Quilts – HollyDee Quilts

Never Forget

Published on September 11, 2015 by hollydeequiltsLeave a comment

We will never forget the day our world changed. I worked for a boating company in Seabrook, TX, MarineMax. I had just left one location and was getting ready to head back to my office, my sister had not been feeling well over the weekend and I called to see how she was feeling. Phil answered the phone and said he was watching the news as a plane had just hit a building in NY – at that time he thought it might’ve been a commuter plane, while we were chatting the 2nd plane attacked and I knew, as did the rest of the world, America was a target. I hung up the phone, called my husband who had not heard yet. Then headed to my office, a co-worker and I headed to my house to pick up a tv to be able to watch the news. Some co-workers headed home, some stayed it was their choice. I did not want to go home to an empty house so I stayed and we tried to make sense of a senseless act.

I watch our news today and we have too many senseless acts, they are not as dramatic as the attacks in NY on 9/11/2001 but they all add up to a great loss of life. Horrible acts of violence are happening everyday all around the world and too often in our own cities and neighborhoods. I do not know the answers but I feel the great sadness!

This is a Facebook post from 2011, a mom of young boys wanted to be sure they would always remember the day our world changed. Maybe if we teach our children compassion and teach them the value of hard work and the great feeling of helping others the world will change……

How will your children remember 9/11 – We Remember

March 3, 2011 at 7:17am

In 2010 I was contacted by someone to see if I could quilt 3 quilts for her. She lives over 50 miles away but she wanted to come show me the quilts and talk to me about them. We had a consultation and I gave her my ideas for quilting them and a quote to quilt all 3. She took them back home to piece the backings together and decide on some quilting options I have given her. The 3 quilts are almost identical, 1 is for her, and 1 each for her 2 sons, 11 and 14. She brought the quilts back to me and I put them in the schedule for January.

These quilts were quite large 102×102 and like I said very similar. I knew once I started quilting them I would be challenged to keep working on them because I enjoy variety! I quilted the boys quilts back to back but had to wait to get more batting for mom’s quilt. During this time she called to ask if I could quilt the boys names into their quilts. I explained that these quilts were completed, but I offered to create machine embroidered labels for her quilts.

She sent me an email with correct spelling and the information she wanted on the quilts.

In Memory of 9/11/2001

Made for XXXXXX

2002-2011

Love, Mom

And then these quilts took on new meaning for me. Her sons were very very young on that day in our history and she wanted them to always remember and this was her way to honor that horrific event in our history. I was touched to be part of her gift to her sons.

Here are the pictures

Is she really 13?

Published on February 6, 2015 by hollydeequiltsLeave a comment

A few days a very special little lady turned 13. Today she celebrates with a typical party with girl friends. She will have a spa day and a pizza party with a movie – because that is what you do when you turn 13.

You had a rough start when you were born but have conquered every obstacle placed in your way. You are a typical teenager that attends middle school with a few physical limitations. From being told to say our goodbyes and take photos when you were just days old to the life flight rescues for your pneumonia’s before you became bionic you have always fought back. You do this with grace and sweetness and always set an example for the rest of us!

I am honored to be your Aunt Dee and cherish all of our fabulous memories and look forward to making lots more memories through the coming years!

We have had a fabulous time so far and here are a few of my favorites, mostly from when you turned 5!

You had only be out of the operating room for a couple of weeks and you and were shopping and a little Dora bike caught our eye, so we brought it home and few days later your Uncles Trevor and Derek along with Mimi came to visit us in Houston and they got you going on that bike and you were still riding it when you were 10! When you and I flew to Seattle to join your family there was another Dora bike waiting for you there too!

Here are a few more fun time memories – I have so many it was really hard to choose!

You were so tiny and frail - I had not made you a quilt yet and I felt to guilty - Mimi helped pick out the fabrics and I raced home after visiting you in the hospital and made your quilt. It has accompanied you to many hospital visits. It is well worn and very much loved! — You were so tiny and frail – I had not made you a quilt yet and I felt to guilty – Mimi helped pick out the fabrics and I raced home after visiting you in the hospital and made your quilt. It has accompanied you to many hospital visits. It is well-worn and very much-loved!

And she is peddling! I would chant "just keep peddling, just keep peddling" (like Dory in Nemo) — And she is peddling! I would chant “just keep peddling, just keep peddling” (like Dory in Nemo)

You showing off when we arrived in Seattle! A few months later you fell off your bike and broke your wrist - the ER doctor didn't quite understand that! You did not walk, but you broke your wrist riding a bike! — You showing off when we arrived in Seattle! A few months later you fell off your bike and broke your wrist – the ER doctor didn’t quite understand that! You did not walk, but you broke your wrist riding a bike!

Chillin in the wagon when we would go for walks. You were recovering from major surgery but you always wanted to be doing something!

You and I swinging on the bench swing - we spent hours on that sing! — You and I swinging on the bench swing – we spent hours on that sing!

Not always happy - but always cute! — Not always happy – but always cute!

You and uncle Corey pretending to sleep - you and he would hang out every night when he got home from work! — You and uncle Corey pretending to sleep – you and he would hang out every night when he got home from work!

the playground at the carwash — the playground at the car wash

The playground at the park - we spent a lot of time there — The playground at the park – we spent a lot of time there

Different day, maybe a different swing - but you are swinging! — Different day, maybe a different swing – but you are swinging!

Even a grey drizzly day didn't keep us from the park! — Even a grey drizzly day didn’t keep us from the park!

Sometimes you would play on the other stuff - you got pretty good at climbing all of the different equipment! — Sometimes you would play on the other stuff – you got pretty good at climbing all of the different equipment!

Made it to the top - now time for a break! — Made it to the top – now time for a break!

You and uncle Corey feeding and watching the birds!

Uncle Corey trying to measure you for mimi

We went to the park with Dahlia and you liked this swing too!

The look on your face when you saw Aunt Brittney's wedding dress! — The look on your face when you saw Aunt Brittney’s wedding dress!

Photos with the azaleas! I don't have azaleas at my new house :( — Photos with the azaleas! I don’t have azaleas at my new house 🙁

You had so much fun with Dahlia at the park we met them at Kemah for some more fun - your first Merry Go Round Ride - you were a little scared and then you loved it (like 12 times loved it!) — You had so much fun with Dahlia at the park we met them at Kemah for some more fun – your first Merry Go Round Ride – you were a little scared and then you loved it (like 12 times loved it!)

Look towards the back of the slide - you are heading off to climb the stairs to slide down the slide - you got scared half-way down and Sue had to slide down to rescue you! — Look towards the back of the slide – you are heading off to climb the stairs to slide down the slide – you got scared half-way down and Sue had to slide down to rescue you!

We headed to the hill country to get some fresh air and blue-bonnet photos. We also took your bike and you rode up and down Marilynn's driveway! — We headed to the hill country to get some fresh air and blue-bonnet photos. We also took your bike and you rode up and down Marilynn’s driveway!

Hope there weren't any snakes in there! — Hope there weren’t any snakes in there!

Mr. Noak's barn was a great backdrop for this photo! — Mr. Noak’s barn was a great backdrop for this photo!

Amazing this quilt is still together - it has probably when laundered 200 times! — Amazing this quilt is still together – it has probably when laundered 200 times!

You are and always will be my little “sprite”.

Sending you Texas size loves, hugs and kisses!

Aunt Dee and the gang!

Where were you?

Published on September 11, 2014 by hollydeequilts4 Comments

The question of the day seems to be where were you 13 years ago – September 11, 2001?

It was a Tuesday and here in Texas it was a beautiful day.

I had just spent a fabulous weekend with my quilting friends in Round Top, TX at our annual Fall Retreat and my beautiful niece had even flown in from SLC to spend the weekend enjoying the hill country and sewing.

I was working as the service manager for Marine Max in Seabrook, TX. I had driven over to our accounting office on the other side of the lake and as I left to return back to my office I called my sister in Atlanta, GA to see how she was doing. She had been ill that weekend. Her husband, Phil, answered the phone and he sounded a little strange, he was watching the news and said a plane had just crashed into a building in NYC, at that time we thought it might have been a small plane – while we were on the phone and he was watching the news he said he couldn’t believe it another plane had just hit another building. We were both in total disbelief, one plane is most certainly an accident, a second plane could only mean evil was among us. We hung up and as I tried to find information on the radio I began to cry. I called my husband who had not heard yet and we knew our lives would be forever affected. When I returned to the office I don’t recall if they knew yet or not, but we scrambled for a radio or TV. Then I headed home and we pulled the TV out of my quilting room and took it back to work so the news could be on.

I called my team together and told them if anyone felt they wanted to go home to their loved ones they should. I myself would be staying as I did not want to go home to an empty house. The majority of our team stayed and we tried to go about our work.

My thoughts went to my son, who was living in Utah, I was wishing my baby, who was 22 at the time, was with me (or I with him!). Momma’s need to know their chickens are safe!

I never take the sound of an airplane overhead for granted – I LOVE that sound. I recall when our airlines were given permission to fly again and we would meet outside the building to watch them fly over and embrace that sound. I must say I am not fond of all the hoops we jump through when we fly – but if they prevent this from happening again then it is ok. I just build a little extra time in for security and I remember why we stand in those security lines.

I am going to share another momma’s take on 9-11, she had very young sons in 2001 and here is what she did – so they will never forget.

This post is from my Facebook page – HollyDee Quilts

HollyDee Quilts

March 3, 2011 ·

How will your children remember 9/11 – We Remember

She sent me an email with correct spelling and the information she wanted on the quilts.

In Memory of 9/11/2001
Made for XXXXXX
2002-2011
Love, Mom

Here are the pictures

I honor that day by trying to serve in the community more actively. At the end of 2001 we began hosting a sibling group from a Group Foster home in our area – I love those kids and I am blessed to have them in our lives.

I quilt many donation quilts for organizations such as Meals on Wheels, Special Olympics, Rainbow Girls, Special Needs Students at Friendswood High School etc.

Most importantly I try not to take life for granted. I enjoy my family and friends. I make the extra effort to be a positive force in my grandchildren’s lives.

Where were you?

How do you honor those that were taken from us before their time? And those that are still fighting for our freedoms!

I am honored and blessed to do what I do and be able to share it with the world!

Thank YOU for taking the time to share!

Denise