A Thank You Letter

This post could also have been titled "Why we quilt or Why we give our quilts away."

I made this quilt last summer during the Row by Row Experience. I went to many, many quilt shops all over southern Ontario during several weekends - thanks to my husband who did the driving. On the Row by Row Facebook page I noticed that people were completing their quilts super quick and bringing them in to win fat quarters and other prizes that the shops were giving away for being the first one finished. I was determined to be one of those winners - but by hand quilting my quilt. This was the result.

Here it is being put together.

And here it is on the frame being quilted.

In the first photo, the bottom row shows two loons with a baby loon on the mother's back. My eldest daughter, Laila, loves loons. In the bottom photo you can see Sunbonnet Sue and Fisherman Fred (or Sam) and again, I added this row because my eldest daughter likes Sunbonnet Sue. Laila has two little boys and I wanted to make this a fun quilt for them. All the applique is fused on and top stitched by machine. I didn't needleturn anything because time was of the essence. I still have many row patterns and am planning on making another quilt.

During the summer, there is an open air quilt show at Pioneer Village called Quilts at the Creek. I have put in at least one quilt each year and this year's theme is blue. Since this quilt was already finished, I thought I would just keep it in the cupboard until then and after it was shown, my daughter could have it. Well, Laila and the boys were here for our second Christmas in January and since she had the room in her luggage to take the quilt, I gave it to her.

All this preamble is to lead up to this very nice thank you email I received from her.

Hi Mom, 
I wanted to let you know that I'm really enjoying the water themed quilt
it's a nice size for use. 
It's in the living room and being used as a throw (even though we have 

piles of blankets.) 
 
It's just nice to look at the different blocks and fabrics. 
And I like the row row row panel - as it's a theme song with us. 
 
It's still stiff -so the more we use it - the more it will loosen up 

and be a comfy blanket. Right now it is positioned as the roof of a fort.
  

Thank you for letting me have it - just wanted to let you know it's 

being used rather than just stored in a closet 
as it is a work of art - 
but this art is going to be functional.
 
Laila