A quilt of love and healing for Melly


The day Melly Testa told a small group of us that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer, we started a massive email exchange brainstorming and designing a quilt that she could wrap herself in while going through chemo. We wanted a way to show Melly how much we loved her and no matter how far away we were, we would be with her in spirit to support her all the way through it.

Those of us who made blocks for the quilt were myself, Lyric Kinard, Jane LaFazio, Kelli Nina Perkins, Tracie Huskamp, Alisa Burke, Gloria Hansen, Jill Berry, Carla Sonheim, Diana Trout, Pokey Bolton, Jamie Fingal, Leslie Tucker Jenison, and my daughter Nina Perez

We decided the quilt would be made of 12 inch and 6 inch blocks featuring birds which anyone acquainted with Melly knows she loves. That it would have a lot of blue, a color symbolizing healing and would incorporate words. The back of the blocks would be cozy blue cotton flannel and the batting would be wool so it would be lightweight and warm. It is a quilt meant to be used.

Lyric generously volunteered to stitch the finished quilted blocks together and she added a pocket on the back so the quilt could be folded into the pocket with a strap for carrying. 

These are the blocks I painted.

12″ x 12″
6″ x 6″

6″ x 6″
6″ x 12″

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24 responses to “A quilt of love and healing for Melly”

  1. Wow! What a lovely piece. Melly is a wonderful friend to have so many who care for her so much to make this beautiful quilt. Prayers for her quilt healing.

  2. What good friends. She is a lucky woman to have all of you looking after her and giving her something she can wrap in which represents your love.

  3. What a beautiful quilt! I know it will help her heal to be wrapped up in so much love and comfort. Thank you for sharing it with us!

  4. I was brought to tears when Melly posted the pictures of the quilt. The love and talent shown in that quilt is so heart warming. We know that Melly will heal and grow stonger each time she wraps herself in the quilt. Beautiful.

  5. what a wonderful and loving gesture. to have such friends in a time like this. i know my quilting friends literally saved my life when my husband died on 9/10/01. they never left me alone, made sure someone was always there to keep me company. this was so important after my sister left and the service was over. they gave me time and peace. i love them all so much and miss them terribly. i cannot wait to see them when i go home to kauai this summer for 6 weeks.

  6. Lovely, and so thoughtful. Your painting is wonderful. I am sure Melly loves it. A gift of love and prayers from friends. The best kind!

  7. What beautiful blocks, Judy…and what a beautiful idea and quilt for Melanie. She can’t help but get better with all the love!

  8. I love that everyone quilted their own blocks as well – I just think it adds so much more love. I also enjoyed looking at each block and instantly recognizing the artist’s work. What a blessing for Melly!

  9. My heart goes out to you sweet and talented Melly. To have such loving hands create something so beautiful can only have great healing and spiritual powers in store for you.

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