Wandering Rose Memorial

 

I have a bit of bad news.  My dear sweet friend of 15 years passed away from cancer on Oct. 12th.  I don't know how many readers I still have that also knew her but Wendy aka Wandering Rose also did Crazy Quilting and Embroidery.  I remember when I first taught her CQ and she created her first block and also started a blog.  I was her friend when she met her wonderful husband and in her wedding.  She created a beautiful Wedding Pillow for an Anniversary Gift for me which I treasure very much!  She did beautiful thread painting, and created quilts for her children (that I also got to help her with).  She always amazed me in all that she accomplished and did!  She was a beautiful person and I got to be her friend.  She was there for me when I needed her, always gave the best hugs and made you feel valuable just because you were YOU.  We laughed together and we cried together!  We had bad times and wonderful good times!  If you need a laugh read this story she shared that cracked me up so bad and still gives me a giggle.  It's really hard to write this but I know I need to as part of my grieving process.

The wonderful thing about Needle Artists is that many of us share a common thread of having very romantic hearts.  There's a saying that is very popular in Crazy Quilting that makes an appearance on many quilts and that is this:  "When This You See Remember Me"
I will never forget her, she will forever reside in my heart as the dearest of friends.  I recently saw a quote on Pinterest that I thought was perfectly fitting of Wendy as well as what she would want each and every person to know about themselves as well:

"Always remember you're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think, and twice as beautiful as you'd ever imagine."

I was thinking over what I wanted to do and I thought of a Memorial Crazy Quilt Block to honor her but I had no idea how I would start it when I looked over and saw an old block that has been unfinished for years.  It's from the time before cancer and Wendy touched it and she loved it and the theme is ROSES, roses, roses and the colors are the exact colors I think of when I think of her.  Bright, bold and beautiful.  It's the perfect block to finish into a Wandering Rose Memorial.  I seem to do my best work when it has love and meaning behind it, and that's probably why that block sat for so long it never had a purpose.  But now it will and in my mind I can envision such a beautiful work filled with roses because that was her favorite flower of all time!

So yes I am still here and I do still love Crazy Quilting and Embroidery and everything!  A lot has happened in the last year or so since I've last blogged here.  But now I will be working on this project and blogging it.  Wendy deserves nothing short of the best eye candy I can create!  LOL  She would love that!  And that is what I will do!

Wendy I will always love you!

Wendy Lynn Blake
May 14, 1976 - October 12, 2014

 

Roses'n'Lace Block: a sneaky peek

So far I'm almost done with this seam/motif! It seems like I never have time to work on it! Well I just need to finish adding in some beads and I think it will be finished! Anyway just thought I'd let y'all see a little peek! LOL

Roses'n'Lace Block: a tiny bit of work

I've been so busy lately that all I've gotten to complete on this block was to hand sew the doilies down and start on a seam! I'm going to do a swag of roses inspired by antique china patterns, so far I just got the stem stitching base down and my silk ribbon picked out!

Was Harvest Challenge UFO will now be Roses'n'Lace

After starting this block as the Harvest Challenge Block , I ended up letting it become a UFO (UnFinished Object) for a long list of reasons. Since the challenge is now over, you can see the results HERE, I'm now going to resurrect this block as the Roses'n'Lace Block. I'm now excited to work on it again and I'm taking it in a new direction. I think one of the reasons I couldn't work on it any more was it just wasn't feeling "right" to me, it's hard to explain it, kind of like it wasn't being true to me in a way. As I've been browsing antique stores and enjoying rose tea cups and beautiful lace and linens it's given me a desire to put that down in "art" form. I've been thinking about it a lot so I got it out and some of my new doilies and love the effect so that is the direction I'm going to take now. I wish it was easier to explain but instead of trying to do what I think I should do with this block, instead I want to be true to myself and do what I want to do. Part of what makes my work unique to me is putting what I love on my blocks, and everyone's likes/dislikes is what makes each ladies work unique and special to them too. I enjoy pushing myself to try new things at times but sometimes it's best to stick with what you love and that's okay.
I guess in a way I had forgotten that, I think everyone does from time to time. So the lesson for myself is to just do what I love to do, this is my art expression, not anyone elses. God has given me a wonderful gift that I enjoy and so I want to do just that and give praise back to the One who made me who I am through my work.