Road-To-Retirement Quilt Hands2Help Comfort
This month, our May OMG project (One Monthly Goal hosted by Patty at Elm Street Quilts) was the Road-to-Retirement quilt. Actually, it is so much more than just a one-month goal. This project is also our Hands2Help Comfort quilt. This is the 10th anniversary of Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict hosting a yearly charity drive. For our third year of participation, I was able to check off a bucket list desire to make a Quilt of Valor (QOV) for a veteran. Happily enough, the veteran is a principal who is retiring from my school district. While I will miss him, I was delighted to make the generous lap-size quilt for him.
Road-to-Retirement Block
The basics of this block are fairly simple – 2 – four-patch blocks, 4 – half-square triangles (HSTs), and a few plain squares. Easy peasy! The 12″ finished size blocks were laid out in a 5×6 block design. American Dreams is the fabric we chose mostly because of the aged look to the lightest star fabric, and also because it coordinates so well for the theme.
Road-to-Retirement Quilt Top
Near the end of May, we had a quilt top all ready to be quilted. The surprise retirement party was set for June 2nd. Thankfully, a long holiday weekend preceded my firm deadline for gifting the finished project. I took Friday off which proved to be just the ticket I needed. It was all quilted by Friday evening.
Saturday came bright and early and the day allowed me to wrap up the binding. After washing and drying, we were golden and all set for the party. P.H.E.W. Some pretty patriotic tissue paper, a large gift bag, and a funny card were the icing on the cake. Now to wait for the party day!
Gifting the Road-to-Retirement
An appropriate backing fabric with the same aged effect was the perfect choice for the backing, and we used the red fabric for the binding. While you cannot feel all the fabulous quilt squishiness, I can assure it is abounding. It will keep him nice and warm and surrounded in good wishes.
SURPRISE! All of the staff turned out for the mask-wearing outside send-off for Dr. Rongey. His wife joined us as well for a fitting farewell. I didn’t get a picture of him with the quilt at the time, but the next day was just as good. He was so touched by the gift and showed it to anyone who came near his office on Thursday. It’s wonderful to be able to spread the joy. Thank you to Sarah for the opportunity! I’m also linking up to Gail’s TGIFF (Thank Goodness It’s Finished Friday) linky party.
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Such a wonderful quilt, and he clearly was tickled with it. Love that last photo.
What a perfect quilt for H2H, QOV and a retirement all in one! I love that you left your humility patch in there and the look on that happy man’s face…….priceless. Kudos Roseanne. I think you got him right where it counts. ❤️
What a wonderful gift, and a very beautiful photo of the veteran and his quilt!
It’s a wonderful quilt for a wonderful event! I knew you would get it done.
What a wonderful retirement gift! I love the block and this quilt!….. Need to make one! Hugs
Oh what a wonderful gift – and two things – a retirement celebration and a QOV – so sweet!!!
What a wonderful quilt and your recipient looks so happy with it.
Gifting-Quilt Days are the best days! Great photo!
What a wonderful gift, Roseanne! I’m sure it will be loved! Don’t you love when the recipient is so touched that they want to show it off! I understand how you will miss him! We have 8 retirees at my school this year which is a lot for a small school. Next year will feel very different!
Beautiful quilt! And it’s obvious he’s in LOVE with it! Such a nice tribute!
Thank you for linking up to TGIFF!
That is just awesome! I’m sure he will remember you every time he looks at this beautiful gift!! I just love feeling all that squishy awesomeness!!
Your thoughtfulness in including the giftee’s vet status in his retirement as a school principle and as your colleague is a home run!
BTW: it looks like a super squishy quilty quilt!
That’s a beautiful quilt, Roseanne! I knew your recipient would be really touched. And that partial star at the bottom with one point going the wrong way? Getting to retirement after a long career is like that – sometimes there’s a wrong turn, but you always get there in the end!
There is nothing better than to see how much the recipient enjoys the quilt, and the smile on his face says it all. Well done! What a kind and thoughtful gift.
So happy you were able to quilt it so quickly! Thanks for sharing the story and the photo of the recipient with us, that makes it even more special.
Aww…I love the story and the quilt is beautiful! What a great retirement gift — You and Sue are so generous!
I love the photo of the vet with his quilt, Roseanne! Wonderful! 🙂
The quilt is gorgeous but I really love the story and the well wishes sewn into that piece!! It’s wonderful!
I love this – the quilt turned out so well and I can see he really appreciated it. So a vets quilt for someone really special. Well done you.
Oh, how sweet! That is just wonderful that you were able to gift him his own quilt.