That Quilter from Across the Pond

 

I think it's been more than twenty years since the friendship began. It was back in the day when one could search the internet for "quilt block swaps," and come up with a half a dozen possibilities. After participating in a few of these, Bonnie and I decided we would run one. I no longer have any recollection what blocks were swapped, but it was the first of many swaps that we would jointly or individually organize.

One of the participants in that first swap was from -- gasp -- England! And her blocks were beautiful. Her name was Judi and Bonnie and I always referred to her as Jude-EYE, partly to differentiate her from our friend Judy and partly just because that's the way we are.

Bonnie's correspondence with this woman took off and at some point Judi said she was coming to the States to go to the old Lancaster show. Bonnie impulsively offered her a place to stay before the show and a wonderful friendship was formed. The three of us took a class together and were nearly thrown out for bad behavior. Bonnie and I went on to make a lot of quilts. Judi went on to become a quilt judge, quilt teacher, quilt lecturer and pattern designer.

And she comes to the States every spring, unless there's a pandemic, and spends an evening at my home  with Bonnie and me and the rest of the gang and we always have a wonderful time together.

This May Judi brought me a wonderful hostess gift: the templates to make this quilt that she designed (pictured above). After twenty years, she knew I would love them and I've been itching to get started but had too much else in the queue until now.

I know someone who is expecting a baby boy this autumn. And I just happen to have some perfect fabric. So tonight I began work on Block One. And it felt so good!

Stay tuned.