Cancer Really Sucks!

I really don’t like using the word “sucks” but cancer really does suck. Why does it have to exist? It seems like everytime we turn around someone is diagnosed with cancer!

2013 was a year that would change my life forever.  It started off great with both of my daughters graduating from school.  One from high school and one from college.  The one from college had been married for a couple of years and was 7 months pregnant.  My first grandchild, Ezra, arrived in July, and brought so much joy in our lives.  But then September comes and we get the worse news we could ever imagine….CANCER. My younger sister was diagnosed with brain cancer….a glioblastoma….a very aggressive tumor.  She lived with that tumor with the help of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy for a little more than 3 years but lost the battle in April 2017.  I miss her so much!  She left behind her son who is 9 years old being raised by my parents. It’s really hard losing someone you love so much which leads me to a quilt that I just finished.

A mom asked me to create this quilt which represented her daughter’s life. Kelsey’s short life was represented with her newborn hospital shirt and baby booties to a denim skirt and shirts she wore as a young women. Kelsey was diagnosed with lymphoma twice and lost her battle the second time around at age 24.  She loved Idaho State, the color purple and horses as you can see in this quilt! There’s also her tattered quilt she had as a little girl and a cute blue dress she wore.  I ALWAYS encourage people to save items…not to the point of being a pack rat, but you never know when the items may be used!

Now it’s time for me to get back to the long arm and sewing machine to finish 10 more quilts for clients.  20 memory quilts and 7 memory pillows for Christmas this year and this week I’ve shipped 6 to their homes. These are the ones I’ve done for this holiday season so far.

Staying busy as a bee! Have a great week!

Sue Bartlow

 

 

A Quilt of Many Memories

A couple from Northport, Alabama contacted me about doing a quilt for them back in October.  They were going to deliver the shirts to me at the Madison Street Festival but had a family emergency that weekend and was unable to make it.  So a few weeks later, they drove to Madison to bring me the shirts.  They did not want to put them in the mail. These shirts belonged to their 25 year old son who overdosed and passed away 3 years ago.  They told me his story and also showed me photos of him wearing these shirts.  These shirts are priceless to them!

I finished this precious quilt in January and they picked it up a couple of weeks ago.  Their son, Trey loved hunting, John Deere, and the Alabama Crimson Tide!  Each shirt has a story to tell!

On the back of the quilt, I added Deuteronomy 25:19 – The Lord has given thee rest from all thine enemies.

On Tuesday, I got this message from Trey’s mother:

I know how important all of these shirts are!  I will take the utmost care of your priceless memories and make them into a meaningful quilt that can be passed on to future generations.

Be sure to check out my Shop section on my website.  To see the price per block/shirt used, please click on View Details.

Hardest Quilt I’ve Ever Done

It wasn’t because it was a difficult pattern, it wasn’t becuase the front was 100% Tommy Bahama silk shirts and Tommy Bahama linen/cotton shirts on the back, it was because each shirt was worn by a friend who recently passed away.

My long time friend, Dan Swayne was killed in an accident in Abu Dhabi. Dan was an Air Force pilot and had over 4,000 hours of logged time.  He loved being a pilot. He died doing what he loved.  Unfortunately he left behind a wife, a step daughter, a son, and three grown daughters, a brother and parents.

Kate, his wife, asked me to do this quilt and chose a pattern.  I finshed it earlier this week and mailed it to Bethesda, MD.  Today he is being buried in Arlington National Cemetary.  His wife and step daughter are flying in from UAE and the quilt will be waiting for them.  They will be able to take it back with them and snuggle under it and remember the times Dan wore these shirts. He LOVED his Tommy Bahama shirts. Kate said they are his “signature” shirts. Please keep them in your prayers!  

Should I Donate Them?

Remember all those fun times in high school and college and all the fun t-shirts you got for all those different band trips, sorority events, sports, games, etc?  T-shirts provide memories of your childhood, college days or any time in your life.  I am kicking myself for not saving all of mine!  I gave so many of mine away.  There are lots of things you can donate, but don’t donate memories.

I am currently working on a t-shirt quilt for a sweet lady who has travelled the world.  I bet there are over 50 shirts that will be on this quilt!  So many of us buy those souvenir t-shirts. Wouldn’t it be cool to see them  all on one quilt?  Once I finish it, I’ll be sure to share it with you all!

I also just finished this one for a young women who is a ZTA at Auburn. SO many fun memories for her I am sure! Preserve your memories on a quilt oe even a pillow!  Order your quilt and get 40% off your pillow (like above  in the photo – regular price is $50 and you’ll get it for $30 ). You won’t regret it! Text me or call me at 256-617-3167 or email me at suebartlow@me.com

A Very Special Memory Quilt

This is a very special quilt for some very special friends. When Kimberly Bridges asked me to do this for her parents, Jon and Dorothy, I said yes!  It was the first time to do this type of memory quilt and it was someone I personally had known during his short time on this earth. Daniel was a sweet young man came down with pneumonia.  He passed away earlier this year and it was such a shock to everyone.  The colors you see in the quilt were dress shirts he had worn.  There were five shirts total that his sister sent to me.  As I worked on this quilt, it only felt right to work on it in silence and pray while making it.  I prayed for peace and comfort for his family knowing the upcoming holidays was going to be difficult without Daniel.