Live a Colorful Life Quilt Diary: 60. C UR I DKTR

This quilt was made for Aaron's graduation from Pacific University optometry school in May 2006.

Letter enclosed with quilt:

"Four years--and here you are at a major milestone in your life. From the minute you said you were going to optometry school, I began planning a quilt for your graduation. And what fun I have had on this journey. I've never documented the process before, so please join me as we go "behind the scenes" on the making of your quilt.

Well, first of all, I found some eye chart fabric. There is a small scrap on the back, and as you read the words I'm sure you'll agree with me that fortunately it was "voted off the island" as a contender for the border, and just a few months ago I found the more realistic eye chart fabric that is now the border.

However, the first fabric did serve a purpose--it provided the color scheme of red, white and black. So for 3 1/2 years, I collected red, white and black fabric, looking for just the perfect fabrics that would blend together. In fact, I have enough of those colors that I could make you at least three queen-sized quilts, and probably still have some left over. And at some point in your third year, it occurred to me that red and black were your school colors--a happy coincidence.

As for the block itself, "Hollow Cube" never had any competition. It was graphic and a great optical illusion--the perfect choice for an optometrist. And at the same time I picked the block, I also found the name, C UR I DKTR, "borrowed" from an optometrist in Reedley.

In January of this year, I decided it was time to stop collecting and start sewing. My original plan was to make a lap quilt, about four times larger than the final quilt. I took all my fabric up to the quilting retreat at Bass Lake in March and started sewing. The blocks turned out to be so time consuming that I quickly downsized, or as Maggie said, "right"-sized. I decided a wall hanging was actually the better choice anyway in case you decide that it works on an office wall.

You may not be aware of this, but quilts occasionally talk to quilters. You can't really call us "quilt whisperers," since the quilts talk to US--we don't talk to THEM. And your quilt was one of those that definitely talked to me along the way. At different stages of construction, it told me to head in another direction, that what I thought was a great idea might actually work in another quilt but definitely not this one. And I'm glad I listened. I'm happy with the final result.

For me, quilting is a tangible way to show my love for those who mean so much to me. A side benefit to me is that during the hours of working on the quilt, I get to focus on that person and really spend time thinking about him or her.

And now here are some fun things to look for when you have a few minutes:

1. Only one fabric is repeated twice. (NOTE: I don't own the quilt and I can't remember which fabric is repeated).

2. One fabric actually glows in the dark.