a great day.  Live it like it could be your last!
JoAnne

20 comments:

  1. Prayers for the family of the twins. How sad. Glad you have quilting to help get through the "heartbreak".

    ReplyDelete
  2. That is heartbreaking. I can't imagine the grief he and the children are going through right now, but I'll definitely be praying for them.

    I love your label. Another beautiful dresden. Looking forward to seeing the finished quilt.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh My! My prayers are with the family and all affected!

    Isn't quilting just wonderful, for many, many reasons!

    Thanks for sharing!

    Blessings and hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I can't comprehend the loss of someone so young ... and with small children to boot! My thoughts and prayers will be with her family ... their grief and sense of loss must be insurmountable. You are right about living each day to the fullest ... we never know. Linda

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh my goodness! How incredibly sad! It would be sad in any case, but I know because it's someone in your military "family," I'm sure it feels even harder. God bless all of you...I'll be praying for peace and comfort. :(

    ReplyDelete
  6. On another note...your label is beautiful and amazing. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  7. How very sad... how devastating for the husband and children to deal with such an unexpected event in their lives. Prayers for them all.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh, bless their hearts! That is such a sad story. And you are right...live each day as if it is your last! I've had problems with my knee too and I have other health issues that could be serious. You just never know. We will keep them all in our prayers. Your quilt is gorgeous. Thanks for sharing it.

    Bev

    ReplyDelete
  9. My heart goes out to the young family who lost their mom and wife. It's just heartbreaking. Being a mom of twins, and one just a bit older, I know the amount of help they are all going to need. Keeping a routine, help with the basics like shopping and laundry can be more help than you know. Fortunately being a military family... there is a strong support system built in. What a tragic loss for them all, and all the people who knew her.

    ReplyDelete
  10. 34 is way too young... tragic indeed! I will be praying for you, your DH and, of course, the family who has lost their wife and mother.

    I'm glad you have your sewing/quilting to help you thru this sad time...

    (((JoAnne)))

    ReplyDelete
  11. Such a tragic story....The husband will be needing lots of help getting thru such an awful time.
    I hope he has a lot of friends and family.

    BTW, I started following you on Instagram. I LOVE LOVE LOVE your blue quilts....just gorgous!
    I am the follower with the red Hobby Lobby button :) Send me your address privately if you would like a button. I have a friend that's going back to the store at the end of the week and has offered to pick one up for you and one for my friend in Texas :)

    Peggy
    paront1222@comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a tragedy for that family. Our prayers are with them.

    ReplyDelete
  13. My prayers go out to this young man and his children. My mother passed away suddenly when I was 10, this must be devastating to all.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi JoAnne, what a sad story and a very difficult time for everyone concerned - my thoughts are with you all. There is something deeply therapeutic about handwork and good that you have it to turn to. How lovely for your quilt to be so famous - I looked back at your post - it really is a cutie :-)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi JoAnne, So sad to hear the news. Prayers to the family and everyone impacted but such a tragic loss. Quilting your way through grief sounds like the best medicine . . .

    ReplyDelete
  16. My heart breaks for this young family. This is so sad.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I love the label you made for your quilt - I must tell you it received many many compliments while in my care! Gorgeous - and I'm grateful to be a part of its history. :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. What a sad, sad time. I just have no words. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family.

    ReplyDelete
  19. That is so sad. My heart goes out to the family.

    ReplyDelete