Marcella's Quilt

We receive many thoughtful and lovely gifts throughout the year, especially during the Christmas season. I love the home-made treats and ornaments, as well as gift cards to favorite restaurants, teas, coffees and wines that remind me of happy times with the gift givers.

On Saturday, we celebrated  Christmas with the extended Hennessey family. A delicious buffet hosted by son and daughter-in-law Scott and Meggan was followed by gifts. Bob and I received an unexpected family heirloom from daughter Janet and her husband Mark.

Mark's mother, Marcella Schlichting, died on May 6, 2016. She was an accomplished, old-fashioned homemaker and matriarch of a large family. She included quilting among her many skills, and last spring her children shared her collection of quilts among them.

I was brought to tears when I opened the large box containing one of Marcella's beautiful quilts. The quilt is a work of art, constructed of triangles pieced together by hand to make a kaleidoscopic floral masterpiece.

Although this lovely creation belongs in a museum where more people could view and appreciate it, it has already given me so much pleasure. I immediately laid it out on the guest room bed. The next morning, I spread it out in our bedroom and have slept under it now for two nights. It is light in weight, warm and comfortable.

I've always thought of myself as somewhat "crafty" and artistic, but I look at the mistakes and uneven stitching in my current project and know that Marcella would never have completed any piece of work without correcting the errors. Each of her stitches is perfect, every triangle, octagon and star a miniature masterpiece.

I am honored to be getting to know Marcella through her exquisite work.