Hard one to let go

      Some quilts have a convoluted history. I have some friends who insisted I try to make a Judy Niemeyer quilt. I chose Sea Urchin. They showed me how to paper piece her way. I bought the pattern and gathered the horde of fabric it took. Loved the pattern, loved the fabric. However, making the top was a nightmare of boredom and slowness. Over a couple of years, I started and put it away repeatedly.
     Finally, I gathered it all up and gave it to the friends who started me on the whole boondoggle. I told them they could finish if they wanted and give it away to one of their charity groups.
     I was totally surprised when they gave it back to me, all finished, and told me it was the hardest one of hers they have ever done (they have done almost all of them). It has been on a hanger in my tops closet waiting its turn to be quilted.
    A close friend of mine has had a reoccurrence of breast cancer (25 yrs. remission) and I offered her a comfort quilt package. First she said no, because she is not fond of quilts, but then she said yes. I invited her to come and look at my tops and pick out one, or I would make one for her. I should have done as Wanda does- pick out three or four- and then have them choose. As I pulled tops out of my closet, she spied Sea Urchin, pulled it out and said that is the only one she liked as it was "graphic". I showed her my ideas for the backing, and quilted it. Boy, was it tough to piece- those paper pieced seams are difficult to penetrate.
     When it was quilted, I had real pangs of regret. By the time I finish quilting, in my mind, the quilt is already given but this time it was different. I loved the quilt- colors, quilting, backing and binding. I washed it and bagged it for the package and gave it away yesterday. It was the hardest quilt I ever gave away. I feel guilty for feeling that way, but I did it and she loves it.