Friday, November 1, 2024

Hearts and Hands Finished!

Hearts and Hands
54 x 69
It's a finish!

My 17 year old granddaughter Kayla passed away unexpectedly on January 15, 2022. After an autopsy and some further genetic testing the cause of death was ruled "probable cardiac arrhythmia". Needless to say I am still grieving her death.   

After her death several members of the Sunshine Online Quilt Guild (SOQG)  sent me some Heart Blocks and some Hand Blocks as a show of their sympathy and support. SOQG is an online charity quilting group. 

I made a few more Heart blocks and some little  4 inch Friendship Star blocks and put all the blocks together into a quilt top back in February 2023.

I hand quilted it with black perle #12. 


Sadly, Carol, who made the block with the lace cuff, passed away the same year (if I remember correctly) as Kayla.   

I wrote the maker names in permanent marker next to each hand. 

The backing is as colorful as the front. I had to insert a couple of strips of buttterflies to make it big enough. The binding is a mottled rainbow with some black stripes. 

The black hand quilting on the block blends right into the backing. 

This one is for me! 

And sew on...


***
CELEBRATE! (my word of the year)

October 31 - Granddaughter Isabelle's 20th birthday!  (She was born 5 weeks before her cousin Kayla). 

 

15 comments:

Nann said...

What a lovely memento, Cathy.

marilyn said...

Love this quilt especially the heart blocks.

Lesley Gilbert said...

A beautiful reminder of Kayla <3

Anonymous said...

This quilt is so sweet. Sweet Kayla.

Jenny said...

Its a beautiful quilt to remember your beloved Kayla.

Chantal said...

Consider yourself hugged. 🦄🙏

Anonymous said...

this is a beautiful memory of your granddaughter. i am sorry this happened but am hoping the making of this quilt helps you deal with the grief. bless you. patti in florida pleal@cfl.rr.com

Pamela Arbour said...

The quilt is a beautiful reminder of your granddaughter. I know you treasured the time you spent working on it and snuggling up to it. I have a feeling that the ladies managed to choose just the right fabrics for their blocks which Kayla would have loved. Thank you for sharing.

Gwyned Trefethen said...

What a lovely way to honor your granddaughter, Kayla. I expect you thought of her with each stitch and addition of stars and butterflies.

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

What a sweet thing for you group to do. Love how you put it all together. Definitely a you quilt - wrap up and feel the love <3

Laura said...

I love seeing this treasure completed, Cathy! :)

Vivian said...

I am so glad this quilt could come together and help you as you continue on the journey of mourning your granddaughter. Healing from that kind of loss takes a lot of time. That autopsy report will help bring more closure to the whole thing. Snuggle under this one in the coming months and remember the joy she brought to your life.

Cherie Moore said...

What a wonderful, beautiful quilt filled with love. I can imagine you remembered many happy memories of Kayla that hopefully moderate the grief of her loss. What a blessing to have friends that showed their love and care for you in such a lovely way.

Beth H said...

It is wonderful to see this treasure again! I am so glad it is now ready for you to cuddle under. It was our (Sunshine's) pleasure to make this top for you! You are an important member and you were hurting! I was so grateful to Carol for having the great idea of making hands for you. Your hands have brought comfort to so many people mostly children! It was the least we could do!!!
You are remembering correctly about Carol E. She died in December 2022.

The Joyful Quilter said...

Congratulations on getting this special comfort quilt finished and ready for snuggling!