For Marilyn...

 ...because I'll miss you!

In 2005 I took a class from Louise Georgia of The Quilted Fox in combining colors and fabrics into a palette for a quilt. After spending a morning pulling fat quarters in her shop and critiquing palettes, I went home and played with my (limited) stash. This is the result. 

Among the points Louise made were to always include a geometric, a print with curves or curvy lines in it, and a deep dark to give the palette depth. 

I would never have thought to combine these prints without Louise's guidance. The stripe was intended for a red-white-and-blue project. The pink trefoil was leftover from something else, The border print was aspirational at the time. But surprisingly, they all work together. My friend Sandy quilted this top when she first got her long arm. The top was pieced in 2005 and quilted in 2006. 

Fast forward fifteen years. This quilt has been hanging in a closet, untouched. I'm getting ready to move and clearing out stuff that I don't need. I have the perfect recipient in mind for this quilt -  Marilyn. 

Marilyn is a member of the extended family whom we usually only see at parties, but this year has been such a strange one, and we've seen Marilyn as much as possible except for lockdowns. She's well up in her 80s and still has a phenomenal memory. She lives in a senior living apartment and she's popular among the residents. She's friendly with everyone; they all greet her by name and she remembers all their names. She's the life of the party and can be unintentionally funny. In short, she's a delight and I'll miss her. 

Not for Christmas, just because, and just as a friend, I gave her this quilt. It goes nicely with her apartment and the size is nice for a throw for a petite older lady. You would think I gave her the moon, she was so pleased. It's just a quilt, and it was just a learning exercise for me and for Sandy, so it's nothing special. But to Marilyn it is. And to me, Marilyn is very special. 

Marilyn, I know you don't read this, but I hope you get your vaccine next week and I hope to see you again next Thanksgiving when we come back for a visit. Hang in there!