After I lost my Randy, it didn't take long for people to recommend the t-shirt quilt to be made. I was not opposed to this idea however there was one major factor that was making me hesitate. Shipping. If that package gets lost, all of those shirts are gone forever. I cannot replace them. It's not like Randy is alive and well so he can go buy a new wardrobe. I can't replace it at all.
One night, I was hanging out with my neighbor and she told me that she would ask her friend's mom if she would be up to making this for me. Her mom quilts all the time and my neighbor recently had one made with the outgrown t-shirts of her sons. Because she lives locally, that fear of it getting lost was gone. This I could place faith and trust in.
I handed off the basket of t-shirts and had just one request. There were 4 shirts that I wanted together and for those shirts to be in the center. Those shirts were the "I ❤️ my crazy husband" and "I ❤️ my crazy wife" which we purchased on our honeymoon. The other two were from the day he proposed which are the Clearwater Marine Aquarium trainer for a day t-shirt and the "I got engaged at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium" t-shirt. These ones were so important to me and I really wanted them together. Had I sent them away, I probably wouldn't have been able to have any say in it whatsoever.
My neighbor also encouraged me to place anything else in the basket that may not necessarily be a shirt but maybe means something to me. I put Randy's blue plaid shorts in there. I fixed them numerous times and he wore them all the time. He loved them. I had told her one night that I was flirting with the idea of putting 2 other shirts in it that weren't Randy's but part of our life together. That is the pink shirt that reads "My husband's wife is freaking awesome. true story" and "Mrs. Always Right." The pink shirt was purchased 3 weeks before our wedding at a rummage sale. Randy laughed so hard when I sent him a picture. He told me I had to get it. I got the Mrs. Always Right at target and I wore the pj set on our honeymoon. Randy thought they were funny. They were part of our life together and I ultimately decided to add them.
I received the finished masterpiece a few days ago and I'm in awe of it. What she created is a beautiful quilt that I will absolutely use in the cold months ahead. What she also did differently is the fact that she quilt stitched these shirts whereas the companies that make these, stitch them together. They don't stitch them down which allows them to stretch and warp. Also, She cut the shirts, making a collage of t-shirts instead of blocks of them. This is a piece of true art that she came up with. This quilt is so much better than anything I could have imagined. I am beyond grateful for her hard work and incredible imagination as well as my neighbor who made this happen.
To the brilliant mastermind, thank you. Thank you so much for this incredible quilt. I am beyond grateful! You created a beautiful piece of work from something that was so heartbreaking for me. I am eternally grateful.
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