I recently finished a quilt for my friend, Jeanne, whom I have known for 50 years. We met in 6th Grade at Pioneer Elementary School in Sacramento, California. I was the maid of honor in her wedding when we were both 18, and since shortly after she got married, we’ve lived in different states but have kept our friendship going despite the geographical distance.
I’ve been wanting to make the simple yet striking Diamonds in the Rough quilt for awhile (dimensions 52.5” x 64.5”). Also for the past two or three years, I’ve been thinking about making a quilt for my friend, Jeanne, who is a neonatal nurse practitioner who now trains other neonatal nurses. During this recent COVID-19 pandemic, she has been a “one woman sweat shop” making fabric masks for friends and colleagues. Jeanne gives so much to others, and she deserves something special for being the wonderful woman/mother/wife/friend that she is. So I decided to make a Diamonds in the Rough quilt for Jeanne using a favorite fabric collection, Alison Glass’ Handcrafted, that I’ve been saving for just the right project. The colors in this collection go with the harvest colors in Jeanne’s home. The name of this quilt is 50 Years of Friendship. Jeanne received this quilt last week and sent me this text along with a photo of it with her kitty, Cilla:
I received the most beautiful quilt from my dear friend Mary!💕 I love it!!! Celebrating 50 years of friendship … how thoughtful are you! Thank you, thank you!! I have it in my favorite comfy chair with my loyal study buddy of 15 years …
I’m submitting this quilt to the Hands2Help 2020 Caregivers Quilt Initiative. My friend, Jeanne, is a caregiver in every aspect of her life, and I am so happy to give back just a smidgeon of what she gives to others. Here’s a photo of Jeanne holding her grandson taken back in October that gives a wonderful visual depiction of how much she cares for others.
Linking up to Confessions of a Fabric Addict: Hands2Help Progress Linkup.
Quilting is in my Blood 
Oh, what a wonderful post, Mary. Love seeing the quilt again, and reading her note to you. How wonderful to celebrate 50 years of friendship! I have a few longstanding friendships too, and they are the best!
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What a beautiful way to celebrate and honor 50 years of friendship, Mary. It’s a lovely quilt to connect the two of you remotely with a long distance hug.
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That’s such a beautiful quilt, Mary! The Allison Glass fabrics just glow! Your friend sounds very deserving of this lovely gift from you, and I bet she’ll love having it, too.
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OMG this post brought tears to my eyes Mary. First what a beautiful quilt honoring your 50 year (wow!) friendship. And then Jeanne’s 15 yr friendship with Cilla (my heart melts for long-lives cats.) And the picture of Jeanne and her grandson brought the tears, recognizing the gift she had to hold him before coronavirus changed so many grandmothers’ options for being with their newborn grand babies. AND Jeanne is a nurse, a neonatal nurse no less, so hats off to her especially in this time.
When I decided to return to grad school I weighed nursing or counseling, and recently reflected that I made the right choice for me but also have very much acknowledged to myself that nurses are cut from a more heroic cloth than I am made. I am grateful to work from home while nurses I know literally are choosing to head to the front lines.
So I am moved and appreciate all the beauty in your post: your beautiful handcrafted quilt, your love for your friend, the duration of your friendship, the blessing of Cilla’s 15 years, and the blessing to the world of Jeanne’s work as a nurse throughout her life and the blessing of seeing her holding her grandson with such love, a gift in this time of touch avoidance.
Thank you for sharing all this love.
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Very lovely quilt and relationship you have. It’s wonderful for you to honor her in such a meaningful way. You are both lucky to have each other.
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Hi Mary! Gosh, not only is your quilt beautiful beyond words but that photo of your friend with her new grandson is amazing. You can easily see this quilt will go well with her decorating scheme. What a wonderful celebration of a friendship that has endured time and distance. {{Hugs}} Great job. ~smile~ Roseanne
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Love this quilt and the deep sentiment of friendship. The is very nice indeed! You’ve really outdone yourself, Mary!
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What a beautiful quilt. Love you little story and what a wonderful long friendship.
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Longtime friendships are so special. Because you know so much of each other’s history you can pick up conversations months apart as thought you’d talked just the day before….And it’s a nice quilt!
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A beautiful quilt, Mary! Thank you so much for being part of Hands2Help 2020!!
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The Friendship quilt is gorgeous. ‘Love the backing fabric too.
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