I spent much of January working on a very special quilt for the family of a very special girl, called Maddie.

In 2022 I was contacted by Maddie’s mom, Leslie, who had clothing and other special items of her daughter’s that she wanted made into a quilt for the family. Maddie had passed away in October 2021 at the age of fifteen and a half. Leslie had spent a long time looking for the right person to make the quilt. When she chose me I knew I was the right one. I knew it was hard for them to let go of these items when they planned on driving from Southern California to my home in Northern California to drop them off. I wanted to create a meaningful and truly, special memory quilt for them using Maddie’s things.

Once Christmas was over and another project was completed, I felt I had the time to focus on this quilt. I used my bedroom floor to lay out all the items as I knew this would be a large quilt. From the initial layout of folded clothes I was able to measure, cut and join the blocks using clothing and fabric for sashing to create larger blocks. After making these blocks I would work on creating other units in other areas, always measuring to make sure these units would eventually join together. I think of this process almost like putting together a jigsaw puzzle.

When it came to finishing the quilt I included Maddie’s quilted bedding for a border and the duvet cover for the quilt back. I felt it was a perfect solution for this special and unique quilt. The quilt finished at around 98” square and included all of Maddie’s precious clothing items, hats, socks and her well loved blankets. Last week I shipped the finished quilt and all the unused fabrics and clothing. I was excited for them to have Maddie’s things back.

As soon as Leslie received the quilt she took it to show Maddie’s school friends and teachers at Agape Village Day Program in Valencia, CA.

You can read more about Maddie’s story on Leslie’s blog at maddiesjoy.org You can also donate to Maddie’s Joy, a fund set up by her parents to honor their daughter Maddie’s memory and to serve children with special needs.

With such a large quilt it is hard to get a great photo of the whole quilt but I love how personal it is including her favorite blankets, hats, shirts, dresses and bedding.

I feel honored to have worked on this special quilt, and hope that by sharing my talents using these fabrics will help this family heal and celebrate Maddie’s life. Even if it helps in just a little way.

“…fabrics transcend their function and became symbols of peace and better times.” Quote from Haptic and Hue.