One of the best perks to co-founding the FVMQG was meeting, or I should getting to know Vera. I met first met Vera at a Bernina club we both attended back in 2008. We did two years together. Whoops!I just made it sound like prison! I didn’t mean to do that, it was actually really fun! Vera was one of our first FVMQG members. It wasn’t until we had a few meetings (back in 2010) under our belt, that we started to get to know each other. At Bernina club she sat wayyyy down on the other end, so we never got to chat much. Vera, often volunteered for FVMQG shows at the same time I did (we both liked doing set up!). It was during one of those instances (May 2013) that I first learned that Vera’s husband was very ill with Parkinson’s. He passed away later that September.

Back in 2010 Vera saw my show of dresses. She very sweetly said she wanted to buy one but couldn’t decide on which one. We chatted about having her her fabric stash drawn instead but it didn’t seem quite right either. After Vera’s husband passed away, she asked me draw her wedding dress. I was more than honoured. Vera assembled everything she wanted for the drawing: her ring case, a bible like the one she carried, their favourite (unofficial) wedding photo that hung in their home, shoes similar to the ones she wore (Vera just had a big clear out and had gotten rid of her original shoes, darn it!), a chair from their home, her veil and of course her dress.

Vera gave me a studio photo of her as a bride to reference the dress. It was beautiful, however it wasn’t the first time I had seen the dress. Shortly after Vera’s husband passed away, I saw a snapshot on Facebook that Vera’s niece had posted of their wedding. The photo was of Vera and her husband leaving the church. Instantly I was in love with the length of dress. It was beautiful, smart, understated and so very Vera.

When the drawing was complete we met up and checked out frames together. Vera loves frames and even though she looked at the selection in the store, she had brought a frame from home that was perfect! She picked out a lovely silk pale teal mat. It was stunning and brought the drawing and the frame together just beautifully!

Vera and George were married in Agassiz at their Catholic Church, September 17, 1960… or as Vera likes to say, “a long time ago.”

Happy Valentine’s Day!

I walked in to a Great Notion, the clouds parted, a sun beam highlighted the bolt of fabric. I think I even heard ANGELS!… No wait, I think it might have been choir boys singing… I knew I had found my fabric for my FVMQG Ugly Christmas Sweater contest. Good old Alexander Henry Pin-up Fabric! My sons were equally embarrassed and disgusted as I was impressed with the fabric I had brought home!

I now had the fabric, I needed a sweatshirt but most of all I needed blinky lights! My friend Sonja had made an awesome Halloween Mabel costume for her daughter from the show Gravity Falls. The character Mabel always wears blinky light sweatshirts.  Sonja shared the secret of her blinky light resource (Michael’s Poster lights) and I was off cutting, sewing and embellishing.

True, my ugly Christmas sweater doesn't play music (we added that for effect) but still…

A video posted by Lysa (@lysaflower) on Dec 12, 2014 at 11:05am PST

Nothing like a good old Christmas project to get you in the mood for, well..Christmas! The sweat shirt was a hit at the guild meeting, although there was some tough competition. There were some jingle bells (that demanded quite for effect), lots of garland. Even one person held up a star above their head and POOF! They became a Christmas tree right before our very eyes! In the end there was no real prize for the competition. However, I think we were all content with the laughter that left us exhausted.

I wish you joy during your Christmas frenzy. And, that it brings you giggles and sufficient embarrassment to your children!

Merry Christmas you!

These were the first words I saw.

and

There was a “Super Secret Surprise” in the agenda of our 4th year anniversary FVMQG party this September meeting. I’ve recently stepped down from the exec so I just assumed there was a workshop being announced or something.  Then Cathy the president of the guild asked Cynthia and I to come up to the front. Um, okay. I think I sat there a bit stunned. Cathy explained to the group how 4 years ago Cynthia and I started the Fraser Valley Modern Quild Guild. Then out came two big bags with quilts in them. Cynthia’s quilt is on the left and mine is on the right.

I think I started to shake. It was very emotional and overwhelming. You see, I’m an introvert. Usually after our meetings or any gathering with more than two people I’m beat. The next day I do what I call turtling. I’m more than happy to spend a day or two by myself . I usually need and require this to recuperate, then I’m good to go. Which might be a bit weird since I’ve pretty much led every meeting since we started our guild 4 years ago and, I must add, it has always been my favourite job. I know, I’m a conundrum! Anyways I guess what I’m trying to say or explain is this is why I haven’t blogged about this yet. This was BIG! Capital B, capital I, capital G. This really meant a lot to me and it’s taken me a while to process it and honestly I’ve been savouring it. I’ve been looking at it everyday, looking at each star, reading the messages it’s a lot to take in. Needless to say, it’s very significant!

Prior to this I’ve only been given two quilts that have been handmade. Both were made by my Auntie Caryl. The first one she gave me was when I was 12. Needless to say I didn’t comprehend it’s significance. Later in my 20’s I sure did though but not at the moment it was given. The second quilt was given to us, again by my Auntie Caryl, after my first son was born, so I saw it as more his than mine (and being a baby he didn’t really comprehend it’s significance at the time either!). This same Auntie made my boys both their own quilts when they were a bit older and I think I did a good job of letting them know how special they were and what went into making them.

I was shocked at the wave of emotion I felt receiving this quilt. I have never, never felt the power of a whole group making a quilt before. Especially one that contained such sweet and loving messages. Isn’t that what we all really want, to be seen, to feel like what we’ve done has made a difference at least in some small way.

They put such thought into the fabric they selected, from the colours, to the fabric designs and they considered our preferences (in my case, there were a lot of polka dots). Isn’t that the other thing we all want? For someone to hear us to pay attention… and pay attention they did!  I love my quilt and I love my guild!  I’m so thankful for meeting Cynthia, I’m so glad we decided to start a guild, even though we hardly new each other at the time. I’ve learned so much from her I can’t even begin to tell you. I heart her!!! AND I’ve learned so much from the women in our guild too. Geeze Louise they know stuff!!! (BTW-we still have a position open for a token dude!)

This guild has given me so much, even beyond this quilt. I’m so grateful and honoured for knowing them and for the work they do so joyously! I heart them too!