I’ve posted occasionally on the progress of the quilt that Linda was stitching to commemorate John’s and my wedding last summer. Last week the finished quilt made it into my eager hands and I had to share.
The design was inspired by an art quilt by Liz Axford that I’d encountered online, one of her Bamboo Boogie Woogie series. And it happened to be one that Linda had actually seen in person.
If you stare at it long enough you can make out the little bamboo stems with their joints. It’s nature abstracted, but the natural rhythms still play out in the final quilt.
The back of the quilt features two intertwining bamboo stems made out of fabric from two shirts that we liked so much that we’d worn them until they were threadbare. Isn’t that the most romantic detail?
Thanks so much, Linda–We love the quilt and we’ll treasure all your love and effort that went into making it. The quilt will be hanging on the wall before the weekend is over!
What a beautiful quilt – a loving gift is a quilt indeed. Congrats on your recent marriage! My partner’s mother made us a quilt, so comforting to sleep under. I just noticed what you said about the shirts that were used in the quilt – how lovely is that.
We thought about a service that would turn people’s old race teeshirts into a quilt – we have so many from our years running together and it would be fun to have a memento like that. (And to get all those worn-out teeshirts out of the closet) But unfortunately we lack the skills (and energy) to follow through.
Country Mouse, I really like your idea of a service to turn mementos into a quilt that could be used. If life were simpler I could see getting into quilting, just like I could see getting into operating a vineyard or opening a little art gallery. They’re all pretty romantic notions, but all require energy and the proper chops to make them work.
How wonderful! I LOVE that the design on the back comes from your old shirts. I often use favourite old clothes to make something new, but I don’t think I ever made anything so beautiful or romantic. But even without knowing that little detail it’s a really lovely design, front and back. Congratulations on the quilt, and your marriage!
Bird, thanks so much. I’m always reminded of our wedding day when I look at the quilt. I like your idea of recycling one garment into something new. There are plenty of great ways to recycle.
So wonderful to see the finished product, and I just love the twining stems on the reverse side. That it’s so personal to you both is even more delightful.
Timely, the arrival of this completed quilt, eh?
Greg, after that unfortunate state Supreme Court Decision at least we’re still officially married, along with 18000 other couples, which I guess still keeps this a wedding quilt. But that’s definitely bittersweet with them upholding Prop 8. It should have a better decision from the courts; it could have been a lot worse.
That’s a tremendous gift. And very clever to link that pattern to the form of bamboo.