The Story Behind The Cover ~ Pat Winter's Summer Issue

I was so honored to have my work on the cover of "Crazy Quilt Gatherings" for the Summer 2012 issue!

I'd like to share the story behind the cottage print, one I have not shared until now.

Lilla LeVine had mentioned on her blog in 2010 that she had created a cottage painting and had copied onto muslin if anyone was interested. I immediately contacted her to purchase it.

When it arrived, I sent an email to thank her  ~ her reply left me stunned.

the cottage print as it arrived from Lilla

the cottage in process

She explained that in the summer of 2001, she was decorating an English tea room for two friends Colleen and Georgina in Honolulu.
The theme was "Cottage" so Lilla was painting and embroidering items for the decor.

The girls had been in New Zealand buying cups and china. Lilla and Colleen returned to Honolulu, Georgina went to the states to make some purchases.

On September 11, 2001 as Lilla and Colleen were at the tea shop, a call came in that Georgina was on flight 93 headed back to the Islands.
They tried calling her cell but she was already gone, a victim of the 9-11 attack.

Colleen never recovered and moved back to Canada with the original cottage painting.

One year later......she died of cancer and as Lilla put it, from a broken heart and spirit as well.

Colleen's daughter told Lilla the painting has never been found.

When Lilla shared this story with me I promised myself I would do something special with her beautiful cottage painting to honor her two friends. I wanted the piece to be overflowing with flowers, birds and butterfly's in flight and all the peace and joy a cottage garden brings.

Thanks to Pat Winter's masterful magazine, now this special cottage will live on in print.
It was a joy and privilege to do this work ~ I know you all would agree when there is purpose behind your stitches they become infused with love and meaning that can be felt.

In a way Lilla's cottage has been "found."

                           In Memory of Colleen and Georgina

 To a Butterfly

STAY near me--do not take thy flight!
A little longer stay in sight!
Much converse do I find in thee,
Historian of my infancy!
Float near me; do not yet depart!
Dead times revive in thee:
Thou bring'st, gay creature as thou art!
A solemn image to my heart,
My father's family!

Oh! pleasant, pleasant were the days,
The time, when, in our childish plays,
My sister Emmeline and I
Together chased the butterfly!
A very hunter did I rush
Upon the prey:--with leaps and springs
I followed on from brake to bush;
But she, God love her, feared to brush
The dust from off its wings.


by William Wordsworth ~ 1802

I used lace "bits" from Nicki Lee's etsy shop Raviolee Dreams
Silk Ribbon from  Pat Winter's etsy shop
Silk Ribbon and threads from Carol Daisy
Charms from Dime Store Emporium