The Promised Reveal...

Brynwood Needleworks - The Wrapped Gift

I promised I'd share my 24 hour project after it had been received. Yesterday, Handsome and I took a short road trip and delivered it, rather than putting it in the mail. Now I can show you what was so important for me to finish quickly.

Brynwood Needleworks - A Special Quilt of Valor - Front

I've made the only Quilt of Valor I'll probably ever make. Not for any other reason than I want this one to be that special.

I used a panel for the center, and added borders of coordinating fabrics from the same line. (The navy border is the stars and stripes fabric I showed you a few days ago.)

Brynwood Needleworks - A Special Quilt of Valor - Back

Working with the fabrics I had, I decided to piece the back, too. The stripes were in the fabric (not pieced). Down in the corner, I've attached a very special label to the recipient...my Dad, from his firstborn.

Brynwood Needleworks - A Special Quit of Valor - Detail

 
He loves German shepherd dogs, and currently has one named Titus. I needed to add an image I took from another fabric print, which I then appliqued' to the main panel.

Brynwood Needleworks - My Dad - Quilt of Valor Recipient.

 

There is a story to this quilt. My Dad and I haven't spoken for over ten years, by his directive. Recently, I learned from a sister that he needed to have some tests done as he was complaining of back and leg pain. Upon completion of the tests, doctors informed him that he has Stage Four prostate cancer. He's eighty seven years old.

 

He was telling my sister that he doesn't understand why I never come to visit. She asked him whether or not he remembered the circumstances of our estrangement, to which he replied "no". He just wanted to see me again. She told me, and although we're all required to "shelter in place", I was able to FaceTime with him, thanks to my sister being able to show him how. We were both very emotional, and I promised to get to him as soon as I'm able.

 

We've kept in touch these past few weeks, and my sister told me that Dad's always cold now. (He's had one chemo treatment, and daily radiation for the past week - with one more week ahead - to try to control the growth of tumors that would render him paralyzed from the waist down. That's probably a contributing factor to his chills.) When she told me that, it was all the motivation I needed to spring into action to create something my Air Force veteran father would love. After two twelve hour days, I had a finished Quilt of Valor, with a special label commemorating his service.

 

Handsome knew I wanted to get it to him as quickly as possible, so he offered to drive us to the clinic where Dad's getting treatments, to do a safe transfer of my gift. Dad graciously accepted my package, and I told him I'd talk with him after he got settled back at home from his treatment. (I later found out from my sister that he didn't recognize me behind the face mask.)

 

He opened his package in front of the FaceTime camera, so I could see his reaction. He was overwhelmed when he saw what it was, and asked my sister to put it on his bed right away. (He just got a hospital bed installed in his room.) It was a perfect fit! Shortly after taking this picture, he changed his clothes from his clinic trip, and crawled into bed, covered by his new quilt. He loves it. 

I'm carefully watching our governor's press conferences these days. I want to hear that it's okay to go back to our daily lives, because I need to be able to sit in the same room with Dad. But for now, I'm staying put...knowing that he's sleeping, warmly hugged by the quilt made by his #1.