Merry Christmas to Me!!!!!

Isn't it gorgeous? This quilt top was given to me by my Uncle Greg. It is just so stunning. Some of you might remember his "fish chowder" quilt from the Chicago quilt show back in April. This one is a Jinny Beyer pattern called "sea mark." There are 64 blocks- a large king-size, and there are over 50 pieces per block. All hand pieced. Can you believe that? He made tons of hand-painted and hand-stamped fabrics in this quilt and it is so much fun just to look at it and discover all it's little treasures. I can tell you, I was overwhelmed by such a generous gift and I must have cried for a week. But I'm bouncing back. Living with it has been a joy and I can hardly wait to quilt it- but I will have to live with it a bit longer to decide what to do on it- I want it to be just right. I seriously considered hiring that job out- I am such a wimp! But I have come to my senses. Even if I can't do nearly as good a job as some of you here, I still want to do it, myself, for sentimental reasons. Every time I look at it, I am just amazed. Uncle Greg said that there were too many "imperfections" in it to enter it into a quilt show. I don't see any, but maybe he was just saying that so I'd feel better about taking it. He did put the condition on receiving it that I use it. How could I not? Uncle Greg isn't in good health and I know he'd appreciate prayers- such talent!! And dedication in adversity. Like most quilts, it's more than just a quilt. It says a lot about the person who made and maybe something about the person who receives it.