Ricci's Irish Linen Quilt

Every once in a while a quilt comes along that completely takes my breath away. The talent that some artists develop is almost incomprehensible to me.
Today I viewed such a quilt.

This stunning quilt started out as a piece of vintage Irish linen purchased by my friend Ricci Lindley. The original piece was a whole cloth with very little design. Ricci then asked Cindy Needham to work her magic.

Cindy works from her home in California, and does the stitching on a home machine. The bead work is done by hand.

Unbelievable.

Ricci originally purchased the vintage linen in 2001 while she was on a vacation in Dingle, Ireland. The exact date was September 11th, 2001. The reason Ricci can remember so vividly is because she purchased the linen in the morning Ireland time, and that afternoon heard of the devastation at the Trade Towers in New York. I think all of us will always remember the hourly details of that day.

Since then, the linens were tucked away waiting for something special, although Ricci wasn't sure exactly what.

In February 2009 Cindy came to St. George and taught classes for Superior Threads School of Threadology. Ricci was Cindy's helper and they became instant friends.

When Ricci saw Cindy's beautiful work she knew right away what she wanted for her Irish linen.

Cindy went back home to California and blogged several posts as she worked on Ricci's quilt.

You can read her posts Here.

Cindy often helps Superior Threads at Trade Shows. A few weeks ago, she and Ricci were assigned to be room mates as they worked the MQX show in New Hampshire.

It was 11:30 at night when Cindy arrived at their room. Ricci was already in bed, but was completely alert when Cindy brought the quilt out of her suitcase.

Ricci said she was so overtaken with the beauty of the work she immediately started crying.

Just hearing her tell me the story made me cry too. Cindy has been so generous with her time and amazing talents. She truly is one of the nicest people you will ever meet.

The back of the quilt is almost as beautiful as the front.

Cindy took a doily and wrote an Irish Blessing.

She used an antique pillowcase for the label and sleeve.

What a treasure.