DianeHamillFiberArt

so I bought her sewing machine.  My friend was a quilter.  She made quilts for veterans with Quilts of Valor.  She made quilts for a local organization that screens children who have been abused, so they had something soft and warm to comfort them at a terrible time in their lives.  She was a night owl and stayed up late working on quilts for many others.  I’ll bet she sewed a million stitches on that machine.

She was a teacher.  She taught my children in high school.  She also taught at the college level and shared her love of our country, her knowledge of our history and her passion for education.  She helped several deserving students receive scholarships.

She was a patriot.  She gave back to her country and her community by giving of her time and talents through the Daughters of the American Revolution, serving as her chapter Regent, Treasurer and a State District Director.

She wasn’t young, but she was young at heart.  She stayed active and engaged in both body and mind, until a massive stroke took away her independence. I don’t remember ever hearing her complain about her health, but I know she was a breast cancer survivor. Her outlook was always positive and she had a “can-do” attitude.

I didn’t really need her sewing machine, but now I have a spare.  A sewing machine never quits at an opportune time, it only breaks down when you are in the middle of a project, so now I have a back-up, but more importantly, I am honoring my friend by taking care of something that meant so much to her.  I will use her machine to sew cashmere baby blankets, felted wool throws and finish weaving projects and while I sew, I will be thinking of her and remembering our friendship.  As long as she is remembered, she lives on in our hearts.  Maybe I’ll even make a quilt.