The Last Goodbye Part 2
Sheila Van Der Linden
I've read somewhere that your character is developed in the first 5 years of life. I had no idea how my early years would direct me to this quilt.
My father passed away when I was 8. Numerous operations in 4 years to try to save his life. While he spent so much time in the hospital, my sister and brother and I would visit him. We sang to him. He loved music and hearing us sing.
In Colorado, Ricky Tims showed us his quilt Bohemian Rhapsody. I went there with the intention of learning his technique for piecing a Rhapsody quilt, as well as using my dads tie in the piecing. When Ricky told us the meaning of Rhapsody was "to sew a song" I nearly wept.
It seemed so fitting that in that bright and beautiful studio, with that beautiful, kind, and talented man, with a piano in the room, that that was where my dads memorial quilt would come to life.
Ricky spent time with each one of us, and when it was my turn, I just told him that I had no idea how to start. His answer was one that I turn back to again and again when I am stuck. "Just start drawing.... draw blocks" When he mentioned Log Cabin blocks, that resonated with me. The center of a Log Cabin block is traditionally known as the heart of the home. What if I used the fabric from the tie for the center? It will be the heart of this quilt....
I came up with 2 different Log Cabin blocks. 1 color way to represent my sister and I, and the other to represent my 2 brothers. My brother Randy had passed away as an infant so it was a memorial for him too.
Starting our day together with Ricky, hearing his stories and life wisdom, journaling, designing this beautiful quilt in this beautiful little town, my heart was full....and healing....