This is a roundabout story that doesn't have to do with an actual quilt. But, It made me realize why I truly love making quilts and giving them away. It has to do with a cheap blanket.
Husband and I had been camping for 3 days with our kids and all of my family (mom and dad, 8 kids, 6 spouses and 14 of the grandkids!) Husband and I were hmm'ing and haw'ing trying to decide when we wanted to make the 4-5 hour drive back home. Monday morning? As we were cleaning up breakfast Saturday morning my husband came to me and declared; we need to leave this morning, like right now. I was thinking the same thing so we quickly loaded up our tent and all our gear and started to head down the canyon. Just then in front of us a cyclist hit a deer. It was a bad wreck and the cyclist didn't look to be in very good shape. We quickly jumped out to asses and see if we could be of any comfort or help --- even with no first aid kit in our car. Uh, I have a bandaid, I think? Anywho, my husband grabbed this ratty old green fleece blanket that has always been in our car for the past 9 years. As he draped it around the gentleman's shoulders I had a flashback as I realized, this isn't the first time that blanket has comforted someone in need. Besides my own kids who have been wrapped in it countless times for various reasons; there was another time, another state, when an older gentleman passed out in the street as we were driving by. It was a hot sunny day. My husband jumped out, grabbed the blanket and used it to shield the gentleman from the sun while we waited for medical help. As we were no longer useful we drove away from the accident, leaving that blanket around the cyclists shoulders. I looked at it one last time in the rearview mirror and smiled. This is why I make quilts. They bring comfort to a broken heart, or perhaps a lost or wondering soul. They dry a child's tears, they keep a parent and child warm as the parent comforts a sick or lonely child in the wee hours of the night. One quilt I gave to a friend was used to wrap their stillborn baby as she was laid to rest. Quilts serve a much needed purpose of comfort, hope, love, and so much more.
All from a ratty old yucky fleece blanket ... this is why I love putting my heart and soul into quilts and giving them away. In the hopes that I am bringing a bit more comfort, love, and hope into this world that so desperately needs it.