Where Bluebirds Fly – a completed story

So, it’s finally happened. Yes, the moment many of you and I have been waiting for has arrived. I got my act together and worked and worked and worked and then worked some more… and now I have a beautiful doll quilt. I started dreaming about this quilt long before I even knew that I would be part of the Doll Quilt Swap. I wasn’t certain if I would get into the swap and I wasn’t certain what kind of partner I would have.

Well…my partner said that I could make what I wanted to…but I’m not sure that this is what she expected! LOL. I was so happy to have the creative freedom to make the quilt that I needed to make. That’s right..needed.

Where Bluebirds Fly

This quilt has a fairly obvious reference to the Wizard of Oz, but I wasn’t just trying to make a story quilt. At least not that story. This quilt is about the story of my life for the last several years and my husband’s and my attempts to have children.

Where Bluebirds Fly

We knew that we wanted to have children when we were dating. But thought that we might wait one or two years…I was fairly young and we wanted to enjoy our time together alone for a bit. And we did. We took lovely trips and enjoyed our very long honeymoon stage! But it became clearer and clearer that we would like to try to start a family.

Where Bluebirds Fly

But unfortunately for us, that was not a simple task. What we thought would be effortless turned into years of study, research, surgeries, a miscarriage, more surgery, fertility treatments, prayer, prayer and more prayer. All the while we saw families growing all around us.

Where Bluebirds Fly

We knew that God wanted us to have children and for me to conceive, but the years of waiting were extremely difficult as all the things that accompany being a married couple without children in a world focused on married couples with children. It became difficult to maintain hope when month after month, year after year, we still had the same struggle and felt little control.

Where Bluebirds Fly

And then it happened, on a miraculous Easter Morning I discovered that I was pregnant.

Where Bluebirds Fly

We were in a happy but cautious daze for months. I unfortunately get extremely ill when pregnant and by the end of the first trimester I had already lost 15 lbs. I couldn’t get off my couch to sew!!! 🙁 But that couldn’t take away our joy.

Where Bluebirds Fly

Our baby girl was due December 21st and I was convinced she would be born on Christmas since we had found out about her on Easter. But she proved her independence early by thankfully coming early! She still was our best Christmas present though!

Where Bluebirds Fly

The hardship didn’t end with her arrival for me, but we were blessed with an enormous amount of care from family and friends for months afterwards. And Caitlyn has certainly turned out to be an angel baby. Sweet in every way and thankfully allowing her parents to get a decent amount of sleep.

Where Bluebirds Fly

She is the greatest joy in our life and is truly a miracle. We tell everyone that we waited so long for her because God was working hard on making her so precious.

Where Bluebirds Fly

So this quilt is a representation of our journey. We were on the dark side with that rainbow just barely glimmering above to give us hope. But since Caitlyn joined our life, we are living in the colored side. Every day is magical, seriously. We are so blessed to have her and she has brought color and joy to our life.

Where Bluebirds Fly

When we were waiting for our precious arrival, there was a song that always made us smile. It always made us peaceful and left us happy. That song is Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s Somewhere Over The Rainbow / What A Wonderful World. I’m sure that you’ve heard it…movies love to use it as a finale song! Well..that is our song. My husband even had a great moment in the hospital when I was (finally!) getting some sleep and brand new Caitlyn was sleeping in my arms. He was video taping and realized that in the background was this song playing on our ipod. He couldn’t have planned the moment better. It was the realization of a dream. The reminder that God fulfills his promises in ways that we can’t imagine.

Where Bluebirds Fly

And so a quilt idea was born as well. “Where Bluebirds Fly” represents this journey. So many of you have asked me how I could possibly give this quilt away after all the work it took. But the reality is that I don’t need this quilt because I am living it. I am in the magical world. I spend every day with this sweet girl.

Where Bluebirds Fly

Where Bluebirds Fly

91 thoughts on “Where Bluebirds Fly – a completed story”

  1. Angela, what a beautiful and touching story. Your daughter is such a beautiful blessing. And of course, your quilt is wonderful too. Thank you for sharing your inspiration.

  2. Such a wonderful story Angela – and the qquilt is so beautiful. I don't know how you can give it up…and I hum that song every time I see this quilt…his version is so great isn't it?!

  3. Ok, as if the quilt wasn't already great without the story behind it…I hope your partner follows your blog and gets to read this! What a special special quilt!

    I am so hoping it finds it's way into my mailbox 🙂

  4. Sooooo glad I got to see it in person at our meeting tonight! It is GORGEOUS. And, I'm so glad you were able to express your story through your art. Thanks for sharing!

  5. This is awesome, I wish I was having this come to my house!! I cant tell if I like the front or the back better. Of course it has a beautiful story and journey behind it!
    I truly know what you went through as I went through the same thing TTC my DD. (assuming you know the lingo) 3 years of it. I found out on April fools day and had brought her home the day before Thanksgiving! Our Angels were truly a blessing to us! Thank you for sharing your story.

  6. I'm typing this through tears as well. Our stories sound eerily similar, right down to due dates (my daughter was due December 20). We had decided to throw in the towel, we had downsized from a family home to an urban townhouse, and I was all set to be an Auntie Mame-style auntie to my siblings' children. Then our wonderful surprise happened. She'll be 3 this December.

    Congratulations on Caitlyn and may I say again how incredibly gorgeous this quilt is.

  7. A beautiful story with a gorgeous little girl. The quilt is fantastic too of course it is great to see it all finished! The quilting really finishes it off 🙂

  8. Such a wonderful story and such a great outcome. Caitlyn is a beautiful baby. I am so happy for you. I love this quilt and whoever gets it will be lucky, for all your passion for your life is in there. I feel the same about my quilts. People ask me how I can just send them away, but once I am done it is alright for them to go to someone else's house to make them happy.

  9. I have really enjoyed seeing this quilt come together and the story behind it makes it just that much more special.

    The recipient is one lucky person!

  10. what an amazing story
    I would save this quilt and give it to your daughter later in life, her first born, or her wedding….
    it has such meaning and would mean the world to her.
    it is an incredible quilt
    I have tears in my eyes reading this post and looking at this quilt
    Kathie

  11. What an amazing story and gorgeous quilt! I am sooooo truly happy that your blessing was bestowed! Children are the light of life, that's for sure and what a cutie you have there!!!

  12. Wow!! Your story has stirred up a reminder of what the emotional journey was like. After years of treatment we also gave up, then out of the blue, with no signs, we discovered I was 4 months pregnant. 23 years ago, on April Fools Day I went into labour, he held on until the 2nd of April. You quilt is an amazing representation of a remarkable journey.
    Wendz

  13. What a beautiful story….I love happy endings! And little girls are the best, aren't they?

    Your quilt is my most favorite Doll Quilt in existence. I can't believe you are swapping it but surely you will make someone incredibly happy when this arrives in their mailbox!

  14. Oh goodness. First time ever that Ive cried reading a blog. what a great story. I'm glad she's there with now.

    My daughter Amelia loved that song. In fact, from birth until 2.5, whenever she was upset or crying, we'd play it and instantly she'd stop. I mean INSTANTLY. I'm gald we can share such a special song.

  15. Oh I a so honoured that you would share such a story. We are lucky to be blessed with 3 first try pregnancies and 2 lovely children and an angel baby so I can never know the hardships that you have been through. But I so appreciate it when people allow others to share their lives and stories and yours has touched me so much.
    I agree wholeheartedly, that song is just magical and I also have it on my I-pod to play and remind me how amazing life really is.
    Thank you.

  16. What a touching story, and wonderful quilt! You really did a great job of expressing yourself through the quilt – its beautiful!

  17. Angela,
    Authors create novels that take us through a journey. Artists decorate canvas to portray deep ideas. You have used layers of material, stitch, colors and themes to convey deep deep emotions. You have put into one place an era of your life. Very moving, poetic and artistic. Well done.

  18. What a moving story, and what a beautiful quilt! You are very blessed to have such a perfect gift, in both your child and in your artistic ability.
    My husband and I are also young, and we will be trying to begin our family at the start of the new year. I'm excited, but also afraid we may have difficulty conceiving (the women in my family usually do). I'm glad that you were blessed to have such a precious and perfect gift from God!
    Ashley / StarSparrow

  19. Wonderful story. I have a boy that was discovered on Easter morning too. His birthday is Dec 20. That is a magical time frame to have a baby in. Congratulations.

    God bless, CASharp

  20. Well, I just read that your quilt arrived and have to admit that I was hoping it would come to me. heehee What a beautiful story you have shared about your baby girl and all you went through to get her. I am so happy for you and enjoyed reading about the story behind the quilt. Gonna go get a tissue now…

  21. God Bless you! I've walked in your shoes and after 20 years of trying, praying and believing it was impossible, God granted me my two precious daughters and a life to be with them. Your favorite song happens to be mine also … just something about the way that version is sung. I know it starts with "this one's for Gabbie" but my second is Abbie so I always pretend to hear "this one's for Abbie." Congratulations on your blessings!

  22. Tina H. in California

    A beautiful story! Wishing your little family lots of happy days and memories. The quilt is truly a piece of art. I just wonder how hard it was for you to give it away.

  23. What a beautiful and touching story. And such a beautiful quilt. I can't really add anything to all the comments above, except thanks for sharing. And I thought as I scrolled down that I recognize many of these names from other blogs. Even though the chance of us meeting each other is fairly remote, we are still a community and threads of our stories,and our quilts, bind us together.

  24. What a beautiful story – and how wonderful to capture it in such a beautiful way. Having been on both sides of that myself – I treasure my now 5 year old and those dark days seem further and further away now.

  25. What an absolutely amazing quilt! And I'm very happy about your happy ending! God works in mysterious ways and I'm very happy you have such a beautiful girl to love! The quilt is truly a work of art! I can't even imagine how you did it but it is gorgeous!!

  26. Oh my goodness! I saw your quilt on KarrieLyne's blog, so I had to stop by and read your story. Absolutely beautiful. I have tears in my eyes!! I have no doubt that God will continue to bless you over and over. Thank you so much for sharing your story of hurt, hope and blessings. It's all a part of life and I'm so happy for you that you're now living with your miracle.

  27. Oh my goodness, what an amazing journey. Thank you for sharing your story and this beautiful quilt! I know Karrie Lyne will treasure it!

  28. Oh, I have goosebumps. I got here through KarrieLyne's blog. What a beautiful story and an absolutely amazing quilt. Congratulations on your gorgeous daughter!

  29. Sew Create It - Jane

    What a beautiful quilt and a beautiful story.

    I found you through the recipient's blog and she seems so pleased to give your quilt a home…sounds like a perfect partnership!

  30. I've also come over from KarrieLyne's blog to share the story of the beautiful quilt. Even without knowing the story it was beautiful, but knowing the story just amazes me even more. I am so glad God blessed you with your gorgeous girl, and I am so glad your amazing talents were shared.

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