The Quilt Show

Every year our church holds a Quilt and Needlework Expo. People bring their handcrafted items to put on display - wall hangings, embroidered pictures, quilts, afghans, all sorts of wonderful colors and sizes and styles and patterns. There are vendors and a tea room and other activities to keep you occupied. They hang quilts from every possible nook and cranny in every room, on specially made racks. In fact, the choir had to leave their folders on their seats in the sanctuary Sunday after service because the rehearsal room would be bursting at the seams with yards and yards of homemade love.

Last year it was just an advertised event to me. I had already made plans for the weekend and wasn't able to come. This year though, I decided to put a few quilts I have on display. I was surprised to find how many quilts I have! One made by my grandmother back in 1918, and seven - count them - 7 that my Mom has made and given to the boys or to me.

My kids love the quilts their Gram has given them. They will not part with them for anything, even when they are tattered and worn, even when they have outgrown the babyish puppies and toys scattered across them. They beg Gram for an updated one, and carefully tuck away the comfy one, retiring it to good memories and the depths of my cedar chest.

Several years ago, when I was sick and couldn't get warm, Drew used to wrap me up in the quilt Gram had made for him. It was the only blanket that could stop the shaking and shivering. I don't know what Mom fills her quilts with, but it did the trick of chasing away the cold. It was downright touching that when I was having a bad day or night, Drew would tenderly wrap me up in his quilt, sacrificing his own good night's rest for my benefit.

I knew it was temporary, and sure enough, the chills and shaking days happened less and less often until I only had one now and again. I didn't give it much thought really. But Drew did. He asked me once if Gram had ever given me a quilt, and I told him no. Without so much as a whisper, he quietly approached Gram and asked if he could hire her to make a quilt for me. Mom didn't know quite what to say, for she was working on a quilt for me already.

Not wanting to spoil Drew's surprise, she set aside the quilt she was working on (and gave it to me later) and whipped up a quilt for Drew to give me according to his specifications. Drew contracted to pay her something like $10. I was completely overwhelmed both by the beautiful quilt and the thoughtful young man who had arranged such a wonderful Christmas gift for me.

Drew and I have our moments of disagreement, but times like that make you know this child will turn out to be a good friend and a tenderhearted and loving husband and father someday. I cried buckets of tears that Christmas, and delightfully use both quilts, rotating them according to season. I wouldn't think of being without at least one of them.

It was hard to bring them to the Quilt Show and leave them there. I missed them at home, but wanted to show off my Mom's handiwork. I am proud of her masterpieces and want everyone to enjoy her artistry as much as I do.

The Quilt Show has two other considerations that bloom during the event. For one thing, they take food donations as part of the entrance fee. The newly stocked food pantry will go to a local distribution center to help those struggling to feed their families. Also, all through the year, the good ladies of the church knit prayershawls for those who are sick. They pray for the recipient while they are making them that God will be present, will bring strength and healing to the person who is suffering. They also make baby comforters for sick babies, miniature sized quilts filled with love and care and prayer. These items are blessed in church service, and fill the sanctuary during the show.

Its impressive to walk through the double doors and see hundreds of baby comforters laid over the backs of the pews and the prayershawls wrapped over the altar railing. You can feel the love in the room - it feels like the most special Christmas you have ever encountered.

People come from all over to attend this show. In service on Sunday they mentioned over a dozen states and even Canada and I think I remember Australia! Or was it New Zealand? Anyway, it was well attended and many of the prayershawls were taken for loved ones struggling with illnesses. The baby blankets too will be placed in facilities to be given out.

The organizers of the event told me later that while they did make money from the tea room and the tickets, but it's not about the money. It's really about the conversations, the connections, the way the prayershawls touch people's lives, the feeling that you are helping in a practical and concrete way.

Maybe next year I can actually go! I'd love to see all the other handiwork. This year though, I had many people tell me that lots of attendees loved Mom's quilt, especially the floral embroidered one. So thanks Mom for the beautiful quilts. Your work is admired by many, but I'm not giving mine up for anything.