Sunday Sew and Sews--a Tribute

In December 2016 I started a small group I called the Sunday Sew and Sews since Sunday was the only day I had available for a monthly gathering.

I had been asked by a couple students about the upcoming 2017 Block of the Month quilt on The Quilt Show--Sue Garman's Halo Star Medallion. We planned to meet once a month for a two hour lecture/demo at  my home to work on that quilt. Starting with my guild, the Heritage Quilters of Huntsville, I asked if anyone else was interested, expecting 5 or 6. At 15 I said "that's it!"--I just don't have room for more.

Little did I dream how important these women would become to me and each other. They look forward to the gatherings, support and care for one another and all have grown in their quiltmaking skills a LOT! It is a joy to see.

The December gathering is a potluck--I love those! Here is the photo from this past December, 2019:

We are now in the fourth year of this group, still centered around the Block of the Month quilt from The Quilt Show. The group expands and contracts each year--those who don't want to make that quilt drop out for a year, then come back if the next quilt is more to their liking.

At the end of the first year, I was presented with a wonderful gift--a quilt top made from all the fabrics those Sunday Sew and Sews had used in their Halo Star Medallion quilts. Here is the top in December 2017:

This week I quilted it so I can take it to the first Joyful Journey Retreat next week where I will sleep under it at night and stitch on the binding during the day. So I have been thinking about these women all week:

Two of the original members made Halo Star Medallion quilts that are so good they have been exhibited at AQS Daytona Beach recently and are going to to AQS Lancaster this month and AQS Spring Paducah in April. Several won ribbons at the HQH show last October for quilts from this group.

I have written about this group before:

here, and here. as well as a few more times.

We recently lost one of our founding members, Janet Noever. who died suddenly from a stroke at age 82. Her death came as such a shock to us all. It also made us aware of how important our relationships with friends really are.

Like most groups of women our age, we have shared joys and sorrows. Kids getting married, new grandbabies, job successes, medical issues, divorce, death of family and friends. The Circle of Life kinds of things. Just being with our "tribe", those who get us, is important.

Janet was one of the few I asked to help make the Afternoon Delight quilt a year ago. She is second from the right here:

Always calm and quiet and pleasant, Janet was eager to share her talents with the group when she thought it would help. She loved Seminole piecing and incorporated that in her Halo Star Medallion, replacing blocks she didn't care for. Her Halo Star Medallion was my most favorite, I must confess--it has so much life and wonderful color sense. Sue would have loved it too:

I loved it so much, I asked to take it the taping of The Quilt Show last August when we made the 2020 Block of the Month show and did a little "Salute to Sue Garman" as part of that. 

Janet's obituary taught us so much about her that we didn't know. Her professional accomplishments were many--as a professor, Dean, author, college administrator. Her love was American History and Women's Studies--before that was cool, I'm sure. She was looking forward to the Centennial Celebration of women gaining the right to vote this August, 2020. I will raise a glass to Janet to celebrate myself that day.

At our gathering this Sunday, the first without her, we are sure to tell a few Janet stories and there may be a few tears. She will be missed.

For me personally, Janet always took time to email me after a meeting. if she had learned something especially important. She took time to say "Thank You" for creating this group and let me know how much it meant to her. That is a good lesson for all of us--take the time to tell special people in your life that they make a difference to you. Tomorrow is promised to no one. I often say "I am not going to live forever" and someday that will be true, for all of us.

Thank you--to those of you who let me know this blog is helpful to you on your quilting journey--it means a lot.

Let's quilt.

Barbara