Quilts By Lu. Expressions Of Love

Anyone who spends time with me eventually gets an ear full of my praise for Lu's quilting skills. This is a woman who makes amazing quits. She's even gotten blue ribbons at the county fair and in her opinion she's grown as a quilter by leaps and bounds since then. To say I'm proud of her skills is a massive understatement. She even made one for a local wounded warrior many years ago. I'm not a braggart by nature though I do make an exception for her.

The very best part is that she's handed down both the skills and interest to her daughter (The DO) and her granddaughter (Babygirl). The DO is already a very talented quilter in her own right and Babygirl gets that look in her eyes whenever they sew together. You should hear them when they gather to discuss techniques and fabric.

So, what does her work look like? I'm posting some here but as you peruse keep in mind this is only a very small sampling of her works. Just what was immediately handy. She's done many for others including baby quilts for many of the family's newborns. And bear in mind that these are pieced together quilts, made by hand from cut out pieces and sewn together by a woman who gives attention to detail an entirely new definition. Hundreds of small cuts and seams. Over and over again. I lack the knowledge to sufficiently explain it all but for those who do this work no explanation is necessary. For the rest of us the beauty speaks for itself.

Lu does no small wall hangers. Her creations are meant to be used as what they are.

The details you have to look close to see but that are so important to her.

Patterns and colors. The palette of the quilter.

Quilters are adapters, their skills showing up in other places. Like the curtain rod that doubles as a place to hang in process quilts for perusal and work.

Small pieces that make up the whole. 

Sewn together with sure fingers and a nimble mind.

Tying versus quilting. Lu does both and understands the differences. I do not but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate the time, skill and love that goes into each.

My favorite is still being made but with her permission I'll give you a small taste. My military quilt, detailing my service.

Completely hand done mind you. Nothing beyond a sewing machine plus her vision, love and skill. She wants it to be perfect and is determined it will be so. She's using all her considerable abilities on this one including hand stitching. She made the crossed cannons from a pattern she spent months getting exactly the way she wanted it. Tracing and re-tracing. Stitching and re-stitching. She's put it together and taken it apart more than once simply because it's for me and it has to be exactly according to her vision. It's beautiful but not just because of how it looks. It's because the person making it for me is beautiful.

Every time I see one of her quilts I can see the love writ large across it's surface. In every stitch, every seam, every pattern. Lu doesn't just quilt, she creates reflections of her heart. Expressions of who she is and how she views the world and all those she loves. An angelic soul. She can so easily bring me to tears of joy and happiness.

I am simply the luckiest man alive.

Six

A Labor Of Love

This is a love story about a man, his wonderful wife and an incredible soldier.

Anyone who knows me knows how I feel about my wife Lu. 31 years ago I married so far over my head my nose bleeds. I only love 3 people more, my daughter and 2 grandchildren. She even approves of that. That's who she is. She's the most loving and giving person I have ever known. She is my life. Without her I'd be lost.

She's also supremely talented. When we got married we were poor as church mice. Our first Christmas together she stayed up after I went to work the night shift and sewed me a shirt. From scratch. From fabric she saved up to buy. Yeah, she's that woman.

She also just happens to be the best quilter on the face of the planet. I'm talking about blue ribbon quilts mind you. She's made quilts for just about everyone in the family. The one she made for The DO when she was in Basic is absolutely unbelievable. If you're interested you can see it here http://jjsewbeeit.blogspot.com/2009/04/ive-been-waiting-for-good-weather-to.html

I recently met a soldier returned from hell. In the interest of preserving his anonymity I'll only refer to him as T. T has suffered grevious wounds in the service of America and the preservation of Liberty. He has paid a price so deep it humbles me to be in his presence. Yet his spirit remains. I was touched and awed by this incredible young man. So much so that I asked for a very special favor.

I asked Lu if she'd make him a quilt.

Lu has been aware of the program to donate a quilt to a wounded Warrior for a while now. She'd been looking for the right opportunity and when it came knocking she was ready. She not only said yes she was thrilled to have the chance to give something back to a soldier who had given so much.

For the next three weeks she spent whatever spare time she had working on it. Sewing on her days off and even deep into the night. She fussed and fretted, wanting it to be just right. She poured her heart and soul into a gift of love for a young man she had never met.

This is the result:






I presented it to T today. Lu decided to let me give it to him. I think it's because she didn't want the moment to be about her but about T. Like I said. Yeah, she's that woman.

Because of his wounds T will never see it but he can touch it. He told me he would 'see' it with his hands. His touch. Every seam. Every stitch.

And in my heart I know he'll feel the love she put into it. Love for a soldier.

Because I asked her. Because she can. Because she loves. Because that's who she is.

A Labor of Love.

Has any man ever had so much?

I love you sweetheart. Thanks.

Six