guild and my most rewarding quilt

Last night at quilt guild we had a speaker from a quilt shop, Sew Many Quilts in Covington, do a session on hand appliqué.  Although that wasn't new material for me, she gave away a free block, all prepared, to do and I sewed mine up during the meeting.  It was sweet fabric to work with, a gorgeous aqua with white pattern.  She also brought some goodies from the store and I was SO tempted ... I walked up to browse three times, including once with my wallet ... but I was good and refrained.  I do not need more fabric!

When I returned home I sewed seven more blocks on Spanish Treasure.  I think I have 32 left to do, and I hope to knock half of those out tonight since my Honey is away.  When that top is done I need to start cutting and piecing the border to the Civil War Chronicles quilt and get it longarm basted for hand quilting before I start any new tempting projects like I've been eying.

In the absence of new work to show off I'm going through some archives.  The Quiltmaker.com member site called Quilters Club of America posed a March survey question, "What is the most rewarding quilt you have ever made?"  I wrote my reply, "The most rewarding quilt that I ever made was a group quilt I coordinated.  More than 20 years ago, as a junior in high school, I received a Congressional scholarship to live abroad as an exchange student.  Prior to departing, I underwent an intensive language and cultural training with 49 other recipients and we all bonded so firmly that we are still very much in touch today.  A couple of years ago, one of the group - actually a successful OB/GYN - was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.  Despite aggressive treatment, she knew the end was near and invited us all to come together for one reunion weekend.  Although many members are living around the world I was able to get in touch with most of them and have them sign blocks for her, and I put them together in a quilt that I gave her at the reunion.  It was so emotional for everyone and I was so proud to have been able to coordinate the effort.  She passed away in January, 2011, leaving a husband and very young son behind, but with the love of her friends literally keeping her warm in her last days."

I will never forget that weekend or my friend SooJin.  Here are a few photos of the quilt in the making, finished, and with Soo holding it.