It is easy to get distracted by the media and the craziness, especially this time of year.

We can forget those important little things. And then someone reminds you…

I was having one of those moments recently. Trying not to doom scroll through the news. Avoiding social media. working through my to-do list that wasn’t dwindling as quickly as I hoped…

Then, I received a DM in Instagram from an unexpected person – my college roommate. I had not heard from her in quite a while, so I was really surprised.

It was a picture with a simple message attached “Love It.”

She was at the International Quilt Show in Houston. And she saw my quilt “11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month“. It was a finalist in the Cherrywood Poppy Challenge. The poppies are made with my 3-D applique technique. And the stitching (which is hard to see in this photo), says “Lest We Forget – Remembrance“.

Her simple message brought so much joy to my day. It is amazing how such a simple thing can make such a difference. But it does. She certainly made my day, especially since the quilt was made with such a heartfelt sentiment.

The quilt was inspired by the poppy we typically see on Veterans Day in the US. In Europe, it is known as Remembrance Day or Armistice Day. It marks the end of the fighting in what was called the Great War, or the War to End All Wars. Today, we call it World War I.

Some countries mark that specific date an hour with a moment of silence. People often don a poppy to honor of those who died in the war.

Why poppies? They were reputed to be one of the first flowers to bloom on the graves of the soldiers buried in Flanders Field. This is commemorated in the poem “In Flanders Fields” by Canadian Doctor John McCrae.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place, and in the sky,

The larks, still bravely singing, fly,

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead; short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe!

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high!

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

What inspires your quilts?

What simple things have brought joy to your day?

What simple thing can you do to bring joy to someone else’s day?

Happy Quilting.

P.S. I received another message from another asking if there was a pattern for the quilt. I have one, but it isn’t published yet. It will be soon. Please watch for it if you are interested.