Friday, October 26, 2012

Bloggers Quilt Festival Fall 2012

This is my entry for the Blogger's Quilt Festival Fall 2012 (in Spring here!).

If you're new here - thanks so much for popping in - please make yourself comfy and take a look around!

This quilt has it's own story. It's a story I've never shared here because it was waiting for a happy ending. This year, the story got a happy ending so I think I am about ready to share... I want to say though that this post isn't about receiving sympathy, it's a post about a quilt, about finding strength and about making the right decions for yourself.



So like all stories, the best place to start is the beginning. My name is Lara and I was raised in a very loving Christian family. My parents worked very hard to raise my older brother and I. My father worked on average 70 hours + a week while I was growing up to provide a nice home for us and to put good food on our table. My mother worked very hard too and I am grateful to them both for many things.

My Christian upbringing has definitely cemented a lot of values and principals that I am trying to teach my own children, but a few years ago I chose not to follow a particular religion anymore. This broke my parents hearts and shortly thereafter I learnt that my partner and I were expecting our Oliver.



My parents found this particularly difficult to understand and while I know this wasn't an easy for decision for them at the time, they felt that their only option was to have nothing to do with me and my growing little family.

It wasn't easy, but I was lucky to have a very supportive and loving partner with a very large, loving and supportive family. During this time I learned how to stand on my own. How to listen and be guided by own voice and how to be a mother and partner. I realised that friends are the family we pick for ourselves and that by surrounding yourself with good people, you can create a circle of love.

 



I also learned that there's no family quite like your own and while I desperately missed my parents and my older brother, the most important lesson I learned was to change what you can change and to live my life the way I wanted to with my family. We added another son and got married, travelled and had a lot of fun.

Of course that didn't stop me thinking about my parents often and in my head I decided some years ago to make my parents a quilt a for their 40th wedding anniversary.  In 2009 I made them this little runner for their 36 wedding anniversary which I entered into my first ever bloggers quilt festival. I've always been very proud of their marriage and happy that after many years of being together, they still love each other. When I saw this quilt kit by Fig Tree Quilts I thought it was perfect. So I ordered it. It was a layby arrangement - the first payment was made in December, the second in January and the third in March when it was finally shipped.



A month after ordering the kit, I needed to contact my mother to find out about my family history and medical conditions upon the request of a specialist... this led to a phone call (the first in many years!), a few text message exchanges, and ultimately a meeting in late January to forgive and move forward. My parents finally met my children (then aged 4 and 2) and they've been happily involved in their lives ever since.

Even though their 40th wedding anniversary isn't until next year, I decided to make the quilt for their 39th wedding anniversary instead. It just seemed to be the right time and thing to do. So earlier this month I posted the quilt to my parents with a few other gifts from the boys. Fortunately, my mum loves the quilt and it's happily residing on their bed.



While I made the quilt I thought about all the things my parents had taught me and how they shaped my life. I thought about the good things and the bad things and the kind of mother I want to be to my boys. While my parents probably still don't completely understand the decisions I made and I don't completely understand the decisions they made, I am glad that we have got to a place in our lives when we realise what's important and can move forward.

So there you have it! I told you this quilt had a story of it's own, and if you managed to make it to the very end of this post thank you. Hug and love your family and your friends always.

Thank you Amy for hosting another wonderful Bloggers Quilt Festival. Don't forget to check out all the other wonderful entries here.

Quilt Details:

Fabric - California Girl by Fig Tree Quilts for Moda
Pattern - Boardwalk (with modified boders)
Size - 62" x 62"
Quilting - all over Cathedral pattern by my wonderful LAQ

33 comments:

  1. Hi Lara,

    Great quilt. Thanks for sharing such a personal story, which is never easy to do on the internet. Good luck in moving forward with your parents.

    All the best,
    Shontelle.

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  2. Very pretty quilt. And thank you for sharing the story behind it.

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  3. Thank you for sharing your quilt and your story. Great to hear a story of reconciliation.

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  4. Such a beautiful quilt and thanks for sharing your story. :)

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  5. Beautiful quilt, beautiful story. So glad it has happy ending!

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  6. how special a gift, both that you've given them, and that you've reunited

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  7. Love the quilt Lara. Thanks for sharing the story behind it and so glad you are reunited. I admire the courage you showed by choosing what was right for you.

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  8. It's a beautiful quilt, and honestly, your story is one I needed to read. I'm at the beginning of your story - estranged from my family (their choice, mostly, not mine), so it's nice to know that there is the chance of healing and forgiveness somewhere down the road. Thank you for sharing your story and your quilt.

    Maybe I should make a quilt for every member of my family . . .

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  9. I was happy to read that your story has a happy ending, and I hope the love you put into the quilt will always be a remembered. Thanks for sharing your story and your quilt.

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  10. I am so happy that things are working out for you all. I love a happy ending, especially if there is a quilt thrown in for good measure xxx

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  11. Thanks so much for sharing both the quilt and your story :)

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  12. Fabulous quilt and what a story it has told! Glad everything has worked out for you all. Thanks for sharing.

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  13. Strength of character produces a strong quilt...full of love and compassion. Thanks for sharing!

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  14. Lara, I am so glad you and your parents are able to get past the past. Your children deserve to be loved by as many people as possible. I love happy endings and BTW, your quilt is beautiful.

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  15. What a lovely story to go with the beautiful quilt. I'm so happy you and your parents have reconciled.

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  16. Hi Lara what a moving story, sometimes life doesn't always go according to how we think it should, but I'm pleased both you and your parents are on the path to healing, and the quilt now has a lovely tale to share...:O)

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  17. A lovely quilt with very special meaning.

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  18. Beautiful quilt and personal story. Touching.

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  19. It is a beautiful quilt and it is great to hear the happy ending that goes with it. Thanks for sharing.

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  20. You brought tears to my eyes, I hope your parents continue to find acceptance of you. The quilt is beautiful and a lovely gift for healing.

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  21. Very lovely quilt!!! Thanks for sharing its story and very happy ending!

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  22. I'm so glad that story does have a happy ending. It must have been such a tough time for all of you.
    Gorgeous quilt too of course!
    xxx

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  23. It's difficult for parents when their children don't follow the path they think they should! Even though there was a break in communication, I'm sure your parents thought about you and worried about you during that time. I'm so glad you are together again! It was a wonderful idea to make your parents a quilt for their anniversary. They'll treasure it forever.

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  24. I love your quilt, I bought the pattern but have not made it yet. I am so glad you all were able to come to a place where you can move on and be in each others lives again, thanks for sharing the story behind the quilt.

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  25. A pretty quilt and a nice story with a happy ending. I hope you can continue to build and mend your family's relationship with your parents

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  26. What a happy new beginning! The quilt is beautiful!

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  27. I am so glad that healing has taken place with your parents. =) I know firsthand, how difficult family relationships can be.

    The quilt you made for them is wonderful...I know they will treasure it always.

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  28. I really enjoyed reading your story about this quilt - I am glad that it has a happy ending. The quilt is also gorgeous! =)

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  29. Thanks for sharing your beautiful story. I share almost the same story only not alone myself but also my 4 brothers do not believe or are going to church anymore. And I respect my parents so much for respecting us and our choices! Although I knew that (I was the last one that made this choice) I found it very hard to tell my parents. It causes a lot of pain to them but we still have good contact with each other.
    I am so glad your story has a good end. And for me my parents are the greatest, I hope we can handle the same when our kids make choices we perhaps will not understand.
    By the way; I love your quilt too!

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  30. I appreciate you being so gracious to share your story of strength, heartbreak, burden, loss, forgiving, love and even healing. I am glad you have your parents back in your life again and in a way that is acceptable to you both.

    The quilt is lovely and I certainly am glad your mom and dad can be reminded of you and how you love them every time they see it.

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  31. You chose wisely, to look for the good, the love, and acceptance of the family you found, and the courage and strength they in turn gave you to seek back the family you had lost. I'm so happy that your story has a happy ending for your and your children's sake as well as your birth family. And your quilt shows the enormous love in your heart. Thanks for sharing.

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  32. Beautiful quilt and poignant story with happy ending. My son chose not to be a part of our religion but after having had unhappy experiences with my mother in law i tried really hard to not repeat that. Biting my tongue sometimes has helped but i love my daughter in law and her willingness to share pictures and emails of and about their family. And she loves sewing now since i gave her my old machine...just gotta get her into quilting one of these days! Thanks for sharing and have a great day

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