Our Guest Quilter

One Sunday afternoon a month, I participate in a Small Scale Quilt Study Group.

It is somewhat a misnomer...we primarily share all the wonderful small projects we are working on, as well as the large.  Visit Merumo at her blog to get a recap of all the ladies work.

The story of our guest quilter....

I meet Cheryl 3 years ago when we both became teachers at TOWQS.

Cheryl's talent lies in her needle turn applique and her specialty is pictorial quilts. Cheryl taught her first class, but was suffering from a sinus infection at the time.  It was a two part class and she never made it to that second session. We received the news that she was in the hospital...

in a coma...

viral meningitis.

We were all shocked and horrified that our new friend was battling for her life.

After 3 months in a coma, she was transferred to a rehab hospital and that was the last I had heard of her until the end of November 2010.

Her SIL brought her into the shop on a day Lin and I were holding down the fort.

It was so wonderful to see her and she was still that gracious, elegant woman I had meet 3 years prior.

One thing had changed.....she had lost her sight.

The tragedy seemed to effect us more than it did Cheryl.  A deeply religious woman, she found blessings in her situation. 

 "Don't get me wrong.  I wouldn't have wanted this to happen, but so many good things have come my way because of it."

Not being able to quilt was the one thing that saddened her most.

We are working on a plan to get her back to her beloved handwork.

As she says, "It doesn't have to be perfect.  I can't see it anyways!"

I would love now to share Cheryl's exquisite work prior to her blindness.

Believe it or not, this is her first hand quilted project.

I am going to give you a block by block tour so you can begin to appreciate the detail and embellishment.  Of course, I am sorry you all were not there to see it in person.

There are a few buttons, but most of the embellishment is done with ribbon embroidery.

We will start with one of her favorites, the Outhouse.

Remember that you can click on the picture to get a larger view.

She remembers that she was working on this one the day Princess Di passed.

Being a fan of Cardinals (and that has nothing to do with our AZ football team!), this is a favorite of mine. 

The Foxgloves and Calla Lily plants are my favorites in this cottage garden.

Note the path with the dog paw prints, the little fella headed to the fire hydrant and that pebbled foot bridge.

The Wisteria on this center block is so much more vibrant in person.

I hope you have enjoyed this tour of Cheryl's quilt. 

Mark your calendar on March 13th. 

She'll be back to share her lighthouse pictorial quilt with us and start hand piecing the first hexies for her next quilt.

Cheryl remains hopeful that she will regain some sight. 

She saw a small patch of blue sky the other day that brought her to tears.

For me, I know I will gain more from my relationship with her than I can ever give back, but we are sure going to give it our best to get her quilting again.