This quilt is the second in the series and David's oxford cloth shirts were used to create this simple traditional pattern. I bought the outside blue fabric to help integrate the quilt and provide a large area for me to quilt a sunflower motif. The square in square is an old fashion pattern I have used often in my work and is one of my personal favorites. The pattern was done in three different sizes to add movement and expansion to the piece. Again I spent long hours at my design wall pinning up the finished blocks arranging them constantly with the blank blocks. I settled on the final design because I wanted to give a sense of the process one goes through healing. It is always necessary to go deeply within in the early stages of grief to reconnect with spirit. Once the initial shock has worn off the next stage is to begin to reenter one's life. As you begin to expand sometimes you fall back into the early pain but each time it is less. Finally you know the healing is happening as you allow joy and laughter in and you reach out further connecting with others.
This quilt is owned by David's fiancée who had to face the loss of her first deep love at the tender age of being a young adult. They were a beautiful couple and I had the privilege of meeting her before David's passing. She has been a brave soul to find the courage to become an airline attendant and fall in love again. She has kept in close contact with my soul sister and David's sister and they helped each other grieve. In their loss my soul sister gained another daughter, his sister gained another sibling and David's fiancé gained a mother and sister.
