A Special Quilt

Today we had an extraordinary session of The Room.... It was to hand-sew the binding on a very special quilt.

A few weeks ago I mentioned that Tennille was making a quilt for a friend of hers who has terminal cancer. Tennille's friend, Bastien, celebrated his 16th birthday on Saturday night. On Monday night, his organs began to fail. Bastien's family and friends are now holding a 24 hour vigil by his bedside.
Tennille has been working all hours to get Bastien's quilt finished on time, hence an extraordinary session to help her with the final touches. Tennille's sister is flying to Sydney tomorrow to see Bastien, and now this beautiful quilt will be able to go with her.

And this quilt is beautiful.... It is Tennille's first fully pieced and quilted person sized quilt.  She has honoured Bastien's Aboriginal heritage in her fabric selection and in her quilting colours.... Her quilting is straight and true and the quilt lies flat...

But what makes this quilt truly special is the love that has gone into each and every stitch. This quilt won't be used over a period of years, it is made to say, "I love you. I care. I will miss you. I wish you comfort" for the time Bastien has left.

I don't know Bastien but I know Tennille. To me this quilt signifies as much about the maker as it does about the recipient. Tennille is young and she has known so much grief. Tennille lost her little boy, Eli to cot death 18 months ago...

But Tennille doesn't curl herself up in a corner and ask, "Why me?" Tennille gives a home to children who aren't hers; she organises Cot Death Awareness and dance classes for Donald's youth; she does fund-raising for Cot Death; for The Room; for Kinder.... Tennille is constantly thinking of ways to make life better for other people.  Tennille told me once that she felt blessed because she was able to have that time with Eli; she focusses on what she was given instead of what she has lost. Tennille has so much compassion for the suffering and losses of others, and bears her own with a grace that is extraordinary to be around.

I pray this quilt makes it to Sydney on time. I hope this quilt is able to provide warmth to Bastien; and that he is able to draw some comfort from the strength and love of its maker ....
Godspeed.