Thursday, April 21, 2011

The Quilt That Made Me Weep

"William Lloyd Volckening" 2011, by Nyima Lhamo
Several months ago, when corresponding with Nyima Lhamo, aka Andrea Balosky, regarding the Small Wonders exhibit at Latimer Quilt and Textile Center, she told me she was making a new group of small quilts for the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI). I blogged about a few of these quilts just the other day after purchasing two of them from AAQI.

At the time, she said she was sending a package to me with a quilt she made to include as part of the festivities of the Small Wonders exhibit at Latimer. She wasn't sure when the package would arrive, or if it would ever arrive. I'd pretty much written it off and come to the conclusion that the package had been intercepted during its long journey from India to the United States.


Yesterday was a rainy afternoon in Portland. I was on my way out to the grocery store, mind preoccupied with the ingredient list for cornflake crusted, baked chicken tenders, when I thought to check the mail. There was a small package in the mailbox, and for a split second I tried to remember what I'd ordered online that would be inside the package. A quilt book, perhaps? I pulled it out of the mailbox, and as soon as I saw all the stamps covering the back of the package and the handwriting on the front, I realized it was the long lost package from Nyima.


I hurried inside, scrambled to open the package as carefully as I could in all my excitement, and found her letter with several other small, wonderful things. There was a precious red envelope tied with gold thread and decorated with gold designs and tiny beads. I opened it and found her letter. The first page was a checklist with the contents of the package, dated January 23, 2011. It said, "Namaste, William Lloyd. Whenever these arrive will be a good day." (She was right). First item on the list was "3 Smaller Wonders Quilts" and I thought, "What's this?"


Before looking at the contents of the package I continued reading, and the first line of the second page said, "Yours I made first, although at first I didn't know it would be yours." I put down the letter, grabbed the plastic bag, which had three very small quilts. The one on top was about 8" x 10" and was quilted with the word "Small Wonders". So I flipped it over, read the label, and that's when the most unexpected thing happened. I began to weep.


The inscription said, "'William Lloyd Volckening' A Tribute Quilt by Andrea Balosky, 2011, Mungpoo, Darjeeling District, West Bengal, India." I was absolutely blown away. How extraordinary! You could've knocked me over with a feather, and I had to continue wiping my eyes to read the rest of the letter. There were several other wonderful things in the package, but I'll save those for another day. Even though I have more than 100 quilts collected over 22 years, nobody had ever made a quilt for me before. I'm not afraid to admit it brought tears to my eyes.  

14 comments:

  1. it is just beautiful, I am so happy for you. What a treasure.
    a very touching story, thank you for sharing it with us
    Kathie

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  2. You brought a tear to mine too! Is that one your favourite now?

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  3. What a truly touching story. I would even save that envelope with all the stamps!

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  4. Oh..What a beautiful story! Your heartfelt words filled with compassion drew quite a picture for me! Thank you for sharing!

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  5. Yes, this quilt is definitely among my favorites and will always have a very special place in my heart. I do plan to save the envelope. :)

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  6. I can see why it has become a favorite. It is the "small" unexpected things in life that do make us happy.

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  7. Yes, a beautiful day! Thanks for warming my heart on this chilly morning.

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  8. Enjoy your quilt - what a special treasure. I think I'd keep that envelope too, what a journey.

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  9. I'm doing a lecture tonight for the Emerald Valley Quilters, and plan to bring both the quilt and the envelope, as well as the quilt Nyima gave me last summer that was in Quilt National in 1983. Should be entertaining. :)

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  10. How lovely - for both of you. I've never received a quilt either but know that it would be a special event if I did because I know how much love and work goes into them. It is lovely for Nyima too because she knows that you will love and appreciate it and I guess we've all made quilts with love and given them to people who haven't appreciated them. I hope you both savour this moment. Thanks for sharing.

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  11. What a wonderful story. I guess this shows how much she appreciated what you did. A good all round tale.

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  12. A good day, indeed.
    It seems like the envelope itself is suitable for framing.
    Nyima

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  13. This is, indeed, a wonderfully toucing story. THanks for sharing it.

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