Long before I knew anything about virtual quilting bees and online block exchanges, a group of us did our own block exchange. Sue picked out a focus fabric and decided we should each make star blocks, any star pattern as long as it was 12" finished. The quilting expertise ranged from quite experienced to those who had never made a quilt before but were eager to learn.
So we picked our individual star block, made 12 of the same block, and then shared them, so everyone had a set of 12 blocks, one each from every other person in the group. When we were finished, we planned an evening where we would have supper, exchange our blocks, take a group picture, and then....
Remember the movie Calendar Girls? One of our friends and her husband own a photography studio and we thought it would be fun to take individual pictures, each holding our own block, and then assemble them into a calendar.
"Tonight I am checking in to see if you are aware that Cindy is Miss April...If the movie Calendar Girls is unfamiliar to you...some older women stepped out for charity. In fact, they stepped right out of their clothes for a wildly popular calendar. And Cindy has participated in a local Calendar Girls situation...In case she hasn't told you. Anyway, she is Miss April. She has a pieced 12x12 block placed strategically over her chest...kind of racy, don't you think? Well, you know how those pastor's kids can be...."
We waited and waited, and never heard a peep from my parents. Finally, Maggie called them up and stopped by. I think they were really quite nervous as she prepared to unveil the calendar to them. Close your eyes if you're a little nervous about seeing me as Miss April...
What a super special quilt. It is just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteOMG - pretty quilt but what a great story and love how your friend shared with your parents - toooooo funny!!!!
ReplyDeleteA beatiful quilt, with a great story.
ReplyDeleteThat's a funny story about the calendar! I love that your quilt has so many memories tied up in it.
ReplyDeleteA very special to share at the festival - thank you - Nat
ReplyDeleteBeautiful quilt! So glad that you have such a great momento of good times with a great friend. You make a wonderful Miss April!!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love that movie, so really enjoyed reading your story. And you share something that for me is essential to quilting, which is the building of friendships. On top of that, I have a soft side for traditional quilts, love red, and find this monochromatic quilt is really quite striking. I'm sure this will be a quilt to treasure for many, many years. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLove the quilt! It's beautiful. And such a great story behind it.
ReplyDeletewhat an awesome quilt, and it's only made better by the story behind it. it's a treasure!
ReplyDeleteYou made me laugh! And it's a lovely quilt made extra special because of the memories.
ReplyDeleteWhat a treasure that quilt must be, for many reasons! And the calendar idea was really cool!
ReplyDeleteI love your block, Miss April!
beautiful quilt! (i'm going to email you a question about my pincushion I got from you at last festival.)
ReplyDeletebeautiful quilt and funny story. ;)
ReplyDeleteI have Sue's version of that quilt out now, too.
ReplyDeleteThis story is really special and so is the quilt! I think I'm always going to have "Mrs. April" in the back of my mind when I read your blog from now on.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, friend!
Jennifer :)
Well, Miss April, that's a gorgeous quilt and a beautiful story. What a wonderful tribute to your friend!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great quilt. I love friendship quilts for the memories too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great story and beautiful quilt.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a beautiful quilt. But the story behind it is even more amazing! I love each and every star, and I love that you have a star block made by each of your friends. Thanks for being a sponsor for the festival! Love your BQF selvages!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea and beautiful quilt.!
ReplyDeleteLove the quilt. It came together so well. The story is hilarious.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous story, and I'm so sorry you lost your friend, Sue. Peace and hugs...
ReplyDeleteI love the layout you chose, and the border you added, being half white and half print - on different halves. :-)
ReplyDeleteSuch a great memory of time spent with friends.
~ Meagan
SnippetsAndYarns at gmail dot com
A beautiful quilt and a beautiful story. To funny about the note to your parents. Miss April indeed! Love the salvage edge pin cushions. I'm a secret collector of salvages edges (shhh). In fact I just took them out today and made certain that while I was more busy I hadn't crushed any of them in the container I keep them in as they'll be my very own spider web quit, someday.
ReplyDeleteGreat Story quilt, and oooooh I love the new pin cushions!!
ReplyDeleteLovely quilt. Love the story behind it. Thank you so much for sharing, Cindy.
ReplyDeleteOh gosh Cindy, that's a great story!
ReplyDeleteGreat story and nothing better than red and white.
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful! I love the backing. And this quilt is so special in so many ways!
ReplyDeleteI really like the border! Very interesting design.
ReplyDeletehey there :)
ReplyDeleteI'm anxiously awaiting your email about the box :)
I have so many holiday projects I'm going to be working on ~soon.
:)
lovely quilt
What a GREAT story, and a wonderfully beautiful quilt! What a great group of friends you have. I'm so sorry you lost Sue.
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love red and white quilts!!! Loved the story!!!
ReplyDeleteThe story is wonderful - I love the red and white stars. Thanks for sponsoring the festival - your pincushions are so cute!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful quilt and what a fun story to go along with it!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great quilt and a wonderful story. Love the idea of the calendar. Great fun!
ReplyDeleteThe red and white looks so good in the stars. It came together well.
It's always fun to share with other quilters. You make a great Miss April
ReplyDeleteGreat memories.
It's a pretty quilt and a great story - thanks for sharing both! (And your pincushions are cute and clever!)
ReplyDeleteBella storia per questo quilt stellare!
ReplyDeleteCiao Domenica
It is a gorgeous quilt. I love the calendar.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful quilt and story! Thanks for sharing:)
ReplyDeleteCindy,
ReplyDeleteQuilts are special and this one has a particularly beautiful story. I love the red backing- Mary Englebreit makes fabulous fabric designs.
I am sorry for the loss of your dear friend. May your quilt bring you comfort and fond memories of someone who was obviously a special person.
Thank you for sharing this treasure/
Warmest regards,
Anna
i love the back -- mary engelbreit is a favorite. what a great story behind the quilt as well. i'm sure you really miss your friend.
ReplyDeletethe pincushions are adorable also!!
Great story, and beautiful quilt!
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful quilt-thanks for sharing its story. And thanks for sponsoring the show--I so want a selvage pincushion.
ReplyDeleteHope you can visit my entries: 1890 antique school house and black/white/pink scrappy miniature.
Thank you for sharing the story with us. It makes the quilt even more that special.
ReplyDeleteThat's a fantastic story! The quilt is lovely, too. I am sure you all had so much fun with the calendar.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your friend.
Your pincushions are so fun - love how you put BQF 2010 in there...
; )
What a lovely and special quilt! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat story and beautiful quilt!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful memory for a beautiful quilt. It's lovely.
ReplyDeletewhat a fun story!! this quilt is great. i love the red!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great story and a beautiful quilt!
ReplyDeleteThis quilt is gorgeous!!! The story is so wonderful! Thanks for sharing!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun you had with Sue! Lovely memories with this quilt.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful quilt with a great story.
ReplyDeleteA great contribution to the BQF. I also wanted to say that I saw the magazine with your selvage pincushions in it at my local quilt shop way up here in New Brunswick, Canada. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteFun story to go with your pretty quilt. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI love your stars and I am a huge fan of just RED! Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI love the simplicity of the colours in this quilt and its a lovely story behind it.
ReplyDeleteyour quilt is just lovely. i love stars, i love red and white, i love mary englebreit, love your story of friends doing this together, the calendar thing is hysterical. wow!! love it, love it!!! thanks for sharing and have a great day
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfect choice to feature for the festival. Wonderful story about the quilt.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear of your loss but I am glad you have such happy memories. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great story to go along with such a beautiful quilt! I'm sorry about your friend, I hope you can take comfort in all the good memories you have of her.
ReplyDeleteWhat a special story and a lovely quilt.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing a very special quilt with a really funny and wonderful story about a great friend!
ReplyDeleteLol! So funny. And such a gorgeous quilt and special story. I had some of that MEnglebreit fabric and I loved it. What a prefect use for it! (And I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend. I know that feeling.)
ReplyDelete