What a Boy will do for a Quilt

It has been almost a year since I have made the big move to the East Coast with all my belongings in my Nissan Rouge and what a year it has been. I apologize that I have not kept up this blog, but I will make up for it.
This year has been a roller coaster rider to say the least. I dealt with heartbreak, rigorous courses, multiple jobs/internships, acting in 1 school production and 3 student productions, creating a poetry portfolio, and much much more. But at the end of everyday I would return to my room where I would collapse onto my bed and wrap myself in the wonderful shapes and patterns of my mother's quilts. But not every quilt I own was made by my mother. Over the years, I have collected quilts made by the lovely ladies of Monica's Quilt and Bead Creations. There are three quilts that I carry around with me and one of them wwas made by the talented Patti, who has many of her quilts hanging up in the shop. I call her quilt the "Sunburst" quilt and the story behind getting it is one of my favorites.
Last summer, Natasha and I were asked to manage the Long Beach International Quilt Show. And so, we set off with our cargo van full of fabrics, patterns, purses, quilts, flannel, etc. While setting up the show, I discovered this beautiful quilt with panels of these flowers that were cut and made into blocks. The color pallet was made up of these blends of summer and autumnal tones that perfectly wove together. A ribbon of light blue accentuated all the brown, red,  and yellow shades. It was at that moment that I called up my mother and begged her to let me keep the quilt. Her only response was, "well, if you can sell all those panels and kits then you can have it." And so, with Natasha's help, we sold every single one given to us. After the show, we came back home and found out we out did our own mother! We outsold Monica Ann Gonzales at the Long Beach International Quilt Show. We were ecstatic. I thought that as a reward, mother would give me the quilt. However, we still had panels to sell at the shop. This did not stop me. I made a sign that said, "Please buy the rest of the Panels so Miguel can keep warm on the East Coast", and put it on the quilt, hung it up in my mom's store. Before I knew it, the rest of the panels sold. Seeing as Patti made the quilt, she took it down and presented it to me as I was heading back to the East Coast. It's one of the only quilts I own that is large enough to engulf my tall body (I am 6'3'') and it never ceases to provide me with all the warmth and love I need.
It's great growing up in a quilt store. Your shoulders will always be covered with a quilt and love.