Julie Filatoff | Utilitarian Quilts

Lap Quilt for Jenetah

Quilt Size: About 40" x 65"

Block Size: About 6"

Machine Pieced and Quilted

Date Made: March 2005

Jenetah and I have been friends since age 5. She called one day to say she had some potentially serious health problems.  We live more than 1,000 miles apart, and I wanted to send her something that would "hug" her, since I could not.

About a year ago, when she and her kids visited my mom and me, Jenetah had brought me two quilting books. One of them was "101 Fabulous Rotary-Cut Quilts" by Judy Hopkins and Nancy J. Martin. At the time she mentioned that she really liked one of the quilts--Cosmic Ocean by Gail Engblom. So that was the pattern I chose. I simplified it, since time was of the essence.

As usual, Yvonne helped immensely with the design. Thanks, Mom!

And a big "thank you" to Mary McCusker, owner of Santa Fe Quilting. Mary (a former attorney) and her husband and business partner, Allen Winchester (a former counselor), who have probably done as much counseling since they became quilt-shop owners as they did before! The day I went in to buy fabric for this quilt, I was a mess--and Mary was her usual amazing, supportive self.

Photos, top to bottom:

Lap quilt for Jenetah.

The fabulous Paula Nadelstern backing.

Don't you love the Sherrill Khan star fabric? Jenetah is a star to me.

Secret message to Jenetah on the backing.