Krishna Janmashtami is Lord Krishna's birthday and is a significant festival for the Hindus.
How significant, you may ask?
It is a bank holiday, making it official that it is a day of feasting, temple visits and celebration.
My father was just 53 years old when he passed away. It was the day of Krishna Janmashtami.
For my family, the festival is no longer associated with Lord Krishna. It will always be dad's death anniversary.
Today is February 14 and most of us celebrate it as Valentine's Day but for the families who lost a loved one last year on this day, I believe that it will forever be a day of loss.
Losing a loved one on Valentine's Day must be especially difficult.
Of all the loves in our lives, our love for our children must be the strongest, purest and most selfless.
So the loss of a child must also be the most gut-wrenching of all losses. We love them even before we see them and keep loving them forever.
These muddled thoughts about love, loss and kids swirled in my brain - over and over again.
So I did what we quilters do - turn to fabric for comfort and meaning. I made baby quilts.
This Lily and Loom charm pack had a campsite, outdoorsy theme with blues, greens and grays.
I used fabric from my stash to cut additional 30 squares so that I had enough to make two quilts - each with a distinct personality. The greens went to Hunter and the blues went to Angler.
Here is Hunter.
Meet Angler.
The other Lily and Loom charm pack had an outer space theme with blues, grays, orange and yellow.
Once again, I split the charm pack into two to make sure that the two quilts looked distinct from each other and added coordinating fabric from my stash to make sure I had 36 squares for each quilt.
Meet Trooper.
And here is Archer - she is my favorite.
These four quilts were made for the Stillborn Bereavement Group. Instead of using my professional looking label, I chose a hand-written label sewn by hand. I believe that this deliberate act allows me to dwell upon each life lost as I pull the needle trying my best to conceal the threads.
Today, as you hug those you love, send a kind thought to those who have lost a child, be it to stillbirth, gun violence, or just plain estrangement.
I will send these quilts to Sue in New York.
Thank you, Sue, for coordinating this effort.
I will be linking with all my favorite linky parties. As usual, a word from you is a world to me.
How significant, you may ask?
It is a bank holiday, making it official that it is a day of feasting, temple visits and celebration.
My father was just 53 years old when he passed away. It was the day of Krishna Janmashtami.
For my family, the festival is no longer associated with Lord Krishna. It will always be dad's death anniversary.
 |
| A new quilt |
Today is February 14 and most of us celebrate it as Valentine's Day but for the families who lost a loved one last year on this day, I believe that it will forever be a day of loss.
 |
| Binding in process |
Losing a loved one on Valentine's Day must be especially difficult.
Of all the loves in our lives, our love for our children must be the strongest, purest and most selfless.
So the loss of a child must also be the most gut-wrenching of all losses. We love them even before we see them and keep loving them forever.
These muddled thoughts about love, loss and kids swirled in my brain - over and over again.
So I did what we quilters do - turn to fabric for comfort and meaning. I made baby quilts.
This Lily and Loom charm pack had a campsite, outdoorsy theme with blues, greens and grays.
 |
| Bear Mountain from Lily and Loom |
I used fabric from my stash to cut additional 30 squares so that I had enough to make two quilts - each with a distinct personality. The greens went to Hunter and the blues went to Angler.
Here is Hunter.
 |
| Hunter - 31" by 31" |
 |
| Hunter - Added squares from stash |
 |
| Hunter - Dog in a Truck backing |
 |
| Hunter - Green Pieced Binding |
Meet Angler.
 |
| Angler - 31" by 31" |
 |
| Angler - Getting Closer |
 |
| Angler - Snow covered peaks |
 |
| Angler - See the binding sliver? |
 |
| Angler - Backing (same as Hunter's) |
 |
| Angler - Light Blue Pieced Binding |
The other Lily and Loom charm pack had an outer space theme with blues, grays, orange and yellow.
 |
| Space Camp from Lily and Loom |
Meet Trooper.
 |
| Trooper - 31" by 31" |
 |
| Trooper - Astronaut |
 |
| Trooper - Added Squares from Stash |
 |
| Trooper - Pieced Backing |
 |
| Trooper - Baby Elephant rules |
 |
| Trooper - Bright Blue Binding |
And here is Archer - she is my favorite.
 |
| Archer - 31" by 31" |
 |
| Archer - Quilting Detail |
 |
| Archer - Stash Squares |
 |
| Archer - Wavy Stripes Backing |
 |
| Archer - Bright Blue Binding |
 |
| Archer - Completed |
These four quilts were made for the Stillborn Bereavement Group. Instead of using my professional looking label, I chose a hand-written label sewn by hand. I believe that this deliberate act allows me to dwell upon each life lost as I pull the needle trying my best to conceal the threads.
 |
| Hunter - Label |
 |
| Angler - Label |
 |
| Trooper - Label |
 |
| Archer - Label |
Today, as you hug those you love, send a kind thought to those who have lost a child, be it to stillbirth, gun violence, or just plain estrangement.
I will send these quilts to Sue in New York.
Thank you, Sue, for coordinating this effort.
I will be linking with all my favorite linky parties. As usual, a word from you is a world to me.
gorgeous baby quilts. As you say to lose a child must be unimaginable, the greatest loss of all. All losses are hard, whether it be a parent, coming up to my father's anniversary as well, a friend or a partner. The extremes of all emotions, love, hate, grief, joy , all of those can have such an impact on us.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine the sorrow of loosing a child. You picked amazing charm packs for these quilts and I love that they are similar but not identical.
ReplyDeletePreeti, your quilts are so precious and thoughtful. I love the way you put them together with sweet fabric and the perfect backings!
ReplyDeleteOh, Preeti, these are lovely. What a nice way to turn your sadness into joy. The quilts are wonderful and I'm sure they will be appreciated.
ReplyDeleteWhat a precious gift of love and care, Preeti! All four quilts are beautiful and I pray they will bring comfort to the families who receive them.
ReplyDeleteAwwww! You are so kind hearted and generous with your time, your fabrics, and your efforts! What a sweet post.
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Preeti. Very nice quilts for a fabulous cause. Oh to have carried that baby to term or near-term only to have it be stillborn. I can't even imagine the devastation they must feel. How nice that you could make these cute quilts and even more that you brought attention to the need. Happy Friday! ~smile~ Roseanne
ReplyDeleteThank goodness we have quilts to comfort us! And good people like you who graciously donates to amazing causes!
ReplyDeleteQuilters are some of the most generous and loving people I know. How wonderful of you to make these beautiful quilts for those who are suffering. Thank you, Preeti!
ReplyDeleteHappy quilts as comfort quilts. What better?
ReplyDeleteSome child will adore and carry around the quilt constantly. Had to be hard to lose your dad so young. I lost a baby before birth on a Mother's Day and to this day, I can't get flowers on that day or not feel loss.
ReplyDeleteThe quilts are so nice, Preeti, and obviously you put thought and love into each one. I like the spunkiness of Archer, with those pops of yellow and orange! Your dad was very young when he passed away; I'm so sorry.
ReplyDeleteHow generous of you to donate these lovely quilts for such a worthy cause.
ReplyDeleteThe way you name your quilts and send them out into the world makes me think it is like they are your children. Going to bring love and security to everyone they touch. You are a wonderfully giving person.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing all the details of these delightful quilts for such a great cause.
ReplyDeleteWhat heartwarming quilts for a wonderful cause. Your sweetness and caring always comes through when you write about these things. I often think of how these acts of kindness must feel for those who receive them; I know they are touched and moved in ways we will never know. Blessings on you for your good work.
ReplyDeleteSignificant dates in our lives always shine on our calendars. (February 14 is my sister's birthday.) You honored your father's memory with such lovely quilts!
ReplyDeleteAnd yet another connection between us, Preeti. I lost both parents within a year of each other. Strangely they died on my sisters' birthdays. Now their birthdays are reminders of the deaths of our parents.
ReplyDeleteThe quilts are perfect for any child but sending them to bereaving families is such a kind, thoughtful way to honor your losses. Thanks for sharing what must have been a heart-wrenching post and for the reminders of the good causes that we can all contribute to.
Beautiful baby quilts, very bright and fun. Loss on holidays is very hard. The SITs best friend lost her mother on Christmas Eve. It's still a very hard time of year for her.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea for baby quilts, and most important cause, one that has been niggling at me of late. Interesting how dates evolve: Valentine's Day is (was) my parents' anniversary, first one this year without my mum on our planet.
ReplyDeleteWow what a powerful post! I love the choice of fabrics - very bright and cheery.
ReplyDeleteI love your quilts and your blog! Your quilts for the stillborn group remind us to count our blessings and never take our loved ones for granted.
ReplyDeletePreeti, These are a beautiful gift of your time and creativity. You are a very kind, generous quilter.
ReplyDelete