Remember When. . . you couldn't help but smile when Buck laughed?

6/27/2022

My clients are kind, sentimental, and generally looking for a way to share and preserve the story of a loved one or memory. I tend to feel an instant bond with them and am grateful to "meet" their loved ones through their eyes. Ryan's story is the most recent I worked on, and after hearing about how joyful, generous, and full of life he was, I genuinely wish I had met him and heard his laugh.

The Materials

9 plaid shirts in black, reds, blues and yellows, folded and arranged.

Black t-shirt with white graphic of a bear with a wooden leg and crutch.

two fabric options both with a black plaid shirt and brown fabric. Option 1 has army camo. Option 2 has brown hunting camo with trees and leaves.

In the bag delivered to me were nine plaid shirts and one Crippled Bear Inn t-shirt. The t-shirt was significant because it represented his hometown and many great hunting trips. For the centerpiece--a buck head stencil. We decided on a brown background and, to honor Ryan's love of hunting, the camo from fabric option 2.

The Design

A blue plaid with a square template over it to center the cut.

36 plaid squared arranged on brown fabric to create a framework for the blank square in the middle.

I cut four squares from each shirt and applied interfacing to each to keep it from stretching. After working hard to be random with the layout, my sister helped me reorganize it with a pattern in mind. As usual, the end product is always better when we work together.

A buck head stencil with 4 antler points. The antlers not the right don't look as full as the ones on the left. The neck is split to allow for writing.

The buck head stencil with the right antler folded back and the left antler replacing it.

Although correct for the turned head, the right antler seemed unbalanced to me. However, when I duplicated the left antler, we liked it and decided to go with that. We also discussed camo vs. black for the head and decided on black.

The Wall Hanging

Finished quilt with 8 squares of 4 squares each framing a center square with an appliqué of the deer head. Ryan Michael is embroidered in the neck of the stencil and all 9 blocks are bordered with brown fabric.

The finished product is a lap quilt or wall hanging. I am pleased with how the plaids blended and brought your eye to the center. I made sure the brown border on the back was as wide as the pocket to hold the Story Starter. I chose a pocket from a shirt that buttoned closed. The Crippled Bear Inn shirt looks perfect featured on the back.

Ornaments

I was excited to find an embroidery design that mimicked the stencil on the quilt. It added to the messaging. A Story Starter tag fits snugly in the monogrammed pocket on the back. Of course, there had to be a touch of camo. They are a great keepsake of the life of a remarkable man.

I feel truly blessed to work with such wonderful clients who collaborate with me. The result is always better when we work together.

Have a person or memory you would like to honor with an heirloom? Contact me; I would love to discuss it with you.

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Memories to Heirlooms