from Marta with Love

My love travels

Summerlove Quilt

One of my all-time favorite songs by Tom Petty is “Have Love, Will Travel.”  I love it because I know the feeling–my love travels, too.

Recently, my love became a quilt and traveled to Poland to be with my cherished, sick aunt as she fights lung cancer. My love–with my body, this time–has also been traveling to Texas to be with my perfect superhero Godson who is beating Leukemia (click my sidebar–you won’t regret it). Quilts, like the one for Aunt Ela in a little town in Poland, or the one covering Rhett at Texas Children’s in Houston, are, as we all know, symbols of warmth and life. They are the antithesis of cancer. They envelope, comfort, and protect.

Summerlove Quilt

Ela’s quilt is the subject of this post, and has been in the making for, oh… two years. I started it long ago and have only ever worked on it here and there, despite my intense love for this block design and fabric line.

Summerlove Quilt

Recently, my parents planned their annual trip to Poland and I knew I wanted to make something they could bring with them for Ela, whose birthday they would celebrate during the trip. It struck me that this quilt would be PERFECT. The colors and the beautifully feminine, vintage feel of it are so her.

Summerlove Quilt

So finish it I did. Only after doing so did it become clear to me that the reason I’d never completed this project before was because it was always meant to be for Ela; it was meant to be finished at the right time–a time in Ela’s life that calls for warmth, comfort, and protection.

Pretty sure that was a God thing.

Summerlove Quilt

Summerlove Quilt

THE RUNDOWN:

  • Finished size: 48″ x 60″
  • Front: Summerlove collection by Pat Bravo for Art Gallery Fabrics.  White background is Kona Snow.  Block design is Converging Corners (Film in the Fridge tutorial).
  • Backing: Mainly yarn-dyed Essex Flax (cotton/linen blend) with strips from Summerlove.
  • Batting: Warm & White.
  • Binding: Daydreaming in Ocean (also from Summerlove).
  • Machine pieced, free-motion quilted, and bound by me on my Juki TL2010Q.

Summerlove Quilt

Summerlove Quilt

Quilts are all about the love. And if you’re going to give any, give it all. Pour it into everything you do for the people who matter. Isn’t it funny how the more love you give, the more full of it you become yourself? It’s never depleted when poured out.

Pretty sure that’s a God thing, too…

xoxo
Marta

Category
Finished Quilts
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10 Comments

  • Sylvia

    Choked back tears reading this post. You are the sweetest and best godmother in the world. I believe with all my heart you are the angel that came to protect him and guard him while we were in ICU. Love you girl, to the moon and back. xoxo

    November 21, 2014 at 8:34 pm Reply
  • Penny D

    GOD is amazing, and not only are quilts a comfort for the patients, but also the family when loved ones go home. It becomes the last thing the family member held. GOD bless you for that.

    November 21, 2014 at 9:11 pm Reply
  • Carla

    Hey Marta. What a timely post. We just got back from caring for my mother in law in her final days. Cancer took her way too early. I feel blessed to have been there caring for her and holding her hand as she went to be with Jesus. Amazing love.

    November 21, 2014 at 11:35 pm Reply
  • Amy Gibson

    I LOVE love how you let God speak to you about who this quilt was for, and that you recognize that it was finished exactly when it was supposed to be…it wasn’t late, it wasn’t rushed…made with so much love at exactly the right time for exactly the right person- sweet Ela. May it warm her heart, and speak to her more deeply than words ever could.

    November 22, 2014 at 6:53 am Reply
  • Connie Fowler-Collins

    Marta, this so such a beautiful post. I love the quilt. It’s spectacular. I love the story more. Your Aunt Ela will feel the love you put into every stitch.

    November 22, 2014 at 7:25 am Reply
  • Kathy

    Beautiful post! Beautiful quilt!

    November 23, 2014 at 5:28 pm Reply
  • Colleen

    Marta, well done. It is a privilege to know you. Thanks for being inspiring.

    November 25, 2014 at 7:56 pm Reply
  • Christine Sherman

    I gave my friend with cancer a quilt. It truly does mean a lot!

    December 13, 2014 at 12:31 am Reply
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  • Lea

    I just discovered this quilt on Pinterest. This is one gorgeous quilt.

    September 10, 2023 at 2:14 pm Reply
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