Generation V: Six Generations of Valdes's (Christmas Present #1)

Here is the quilt I was making for my sister-in-law (my husband's sister) for Christmas. It starts with her grandparents and has six generations that end with her grandchildren. Unfortunately, she hasn't seen it yet, because she lost her husband yesterday (Christmas Eve) to pneumonia.


I will post a picture of the label later, as I forgot to take a photo before I wrapped it. The label has a key for the pictures, with everyone's name that is pictured in the quilt. I also left open spaces on the bottom of the quilt, just in case she has a few favorite pictures of her own, that she would like included. That is why I appliqued the photos blocks on, instead of piecing them in.

I hope she likes it.

UPDATE: 12/28/07
After the wake for my BIL, my husband suggested that we give the family their presents. The girls and grandchildren opened theirs and while my SIL really didn't want to, she set about ripping the paper. Her daughters, who knew what was in the box, stood up to get closer. I had folded the quilt so that the squares with her mother and father were on top. As she pushed back the tissue paper, she burst into tears, picked up the quilt and buried her face in it. I quess I now know that the photo transfer ink had indeed set completely, because she cried in the quilt for a few minutes.

The next day when we arrived back at the house from the funeral, family members gathered around, as my nieces had hung the quilt in the living room. I was in the kitchen warming food, so I didn't get to observe the reactions first hand, but my DH said everyone was amazed. Some kept asking, but how did she get the photos on fabric, others amazed at photos of their grandparents, aunts, uncles, neices and nephews, etc....

I am glad my husband suggested the idea. Thanks. Bob!

Progress on Xmas present #1: Generation Patchwork..

Well in-between the holiday and the kids being home, I did get some quilting done.

I am working on a present for my SIL for Xmas at my husband's request. He saw a quilt with old photos on it at a shop in Savannah this summer and asked me to make one for his sister. Well that one had 4 pictures, but with a family his size, how do you get away with just FOUR pictures.... so I have 15 done, and 4 more to go. Unfortunately, it has been so hard getting good facial photos of everyone I want to include, those that are important to his sister. So, I am waiting for them to come in the mail... either email or snail mail. I have asked a few family members and I am praying they come in soon. Here are just 2 of the 15... my SIL as a young girl and their father....
I have framed each photo with white and black fabric. They will be sqaured up and added to a patchwork/weaved background of various greys and grey/greens. The photos will be appliqued onto the background. Well at least that is the idea as it stands now.

Hopefully the other photos get here soon, so I can get this finished... My DH says, just go with what you have, but how do you leave out her aunts on one side of the family, when you have the aunts on the other, or 1 of 5 neices/nephews. IMHO, you don't... so I will wait, and probably be sitting up at all hours of the night trying to get it finished in time.

Well, in the meantime, I will work on another present. All about that in the next post.

Hugs!