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Monday, August 22, 2011

Diamond memory quilt for a sweet baby girl...

Heidi from Boys, Buttons and butterflies lost her daughter to a fatal condition called Thanatophoric Dysplasia, Oct 14th, 2009. She decided to craft and create her way through her grief and pain. We are so sad for her loss, but love that she still creates!  Here is a sweet quilt she made in memory of Jamie Lynn. Read more of her story here.

On June 24th
, our lives were forever changed.  We received the worst news a parent could ever imagine to hear.  At our routine ultrasound, they discovered there might be something seriously wrong with the baby.  After an amniocentesis, a fetal MRI, numerous high level ultrasounds, countless appointments with doctors and specialists, the verdict was given.  Our baby had a lethal skeletal dysplasia, or in layman’s terms, a fatal dwarfism.


On October 14th at 7:39am, Jamie Lynn entered this world with the tiniest cry. Like her brothers, she was nice and hefty at 5lbs, 4oz despite being four weeks early.  She was a mere 14.5 inches long from her perfect head to her perfect little toes.  With her too small limbs, and chest too tiny to survive this world long, Daddy quickly baptized her with the healing waters from Lourdes, France gifted to us by Father D___.  After a short snuggle with me, he swept her away to be introduced to her big brothers.  A short time later, which felt like an eternity, we were all reunited as a family.  We were able to dress her in clothes washed and smelling like home.  We exclaimed over her shocking full head of the whitest blonde hair.  The boys declared her “cute”.  We adored her tiny hands and her, oh so perfect, feet. Daddy was enthralled with his sweet baby girl. 
We were together as a family, as she drifted away, her perfect little footprints etched on our hearts forever at 8:54am.

Hellooooo Diamonds.......


I am so happy with this new quilt!  


Last year, we put a pool in our backyard.  After living in the Houston area for 8 years, we realized we could no longer survive one more year in the abominable heat without one!  When we designed it, we included a special tile in memory of our daughter, Jamie Lynn


This spring, I was sitting on the "beach" with our newest addition thinking of her as I looked at her "feet" on Mother's Day and discovered that I really loved the color that the blue portion of our pool is.  




I have been rattling color ideas for our backyard furniture and it all of a sudden hit me!  I would emphasize the already orange accents (see the orange/rust colored cushion?) with the blue color of our pool!! 



  Of course, my inspiration portion of my brain kicked in and immediately thought of a making quilt.  I wandered into my studio and discovered that I had Jelly Rolls in the colors I wanted to do.  How convenient that I would think of this in time for the Festival!  Don't you love when things just fall into place!

So I went to work this past weekend and finished the top.    In true Heidi-fashion, I finished this late last night burning the midnight oil. Not my best quilting job, but it will do.



And I swear, the quilt just looks wonky from this angle.  It really isn't THAT bad.  Perfect, NO!  The fence is actually lower than where I was standing.  I hate when a photo makes something worse!

Why do I love this quilt?  I love it because I was able to actually do it on my boys' sewing machine (only has straight and zigzag stitch) while my sewing machine is in the shop again.  I love that I was challenged that way!  I love that it was made from fabric I already had on hand.  I love that it will be the springboard for the rest of my outdoor furniture fabrics.  


And I love that every time I see it or use it, it will remind me of my darling daughter!  I have been having trouble sewing off and on anything since the fatal diagnosis of our daughter.  But I had  a realization that I could either sit around and waste the rest of my life in a pile of grief, or I could do what she can't...LIVE!  And sewing and crafting give my life zest!  I couldn't think of a better reason to love this quilt!!!


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11 comments:

Needled Mom said...

What a beautiful quilt you made to have as an everlating memory of such a precious gift. I picture a little angel sitting on your shoulder with each stitch.

Thearica said...

I really have no words..they seem to be stuck in my throat..just wanted you to know someone cares what you have gone through.

the gathering girls said...

what a lovely quilt with bitter/sweet memories...

www.randomthoughtsdoordi.com said...

thank you for sharing this story with us. My heart skipped a beat when I read the sad story of Jamie Lynn, but love that Heidi found the courage to tell her story and make a beautiful memory of her daughter. The foot prints really touched my heart and the quilt is beautiful.

KellyS said...

What a beautiful quilt that will bring a lifetime of new memories. I am so sorry for your loss.

Christie describeHappy said...

Your message of hope and strength are coming through loud and clear. And that you could celebrate that through fabric and quilting really makes my heart skip a beat. Love and thoughts with you!

My Life In Quilts said...

Bless you and your family, and lovely little Jamie Lynn! I applaud your ability to make her memory into a happy one. I have lost a daughter and choose to do the same thing.

Susan said...

A beautiful story of love, loss, courage and a quilt made to heal. Heartfelt wishes to you and your family. Thanks for sharing.

Heather A said...

"Sniff Sniff" I, too, don't know what to say except that I care and that I am moved. I'm glad to know that creative work has contributed to healing hearts.

pcflamingo said...

What a lovely way to commemorate the memory of a darling little girl. Turquoise and orange have a whole new meaning for me now.

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

What a beautiful quilt that will always remind you of your sweet daughter!