Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Rita's Friendship: Friends on a Promenade Stroll, circa 1895




Friends on a Promenade Stroll, Circa 1895


Our wonderful, enduring friendship started in the fall of 1966 soon after my husband accepted an offer to teach Biology at a two year Community College in southern Indiana.  At the beginning of each school year the University sponsored faculty social events and paired “old-timers” with “new-comers.” On this particular evening it was a bowling night.  Our “veteran” faculty member was Vernon and his wife Marilyn. When I learned that Vernon taught in the Parks and Recreation department, I was terrified, because I had only been bowling a couple of times in my life and to then be paired with someone that taught bowling was not something I wanted to do.  But off we went and as they say the rest is history.  Randy and I almost immediately bonded with Vernon and Marilyn and we had a great evening.

Randy and I lived there for almost 10 years. During that time, in the span of two years, from 1970 to 1972, Marilyn and Vern had a daughter and a son and we had a son and a daughter. One of our most cherished memories was when our daughter was being born and Marilyn and Randy were in the waiting room – waiting. Marilyn was 7 months pregnant at the time.    It must have been quite a sight to see the two of them when the doctor told Randy his daughter was here and he hugged this very pregnant lady.
In 1976 we moved to Waco, Texas, and the hardest part of that move was leaving such dear friends.  However, as it has turned out we have stayed very close.  Marilyn and I may not talk for two or three months, but when we do, it is almost as if it was yesterday. 

For Christmas 2008, our children, Daniel and Lisa, gave Randy and me the gift of a cruise to Alaska in anticipation of our upcoming 50th wedding anniversary celebration in 2011.  Of course I told Marilyn.  After Marilyn learned of the gift, in secret, she arranged for her and Vernon to take the same cruise with us.  We did not learn of their presence until we were on the ship. So Randy and I had two very special gifts, the cruise and getting to share it with wonderful friends.  What a marvelous surprise!
Therefore when the theme FRIENDSHIP was announced, it was a given that I would do something in honor of this special relationship.  Our faces are from an image taken on the cruise ship before an elegant evening meal.  This was printed on Timeless Treasures with an ink jet printer.  The costumes were taken from drawings of clothing that might have been worn in the 1890’s.  All of the clothing is fused onto the background which was prepared first and then quilted.  After the costumes were in place, I stitched around each one of them.  The buttons and jewelry are either embroidery or beading.  The ladies hats are put together with pre-made ribbon flowers and glued in place.  And of course, as a finishing flourish, the top hats have a feather!

10 comments:

  1. How fun! Such a cute quilt! It really works well and is a tribute to your dear friendship that has lasted so long. Love reading all these positive stories about the people we all love in our lives!
    What a fun reveal day this is!!!! Great theme!

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  2. Rita, I totally adore this quilt! How clever you are to have superimposed portraits of you, Randy, and your friends on lovely Victorian looking figures. And promenading--a perfect word for what those 1800's couples are doing, showing off their gorgeous clothes! Another quilt that perfectly symbolizes our theme!

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  3. How delightful Rita!! Such an dear and enduring friendship and perfectly captured in your beautiful depiction!! another great Rita work!

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  4. What a great quilt, Rita. I love the way you created the 1895 costumes with the faces of the two of you and your friends. And I thought you said you didn't do whimsy! Not so! What a wonderful way to honor your long-standing friendship. Love it!

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  5. My google posts are not working but I will give it a try. The quilt is beautiful. For those of you who have not met Rita she is the embodiment of graciousness and a true lady. I'm so glad we have become friends. I like to sit next to her at guild board meetings and say snarky things under my breath to see if I can get her to crack. But alas she is too much of a lady. Thank you for being my friend, for the rest of my life I can lay under the quilts you have quilted and feel like I have a piece of your. Big Hug.

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  6. I love your interpretation of the theme. The details in the quilt are as special as your description of a long friendship that hasn't faded over time. And what fun to have a vacation with friends.
    I thought about the Easter Parade when I saw your quilt.

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  7. Oh Rita ! What an amazing quilt with an equally amazing story ! I love the descriptions of your enduring friendships with Marilyn and Vernon, and how you interwove your friendship story with the details of how you created this delightful quilt. Congrats on another superb work of art :-D

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  8. This is a delightful whimsical quilt and a great tribute to a long impactful friendship. I love the way you used photo-transfers and all the added details you added to the quilt

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  9. This quilt makes me laugh when I see the faces and the clothing. What a little jewel! Excellent interpretation. Quilt is a story unto itself!

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  10. Clever, whimsical and very touching. I love everything about this quilt, and hope to see it in person one day. This is a perfect companion to your Translate quilt!

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