I found this theme to be really difficult. I talked about the theme with several friends trying to get an idea of what to work on. My daughter Eliza suggested looking at normal cells versus cancer cells. After looking at cell images on the internet I came up with this idea. The center circle is a normal cell. The outside ones are how the same cell changes when it has cancer. I put a cancer cell for every member of my and my husbands immediate family(my father, brother sister, niece and my husbands father, brother and nephew) that has had cancer. We have 4 survivors! Cancer has affected all of us in so many ways. My husband will ride in the Pan Mass ride in three weeks that raises money for cancer research. I then machine quilted all of their names around the quilt several times.
What an awesome tribute to your family's war against cancer. I too am a 9yr. survivor and understand the struggle. Best of luck to your husband on his ride and your goals to focus on making a difference.
ReplyDeleteWow! What a story. I can't imagine how hard it is to receive the news and to go through that. Your quilt says so much in a small space. Blessings to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteThis piece is so touching and hits home with so many people. We all must know someone who has had cancer or is a survivor. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHow valiant of you to represent the cells that have caused your and your husband's family members so much suffering and heartache. I'm so happy that you have so many survivors, I just wish there were more. Striking representation of the misshapen and fast growing cells. I hope you found this difficult challenge therapeutic. All the best to your husband in his ride.
ReplyDeleteJust heartwrenching, but thank you for sharing. I do hope that stitching your relatives names into your quilt was helpful, it certainly is a nice tribute to them.
ReplyDeleteAwesome, touching, valiant, heart-warming: all these adjectives were used by others to comment on your quilt, and I just cannot better these. Cancer truly has assaulted your family much more than your share. What a tribute this quilt is to your family, and knowing that you stitched their names into the quilt literally brought tears to my eyes. Aside from the emotional content of your quilt, it is beautiful to look at, demonstrating that we can often find beauty in totally unexpected places.
ReplyDeleteThe black and the names written in express your passion and make this a moving, thoughtful piece.
ReplyDeleteTricia, I, too, am a cancer survivor, as is my husband. Cancer cells was one of my first thoughts, but it felt a little too close. I am so glad to see that you pursued it. And I LOVE that you added a abnormal cell for each family member who has had to deal with this devastating disease, as well as machine quilting their names. How every special. Thanks so much - it's wonderful!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful personal tribute well. I'm glad cancer research has provided the ability to have cancer survivors.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing and managing to make something beautiful out of something so ugly. Best wishes to your husband on his ride.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely way to pay tribute Tricia. Lovely solution, and interesting way to make something beautiful out of something that is so devastating for us all to face.
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