Wednesday, June 15, 2016

A Quilt for Dr. Q

Today is the day I gifted a quilt to my cardio-vascular doctor, Dr. Q. He is a wonderful physician and has taken excellent care of me. I cringe to think what condition I'd be in now, without his medical expertise.

I was in his office today for a follow-up to last week's carotid ultrasound and echocardiogram. I was relieved to learn that plaque in areas are normal. Whew. There's no explanation as to why I have PAD (peripheral artery disease) so severely in my legs, and not elsewhere. It's most common that a person who has plaque built-up in one area of the body will have it everywhere. I'm an anomaly, and darned happy about it!

So after the diagnostic part of my visit, and learning that in three months I'll have a STRIDE test to determine how the blood is flowing in my legs - I'll always being monitored - I had the fun of telling him I'd made him something. By the way, that stack of papers under the wrapping is my arterial history for the past 2-1/2 years!

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing his reaction, and by every indication, he was genuinely touched. 


After opening the quilt, he said that he had been gifted many things over the years, but that this gift was really special.

I couldn't be more proud! I love this quilt for it's graphic quality, dramatic colors (Kona shadow, steel, charcoal, ruby, brick, orange, and curry) and distinctive air of masculinity. Perfect for a man. 


I put my best into Rebel, a pattern by Libs Elliott, in spite of my Pfaff Grand Quilter giving me fits of exasperation during quilting - many skipped stitches and broken threads. The textural quilty goodness shows best on the back. 


Batting is a single layer of Quilter's Dream Request loft poly. Using Aurifil 50-weight thread in my Bernina Aurora 440 with a walking foot, I first quilted five spirals of varying sizes. Those filled up more than half of the quilt. Then using my Pfaff, I went in between spirals to quilt designs that were appropriate for the shapes.

 

Rebel measures 70" X 71", suitable for cuddling under, or hanging on a wall. Wouldn't it look great in an office? In fact, when I suggested that he could either take it home and use it, or hang it on a wall, he said he'd like to hang it in his Ocala office. We're going to talk more about that at a later time, as I have offered to sew a hanging sleeve on it.

On the middle lower left side the one whole patch that's red is the "rebel" block. I intentionally quilted a heart in that block! Yikes! Many of you know how much I dislike hearts in any quilting design, but it's my respect for him and his profession that overroad my personal distaste for heart motifs.
A heart for a heart doctor

I pieced the quilt back attempting to use up fabrics from the quilt front. In fact, I did such a good job that I ran short and had to add a different solid grey to all the Konas in this quilt. You can see the greenish-grey Moda Bella solid in the upper and lower right.


Thanks Debbie and Frances for being my quilt-holders on a sunny, hot, blustery day.

Dr. Q. has taken exemplary care of me and this quilt honors him for that.

Linda

31 comments:

  1. Linda quilt is a treasure and so is your wonderful Doctor! He takes such good care of you, and you showed equal care in creating this quilt for him. I'd say the heart was a good call :)

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  2. Beautifully done and I love that he thought it was special. It and his good care for you obviously are!

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  3. Wonderful quilt..... and I know the Dr. was pleased to receive it. I am pleased you showed us the quilting.... the quilting is like icing on the cake... the best part!!!

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  4. Wonderful gift for your doctor! When I saw that you'd quilted a heart I thought to myself that is what quilting is all about. Love.

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  5. What a lovely gift for your doctor!

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  6. I am quite touched by this story, as I know how well he has taken care of you--helping you to live many more days (my best hope) and to live them well. I think this quilt is stupendous, both in design and in color. Your quilting (including that heart) is a tribute to two sets of caring hands: yours and his. May you live long, prosper and quilt quilt quilt! With great fondness,
    Elizabeth

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  7. I love the look on his face as he opens his gift-there is no doubt he loves it. When I saw the quilt I thought that looks like a Lis Elliot look. I have just come across Libs patterns and purchased a couple of them-love her look. love that you quilted a heart into the quilt.

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  8. It's a great quilt Linda, and such a generous gift! He does, indeed, look very happy with it! It will good to get a photo of it hanging in-situ in coming weeks!

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  9. I'm not surprised your Doc likes the quilt so much; it is amazing, especially the quilting. It's fantastic to have a great connection with one's doctor and feel that he or she really cares. I had to laugh about his attire though; I've never seen one wearing a soccer shirt at work.

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  10. What a wonderful gift, Linda! The quilt will be seen and enjoyed by many displayed in the office. Your workmanship is masteful. I'm sure this is a first for him, and he looks pretty happy with it! You continue to be a "Johnny Appleseed" for quilting- spreading the love and appreciation for quilts in your classes and now in the medical profession!

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  11. What a great quilt you have made!! Very masculine and the quilting is wonderful. It was such a nice way for you to let you Dr. know how much you appreciate him. I know it meant a lot to him to receive such a gift!!

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  12. I'm sure he was very touched by this thoughtful gift. It's beautiful and the back is just as pretty as the front! I'm glad you were able to get it finished even though that pesky machine was being stubborn.

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  13. The quilt is WONDERFUL! And as you say perfect for a 'man' gift! Just a wonderful job, as always! And you can see your Dr. was SO pleased!

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  14. What a wonderful quilt! You and your Dr. are a great team.

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  15. Oh, I love a good quilt story like this! It warms your heart to see someone so deserving get such a heart felt gift. Really enjoyed the closeups of the quilting! Spectacular! I am taking careful note that you have a Bernina 440 for future reference! I still don't know half the things that machine can do.

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  16. WOW! That is a beautiful quilt and the quilting is spectacular!!!

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    1. Just wanted to acknowledge your lovely compliment. Thank you so much! You're a no-reply commenter, so I couldn't email you back.

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  17. Love the heart in the quilting because of what it represents. The perfect touch for his healing hands.

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  18. Such a beautiful quilt. I love the pattern, the colors, and of course, your quilting! Truly a "heartfelt" gift.

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  19. What a special gift. I loved reading the story. And also that you quilted a heart into it--that's a very special touch.

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  20. It was fun to put a face to your Doctor. He looked very pleased, as well he should be, with your beautiful and meaningful and generous gift. I loved the dedication tag you included on the quilt

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  21. I rather expect this particular type of doctor would be more appreciative than many people of the work, skill and attention to detail that goes into making a quilt that is this remarkable. You did a wonderful job. Wishing you many years of health so you can continue to create more beautiful quilts.

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    1. Thank you for your lovely comment, Robby! I'm sorry I couldn't reply to you personally, but your setting is as a "no-reply commenter," so I couldn't give you a private response. But I agree that it's likely Dr. Q is into details, and would notice the workmanship of a quilt. Thanks very much for your good wishes about my health. Whatever may come, I know I am in good hands.

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    2. What a spectacular quilt and a wonderful gift for such an important person in your life. You are such a generous person and I know he was bowled over by your gift.

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  22. Oh I really love it and the colors are perfect. It is wonderful that a quilt can really tell those that mean so much to us just how important they are in our lives.

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  23. Lovely gift! And I love the label - how did you do that? What a wonderful idea for those special gift quilts!

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    1. Hi! I want to respond to your comment, but you're a no-reply commenter. So, I hope you see this. I make labels with a product called Printed Treasures. Here's a link to a 2010 blog post I wrote about how I make them: http://flourishingpalms.blogspot.com/2010/05/making-quilt-labels.html
      I hope this is helpful. Do let me know! It's awful replying here and never knowing if my response is read!

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  24. Linda, this quilt is geourgous and great and what a gift to receive!

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  25. I love your quilt, the quilting,I love his story and I love the back of the quilt, perhaps more that the first side :-) Take care of you!

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