Quilt #126 Jane Perlow

Mary Duke writes:

This sweet lady, Jane Perlow, just received Quilt #126. For most people, when they retire, life gets a bit easier. Not for this dear lady.  She has a husband who has gone blind over the last few years. He also just finished radiation therapy to get rid of his skin cancer. She also helps with the care of her sweet elderly mother. She has a daughter who struggles with emotional issues and has attempted suicide a few times in the last five years.

Jane also has a son who was hit on his motorcycle 10 weeks ago and has so many broken bones that he can't take care of himself. She has a niece. whom she helped raise, who just had a brain tumor removed and a brother who got into a bad trucking accident and needs extra help.

Jane just retired last year. It breaks my heart to see all that she is going through. I wish I had the time to make all her people quilts. I hope as she cuddles under this quilt, she will feel the love and support from so many people who love her and look up to her for all she does for her loved ones.

There is so much love in the stitches for Jane and her family.

Quilt #124 Cherie Yates donated by Book Club and Sandy Solt

 

Quilt #124 was presented to Cherie Yates by her book club and Sandy Solt.

Cherie has recently been dealing with a number of family health issues including the passing of her mother. 

Cherie has a warmth and intelligence that is so endearing to those who are lucky enough to know her. She has spent so much of her life caring for others. We just wanted her to know she is seen and so loved.

So much love in the stitches for our dear Cherie.

Quilt #123 Hall Family donated by Heritage Park 6th Ward Young Women

Quilt #123 was presented to the Hall family. They experienced tragedy last month when in the last month of Taran's pregnancy, their sweet Logan was born still. The heartbreak, even though the family has a strong belief in life after death, cannot be expressed.

The Young Women in the Heritage Park 6th Ward decided to make a quilt for this sweet family. The girls had no experience making quilts but learned very quickly.

The stitches in this quilt are far from perfect and yet perfect in their imperfection. We hope as the Hall family wraps up in this quilt, they will feel love and comfort from God, from the ward, but especially from these young women.

So much love in those crooked stitches...

Quilt #120 and 122 Lorraine Gaudio and Sylvia Milner donated by Bookclub

 

Quilt #120 and 122 were presented to Lorraine Gaudio and Sylvia Milner by members of Bookclub.

A couple of months ago Lorraine lost her sweet husband Shane. He was the light of her life and her biggest champion. While finishing up the quilt it became clear that Sylvia should have one as well and we liked the pattern so much, we made another in Sylvia's favorite color blue.

These two women are truly some of the kindest people you could ever hope to know.

We hope these quilts will provide some comfort during this difficult time. There is truly so much love in these stitches...

Quilt @121 Dandi Osness donated by Mary Duke and Sandy Solt

 

Quilt #121 was beautifully pieced by Sandy Solt and finished by Mary Duke. We presented it to Dandi Osness with love and hope.

Dandi has struggled with debilitating migraines and seizures for years. She was just put on some new medications and we are all praying that she will get some semblance of her life back.

Dandi enjoys Harry Potter so this traditional quilt has little bits of Harry Potter themed stitching throughout.

So much love in the stitches....

Quilt #119 Laurel Weston

Quilt #119 was presented to Laurel Weston.

I am lucky enough to share grandmothering with Laurel. During this time together she has become a dear friend as well.

Two years ago she lost her dear husband Dan to pancreatic issues. He was a wonderfully funny and kind man who is missed deeply.

I started this quilt and lost my way for a bit. I was blessed to have a couple of angel quilters help me move forward. Thank you Terry Jo and Mary.

There is lots of love in these stitches for Laurel and the Weston family.

 

Quilt #118 Kim Reiman donated by Book Club

 

Quilt #118 was presented to Kim Reiman. Kim has been such an important part of our bookclub for many years. She has had numerous tough situations but one thing about Kim, she bears her burdens with a smile. She is always upbeat.

In addition, she has become the memory for our group. She remembers what we've read, the plot and often quotes from the book. We love that about her. This is why we thought she would enjoy our first bookcase quilt,

I asked Kim if she wanted to write something for this post, she produced the following beautiful words:

When I was a little girl, we did not have much, but I had the whole world at my fingertips via the county library. I was the eldest of 5 children, and my mother was often ill, so caring for the house would fall to me and my sisters. I taught myself to clean with one hand while holding a book in the other one. To this day, I have pretty darn good peripheral vision and a knack for multi-tasking as a result

Sharing my love of books with my Book Club as a adult has been so wonderful. In 2009, ,my husband lost his job as a corporate architect in all of the downsizing in the industry at the time. I had a job that always had overtime, so as the breadwinner, I worked constantly. I never missed Book Club, however, and it was my salvation. My Book Club friends would talk about their trips and extracurricular activities and I would have a vicarious thrill listening to them. I know that at the time they did not realize that Book Club was pretty much IT for me. 

The years have passed, and while I am still doing a fair amount of overtime, my grown children has seen to it that I have trips and wonderful experiences. 

This precious quilt means so much to me, as books are still a huge part of my life. I generally read or listen to between 70-100 per year.

Words fail when I try to explain what my Book Club friends mean to me. I love them so!

Kimmy, we feel the same about you. There is so much love for our dear friends in these stitches...

Quilt #117 Lori Bunnell

 Quilt #117 was given to Lori Bunnell. 

Sometimes we get to give a happy quilt. This is one of those. This quilt was given in honor of a very special birthday.

Lori Bunnell has been a force for good in my life for nearly 22 years. She is an amazing mother, grandmother and friend and has taught me so much over the years.

We  had the good fortune to move next door to the Bunnell's back in 2001. She became a dear friend and listening ear. I still remember her wise and supportive parenting advice. My kids are better for it.

 And though we have moved several times since, we have had the ability to stay in close contact.

There is so much love in the stitches for my wonderful friend, Lori.

Quilt #116 Marilyn Dexter donated by Mary Duke

 

Quilt #116 was presented to Marilyn Dexter. Last year Marilyn lost the love of her life to Covid, which is heartbreaking in and of itself, but on top of that , within just a few months all of her children were diagnosed with awful diseases. Her daughter was hit very hard with MS and her sons were diagnosed with Crohn's disease and Colitis.

Marilyn is also the main caregiver to her 95 year old father (although he is pretty independent). 

We chose bright colors for her quilt to cheer her up. We chose the heart pattern for two reasons. First, because we love her so much, but mostly because her heart is so big and full of love.

There is love in the stitches for dear Marilyn....