Memorial service for Marlene

A Memorial service for Marlene is scheduled for

Saturday, February 7 @ 2:00 p.m. at
Ouimet Brothers Funeral Chapel
4125 Clayton Road
Concord, CA 94521
925.682.4242

At this time, information for donations or contributions in Marlene’s memory is still pending.

Marlene 1/23/2009

It is with much sadness that I inform you that Marlene passed away this morning around 11 a.m.

Please keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

Road to California 2009

Where to begin …

I went to the Road to California Quilt Show last weekend. It was a weekend of very mixed emotions for me and Marlene was on my mind so very much. You see, she was supposed to be going as well. I missed her.

We had attended last year, along with our friend Debbie. The show was great and with the exception of a couple of things that happened to us away from the show we all had wonderful time. It was on our way home that we decided that we would be doing things very differently for the 2009 show. Plans were discussed during the drive and a fourth was added to our group. By late summer we had rooms reserved.

It was a weekend of mixed emotions. Debbie and I attended the show two group members down. Deanna’s work schedule had a significant change and so she was unable to make it. Marlene was in my thoughts so many times and I saw so many things that I knew she would absolutely love.

The show was great. I especially loved the display of antique/vintage quilts. We did a bit of shopping, but I really didn’t have very much on my list. I did pick up some civil war FQ bundles, some Hobbs batting and also picked up some thread for a couple of friends. I did avoid a couple of impulse purchases (whew). Marlene would have been pleased, especially since I ran amuk at the Long Beach Quilt Show.

Plans have already been made for 2010. We will have to see what this year has in store for us.

Marlene's quilt has been assembled

First off let me thank all of you that made and sent blocks for Marlene's quilt. All of the blocks are beautiful, over 125 blocks not including the signature blocks. There are so many blocks that a smaller quilt, table topper or wall hanging size, is in the works also. I forgot to take a picture of the wonderful backing fabric that Dawna sent. It is a beautiful blue shirting fabric on a cream background.

The quilt top was assembled this past weekend starting on Friday, January 9. A small group of us gathered at our friend Pam's and spent a wonderful weekend sewing. Oh yes, there was laughing, eating, lots and lots of sewing and even a pirate song was sung. Bonnie arrived at Pam's on Wednesday night, I arrived on Thursday night and Holly arrived early Saturday morning.

The blocks were laid out with the sashings and block placements were worked out. Because of the size and the number of blocks, it was decided to make the secondary smaller quilt. The final borders were added mid-afternoon on Sunday and a quick photo was taken. Holly has taken it home and will be quilting it on her long arm. I can't wait to see what she does with it.

I went to see Marlene on Monday, January 12 and took a photo of the quilt top to hang in her room.

Here is the quilt top ...

Blocks for Marlene - arrived January 12

From Sue R. in Hilton Head Island, SC.

From Sally in Missouri.

Blocks for Marlene - a couple made by me

These are a couple of the blocks that I made for Marlene's quilt. I forgot to take pictures of the others.

Blocks for Marlene - arrived January 9

From Debbie S. in Livermore, CA.

From Dawna H. in Palmdale, CA.

There are actually 7 blocks above.

There are 2 of each of the top 2 blocks and 2 of the block on the bottom left.