The Story Benind 'Meet Me In Paris'

I've decided to enter my Meet Me In Paris quilt over here at

Amy's Creative Side.

The story behind this quilt:

Way back before I even considered myself a quilter...

let alone a quilt pattern designer

this quilt was created amongst great heartache in my life.

I never dreamed it would be the quilt that would not only launch my business but would sustain the business all the way through out.

Someone had shown me how to use that great little

Easy Dresden ruler and away I went.

I managed to get the inside diamond of this quilt finished

and was working on figuring out the setting triangle corners

when one night at Quilt Night with my quilting buds

there was a knock on the door.

The hostess said, "John'alee...it's for you!!"

I got up unaware that  a 19 page restraining order

was going to be shoved into my hands from a deliverer for my 

  ex husband, banning  me from seeing my youngest child

while he tried to put me away for child abuse.

It's ironic that this is the man who walked out on me and my 4 little ones years before when they were only 3, 4, 8 and 10.

And had failed to pay child support...owed me over $110,000

at the time these lovely papers were handed over to me.

I was so embarrassed!

At Quilt Night no less!

No hiding this one.

So the battle began.

And Meet Me In Paris....

almost got wadded up and thrown in the closet.

Almost.

But somehow some way I decided to keep at it.

I now call this quilt, "God's Quilt",

because I really don't know how I pulled it off.

I had no idea that standing up to the judge, my attorney and my husband would end up, but I was determined to not please man, and deny God.

This is what happened.

At court, my attorney came up and whispered in my ear.

"John'aLee this can all be done with. All the judge wants is for you to promise that you will never strike your child again."

My reply: "Nope, I won't do it. The bible tells us how to raise kids,

and I will not deny God to please that man, you, or anyone. I will go to jail before I will lie and say that I'm not going to spank my kid anymore."

Needless to say...

the ex dropped the charges  weeks later when his own dirty laundry started coming out...

and the child became too much for him to deal with.

 Meet Me In Paris, continues to this day,

12 years later to be our all time best selling pattern.

It is not only easy to make...I hear on the road all the time

people say that it is the funnest quilt they have ever made.

For anyone leaving a comment or becoming a new follower....

you will be entered in a drawing to receive a free pattern!

There will be 5 winners!

Here it is in a few other color ways...

Blogger’s Quilt Festival Stats

Finished quilt measures : 100"X100"″

Special techniques used : The EZ Dresden Ruler.

Quilted by : John'aLee Burk (On her lil ole Bernina no less...)

Best Category :Bed Quilt, Home Machine Quilted, Scrap Quilt

Make sure to check out all the other inspiring  'Quilt Stories'

over at,,,

               

Check out her Quilt Blog Festival!

 

 Amy's Creative Side ladies!!

You will be inspired to sit down and sew today!

Happy Sewing!