The quilt below is the third quilt that hangs on my dining room/gallery wall. I finished it in 1998. I started it in '96 or '97 but couldn't seem to make decisions on it. It was going to go to a gallery in Door County, Wisconsin where I sold my art. I tried to force myself to finish it before a trip up to visit the gallery, but just couldn't get it done. I told the wife of the couple about it and said I would have it ready for the next selling season (they closed for the winter). A few months later I heard she had ovarian cancer and she died that fall. I finished the piece and decided it would still go up there the next spring if the husband was going to continue the gallery. In the spring I waited to hear from
him as I usually did around April. In May my UPS man delivered a package to me and he also knew this couple who ran the gallery. I mentioned to him that I hadn't heard from the husband about when he would be down to pick up our work. The UPS man told me the husband had died of a brain tumor earlier that spring. I'm getting goosebumps and tears as I type this. That day is one of those memories that I can recall with detail, and the shock I felt that they were both gone.I put a price on this wallhanging and showed it with other pieces to a prospective buyer. She bought a different piece, and I immediately decided I would not sell this piece. This piece has too many memories for me to part with it. They were a lovely couple and the four years of friendship and business dealings are a good memory and this piece constantly reminds me of that good time.
Wow ~ That is quite a story !
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing !
I can see why you would want to keep that lovely wallhanging in memory of two friends. I got goosebumps reading the story.
ReplyDeleteWe had lovely neighbours, & sadly the husband got cancer, & died slowly. His wife was just getting over it all, & she died suddenly 2 months to the day since he had died. We miss them still.
What a touching story. It's always hard to lose someone you know and can be such a shock when not expected. I don't blame you for keeping it. It's soooo beautiful, also. I also love your fall wall hanging. Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI think if I were in the same situation, I'd keep it too. No one else would understand the emotional connection and power that quilt has for you. It's a lovely reminder for you of them, and keeps them close to you.
ReplyDeleteLove the black on white (& white on black) ferns. My stash is full of those positive negative combinations.
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