There is a special place in my heart for BQF, I google search stumbled onto it a year ago just as the spring festival was starting and it introduced me to the quilt blogosphere. And here we are again!
For those of you who are regular followers, you’ve seen this quilt before, but it’s my favorite recent finish and it has the best story, so I thought it was appropriate for the festival.
I made Trees for the Forest as a gift on behalf of my friend April. I met April through a writing class held at Raleigh Correctional Center for Women that brought together Divinity students, community members, and women serving prison sentences to explore spiritual autobiographies and write our own stories. I know it’s may sound like the trite thing that people say about things like this, but seriously, it was life altering. It was powerful and freeing to write my own story and to share in the stories of other wonderful women.
A lot of women in prison are crafty, crochet hooks and yarn are allowed and from what I can tell, lots of women make stuff. But, gifts that April was making her daughters were confiscated and destroyed. I was so sad when she told me that. I know angry it would make me if someone destroyed something that I had made with my hands. Not too mention how sad it would be to not be able to give birthday presents to your own daughters. So, with her oldest daughter’s birthday coming up, I offered to make a gift on her behalf. This story could get really non-quilty and this is a quilt blog and a quilt festival, so, if you are interested in hearing more a bit more about prison stuff, I invite you to read this essay I wrote about visiting prison.
The quilting is nothing to write home about, I’m still a total newbie to machine quilting and would have rather hand quilted it, but I needed to get it done pretty quickly to get it there in time for the birthday. Still, it’s my favorite quilt this year because it was such a joy to get to not only make a gift for someone, but it really for two people. And at the end of the day, the gift is always the best part of quilting.
Can’t wait to stroll through everyone’s festival entries! Make sure you get over to Amy’s and check out the AMAZING quilts!
Fallingforpieces' Blog 
You did a great job and I’m sure it was received gratefully. The green looks so nice and summery!
I love the pattern and colors you used to make this quilt. You are so sweet to make this lady’s daughter. I’m sure she is going to love it.
Your quilt looks great. I like the feature fabric in the centre of the blocks and the gorgeous greens chosen to frame them. It was lovely to read the special story behind the making of the quilt, too!
Great quilt (particularly like the greens) and a heart-touching story
It is gorgeous and thoughtful. I like the quilting.
What a heartwarming story!
Like it did for you, the Bloggers Quilt Festival really introduced me to the world of quilty blogs, so I’m always pleased to see it pop up again!
What a wonderful story. I love the fabric in the center of each block!
You know, the quilt in itself is lovely. It is rainy and cold here, so reminders of Spring, like this one, really cheer me up. 🙂 But I think, more importantly, you are reminding us that behind our quilts there are people: those you make and give them, and those who receive them. And there are those stories. Quilts are such a beautiful way of sharing them. Thank you for sharing yours!
The story of a quilt
The quilt for the story
Makes both beautiful.
Such a nice story, we hear far too many sad stories whenever we turn on the news so its nice to read something so heartwarming. Love the quilt, that bright green is one of my favourite colours
Love it. Such a pretty quilt and such an amazing story. Thanks for sharing.
great quilt–wonderful colors. truly an interesting story! thanks for sharing and have a great day
What could be better than a gift from the heart. No strings attached. I think you got Matthew’s message loud and clear and live it daily.
Thanks so much for reading. Really appreciate it!
Love this quilt and a really lovely story too, what a great gift for someone in such difficult circumstances.
Great story! I’m so glad you were able to help out your friend with this gift for her daughter.
P.S. I think the quilting is excellent!
I love the quilt you have made! All those green colours are so wonderful! Your story is also beautiful and touching!
I’m happy to meet you at the festival!
Beautiful quilt in fantastic greens! Thanks for sharing its story!
I live in Raeford,NC. Where are you if you don’t mind me asking? I like the choice of color you have chosen for this quilt for your friend and sometimes simple quilting is still WONDERFUL as is this one!! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Sara! I’m up in Durham.
I love your quilt and your story (I did read your essay). I regularly visit people in prison as part of my work. Sometimes it is just work, other times I feel like I am truly helping people. God bless you for your generosity.
Thanks for reading my essay! Really appreciate everyone who took the time to do that.
Love the quilt!! What a great story behind it too, you are very kind to make this for her daughter. I am sure it was greatly appreciated.
Cheers!
Rachel
http://www.dewberrylane.com
You have such a great heart, and a wonderful story to your quilt. I have always called mine “works of love”, and that is truly what yours is.
The joy that quilt must have brought to these 2 people makes it too special for my humble words.
It’s a great quilt, with a wonderful story! I am so glad you chose to share it again for those of us who didn’t see it the first time! Keep up the good work….
I was moved to tears by your story, and April’s. Such insight – thank you so much for writing that. I love the quilt you made for April’s daughter, this may well be the most special quilt you’ll ever make. It’s just beautiful.
Thank you! Really appreciate everyone whose taken the time to read that. Hope you’re enjoying the festival.
I want to give you a great big hug after reading your post and the story of your prison visit. Visiting your friend in prison was a wonderful thing, even though it wasn’t an easy thing to do and making a quilt for her daughter was more kind than many people would do. You are an amazing person. Don’t ever let anyone tell you differently.
Ahh, thank you. I really appreciate that right now, it’s a tough time for me. Hope you’re enjoying the festival!
Great quilt and so nice of you to do this!
I think the quilt is beautiful and I like the quilting! The story is also beautiful. What a kindness you extended to someone in need.
Your colors are bright, but cool & calming, and I love the backing fabric you chose. Enjoyed the story also.
Wow, what a gift to make something for someone in that situation. Is that what happens to everything the prisoners make?
No, it was destroyed as a consequence for talking back to a CO. The ladies are generally allowed to keep the stuff they make or send it out to family.
What a beautiful story.
That was a really great thing you did that will last a lifetime for them!
thanks for sharing this quilt and the story behind it, to often for me it is about getting it done rather than what or who is it for. And the quilting on it is great, love how it frames up the center squares
Thanks Kelly!
Such a wonderful qift. Very pretty too, with the all the greens and white.
that was very nice of you.
Your story about this quilt highlights what is so wonderful about this craft.
It can be so much more than just a creative process.
So true!
Love the quilt. Love the story. Don’t you just love giving quilts?
The best part of quilting! Thanks for visiting! Hope you’re enjoying the festival!
A beautiful quilt. Thanks for sharing the story behind it.
That really is a great story! And I love that you’re doing volunteer work in that way.
Great use of colour. 🙂
Che storia!
Bellissima trapunta!
A great quilt and a great story! Thank you for sharing it.
That was nice of you! This quilt is really fun. I love the greens. Thanks for sharing
My first thought when seeing this quilt was how cheerful it was…so wonderful how a simple design can be so effective. Lovely story behind the quilt too!
I have a weakness for green quilts!! Lovely job!
It’s lovely; and I agree, half the fun is in the giving. I have family who ask why I keep giving my quilts away when they take so much time. I LOVE presenting a quilted gift! So nice to be able to gift it twice in one “go,” Kudos to you!
Thanks Sally, yep, you can’t get a gift like a quilt at the mall. Just not going to be as special.
Beautiful quilt, lovely story, generous gesture. Thanks for sharing.
What a lovely quilt, gift and story. Thank you so much for sharing. It’s an inspiration to us all.
Thanks so much! Hope you’re enjoying the festival.
Wow, what a gorgeous story and a gorgeous quilt!
Thanks Melissa!
I think this quilt is fantastic. Just perfect. Great job!
I love trees! And what an incredible story! Thank you for sharing both it and the quilt! Hugs!
What a sweet story! Your quilt will surely be treasured for ever! Thanks for sharing.
Fabulous story and the quilt is gorgeous. I love wonky blocks and your fabric choices are really fresh and happy.
What a wonderful story to go with a great quilt! Thank you for sharing!
Beautiful quilt and inspiring story. Thanks for sharing!
Love the colors in this quilt! So well chosen – and the pattern and quilting are lovely too – gorgeous!
A beautiful generous gift. I love how to quilting frames the trees!
very moving story and I did read the prison visit article. How can anyone pretend that prison = rehabilitation to society when people are treated so badly? Also I have a sneaking suspicion men inmates would be able to make and send gifts. I saw an exhibit of male prisoner art which included kitchen chairs with the legs and spokes entirely covered with crochet.
Thanks for reading. I’m sure there is some rehabilitation in some prisons sometimes, but it doesn’t seem like a whole lot, which, at least to me, just seems bad for everyone, prisoners and society alike. I don’t think anyone really wins with the current system.
It is a lovely quilt with an even more moving story. I am sure your thoughtful gift is well loved. Thanks for sharing this touching story.
Regards,
Anna
A lovely quilt and such a great story! You are really generous!
Thank you for your comment on my blog and…. wunderbar ist genau das richtige Wort ;)))!
What a lovely quilt, and what a heart warming story! This is really inspirational. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Pretty quilt! I love the greens and the trees in the centers of the blocks! Great job!
Beautiful selection of colours. The quilt festival is great iv got to read so many new blogs because of it looking forward to seeing more from you, im now a follower
Wow, what a beautiful quilt, and a lovely post to go along with it. I really love the colors you used. It’s just beautiful!
What a beautiful quilt and an equally beautiful story. Thank you for sharing!
Love all the different greens in your quilt (it is my favourite colour!!) They are so fresh and springy:)
Thank you for your words of praise. It means a lot to me in international posts. I started sewing in January 2011th.
Your work is beautiful.
Wonderful green fabrics and a very touching story.
I just love the greens!
It is beautiful, and the green is so bright and cheerful! I know she will love it.
Love the story and the quilt. My mom was a home ec teacher for many years in a tough high school, and would make the pregnant girls baby quilt as they did not get showers or support from home….it turned out the girls were snuggling up under them at night rather than using them in the cribs! Anyway, lovely quilt and lovely story, so happy and fresh!
I feel that a quilt is a tangible expression of care and love and I’m sure that this gift meant a lot to that girl. What a nice quilt story for such a beautiful quilt!
what? i love this!!! beautiful!!!
What an amazing story – thank you for sharing it!
It seems like the perfect quilt for a young girl.
It’s a lovely piece of your craft work. Reflecting your warmhearted 🙂
I love the trees, and the wonky blocks! Lovely! 🙂
This is such a beautiful, bright quilt. I love the different shades of green. I’m so glad you were able to bring a bright spot into the lives of this family. Thank you for your generosity.
this is such a beautiful quilt with an amazing story. thanks for sharing it. i am so glad i had the chance to read about it.