I have to sneak this one in under the wire. Darlene, at Sew Cal Gal is hosting a Pets On Quilts contest. You can go via the button on my side bar and see all the fabulous entries. For mine, I want to present to you Lincoln's Memorial with my beautiful model, Miss Halloween (AKA Hallie).
Hallie is sitting on a quilt covered with cats. Here is a photo of the quilt without the cat so you can see it.
There are 54 cats (55 actually) and one dog. The one extra cat and the dog are in the border. Here is the story behind the quilt.
One day in the late afternoon, I heard screaming. I asked DH to go and see who's kids were making so much noise. He went outside and came right back inside to tell me to call 911 as our neighbor's house was on fire. She kept screaming, "my babies". Since we did not know her everyone thought she meant children. Turns out it was her cats. One brave cat jumped from the second story window and survived. She is the one in the border. The other 54 were not so lucky. It was so tragic. Her little doggie didn't make it either, so he is memoralized in the quilt too.
You can see Samantha, the brown tabby and the doggie too.
The woman was just devistated by her loss. Mostly of her beloved cats. We helped her and it seemed like we just kept finding more and more cats. My DH and DS worked a long time helping her find them. My Dh burried each one in the woods behind our home.
Being such a cat lover myself, I could not imagine how she felt and what I could do to ease her pain, so of course I decided to make a quilt. I wanted each cat square to represent one of the 54 that died in the fire. No two cats are alike on the quilt. I named it Lincoln's Memorial and here is the label.
The woman was so distraught by her loss and she felt so guilty (even though it was an electrical fire started inside the wall) she couldn't take the quilt from me. So we have it and we use it every day. No one of us will ever forget that day.
I know my story is kind of sad but the quilt is beautiful. I think I have a picture of each one of my cats sleeping on that quilt too.
Hallie is sitting on a quilt covered with cats. Here is a photo of the quilt without the cat so you can see it.
There are 54 cats (55 actually) and one dog. The one extra cat and the dog are in the border. Here is the story behind the quilt.
One day in the late afternoon, I heard screaming. I asked DH to go and see who's kids were making so much noise. He went outside and came right back inside to tell me to call 911 as our neighbor's house was on fire. She kept screaming, "my babies". Since we did not know her everyone thought she meant children. Turns out it was her cats. One brave cat jumped from the second story window and survived. She is the one in the border. The other 54 were not so lucky. It was so tragic. Her little doggie didn't make it either, so he is memoralized in the quilt too.
You can see Samantha, the brown tabby and the doggie too.
The woman was just devistated by her loss. Mostly of her beloved cats. We helped her and it seemed like we just kept finding more and more cats. My DH and DS worked a long time helping her find them. My Dh burried each one in the woods behind our home.
Being such a cat lover myself, I could not imagine how she felt and what I could do to ease her pain, so of course I decided to make a quilt. I wanted each cat square to represent one of the 54 that died in the fire. No two cats are alike on the quilt. I named it Lincoln's Memorial and here is the label.
The woman was so distraught by her loss and she felt so guilty (even though it was an electrical fire started inside the wall) she couldn't take the quilt from me. So we have it and we use it every day. No one of us will ever forget that day.
I know my story is kind of sad but the quilt is beautiful. I think I have a picture of each one of my cats sleeping on that quilt too.
36 comments:
So glad you made it into the Pets on QUilts Show. This is an awesome quilt with a beautiful story.
Every quilt has a story... and this story is remarkable! Thanks for sharing both the quilt and the story...
What a neat quilt and an awesome story behind it! Thanks for sharing.
You made such a wonderful memorial quilt. So sorry the lady was too grief stricken to accept it.
Miss Hallie is a beauty!
Beautiful quilt....devastating story and heartwarming at the same time. I can only imagine the pain she feels
Your cat is so beautiful as the quilt, but what a sad story. So nice of you to make this beautiful quilt in memory of these 54 cats and dog. And very nice of your DH to bury them. I'm so very sorry to hear this happened and I'm sure this woman was doing all she could to provide them a good home.
SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
Your quilt is beautiful! What a wonderful way to remember the lives of so many lost in the fire. Hallie is gorgeous :)
lovely quilt..
what a generous gesture. How devastating to lose your pets so tragically. It must have been so terrible for your husband and son to have to go in and recover them.
Wow! What a tragedy for your neighbor. Awesome quilt to help her heal!
You made such a wonderful memorial quilt! A hug!
What a sad story. The quilt was a lovely gesture.
Oh my goodness what a story - that poor woman. It's a beautiful tribute quilt, Pam!
Wow! She is a perfect Halloween kitty. :D
Love the quilt design and all of the colors, and the quirky cats. Hallie is a cute model.
What a great tribute.
What a sad story, but what a lovely thought behind your quilt.
Maybe one day later, she might would receive the quilt.. such a tragic loss. But such a wonderful show of friendship that you gave to her.
That is so sad!!! I bet she regrets not taking the quilt.
Crispy
A sad story, but what a wonderful tribute to your neighbour's cats.
That is a very sad story and it was a nice thing to make the quilt for your neighbor. I'm glad you and your husband were there for her.
That is a very sad story. Also so much that she was too distraught to accept the gift. :(
What a difficult and tragic time that must have been for all of you. A horrible sad time. Your quilt is a lovely remembrance.
Oh my word what a sad sad story! Your quilt, however, is beautiful - and it was very kind of you to memorialize them that way.
Wow, what a story! I can kind of understand why the woman wouldn't want to have the quilt, but it is definitely a fantastic memorial!
How devastating! ..but what a great memorial quilt you have made.
What an amazing story...the quilt is lovely!
I wish she could have taken the quilt and gotten some comfort from it. It's a beautiful quilt.
So glad you made the quilt, even if the lady didn't take it. It was very thoughtful of you.
What an awesome quilt to come out of such tragedy. Poor lady. Hallie is pretty!
What a terrible story!! It was a kind and thoughtful act on your part!! Good for you!
Paulette
The quilt is beautiful! And how wonderful for you to make it!
It is a fabulous quilt, and how wonderful for you to make it, but wow is that depressing. And the fact that she would not even take the quilt, it just breaks me heart.
What a tragic story and your neighbour probably couldn't accept this beautiful quilt as she was still guilt stricken even though it was beyond her control. Lovely of you to make this memory for her even if she was too full of grief to accept it.
Cheers,
Robyn
A tragic story for sure, but such love you are sharing with us all. Thanks.
You are a beautiful soul to have made that quilt for her, and I bet just the thought comforted her...
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