ROUND ROBIN, the sequel

Reluctantly I’m posting about our ROUND ROBIN, holding out hope for a happy ending for everyone involved, not just myself.  So it began…..

Late 2013 two quilters from the US and Germany decided it would be a fun idea to organize what in the quilting world is called a ROUND ROBIN.  Both sought 7 quilting friends to make 2 even groups of 8 each.  We kept the parameters simple…..each quilter committed to create a 12-14” finished block of her choice method.  They would be sent as a group to the opposite country, where their quilters would add 4 borders to each block, each border being no larger than 8” wide to keep the finished size a manageable mid-size quilt.

Along with our blocks we could send ‘selfies’ and journals with a short bio, where they could add something of their choosing, and small meaningful gift for each new quilting BFF.  When our package came we randomly selected who would work on each block.  Then the work and anxiousness began.  We received our blocks, assignments were announced and work began to create a design that would complement and enhance the center block.  Each of us labored over what to do.  The easiest border was the first, but this was very important as it would set the tone for the remaining borders in large part.

During the startup, one of our quilting friends was diagnosed with Liver Cancer.  She fought her disease hard, and wanted to stay with the project remaining hopeful she would finish it.  Sadly, she lost her fight February 16, 2014.  Another quilter friend stepped in completing her rounds.  You can see all the participants on my August 12, 2014 ROUND ROBIN RALLY post.

We finished our tops ahead of our German friends, and enjoyed a late summer dinner party at our Organizers Lake Michigan home for the unveiling and celebrating our part of the project being finished.   The tops were boxed and shipped to Germany, where they would remain unopened until they finished and unveiled their work to each other late October.

Then we waited.  Weeks passed.  We knew they were mailed late October, but they didn’t arrive.  So we waited more.  Then suddenly a package showed up at one of our gal’s home, but not the organizer, and looking not ‘quite right’.   Some of the quilt tops were inside, but not all.  After much sleuthing we concluded 3 tops were safe, but five still remain ‘MIA’. Our group leaders did everything humanly possible to locate the missing tops, tracking them thru every department possible within the USPS.  Super human attempts were made and many tears were lost.

Fast forward…..yes, we are very sad we don’t have all the tops.  But we are also sad for our German friends that invested their time and money on our quilts.  They must be very disappointed, knowing all their work was lost.  Just sad all around……to think 5 quilt tops are sitting somewhere, either lost, stolen or destroyed.  Who would do such a thing?  To think there are websites for lost and found quilts just amazes me.  Seriously?

Thankfully, pictures were taken before they sent them from Germany so we could at least see what they looked like, plus use the photos for identification.  So……without further ado, below are theirs blocks and the finished tops we sent to them: 

Next are our blocks sent to Germany, followed by the tops they sent back, noting which are still MIA:

(The following are still missing)

In closing, aside from the missing quilts, this was a wonderful project.  The blocks were all beautiful, with such interesting and varied inspiration.  I’m grateful to be a participant.  Thanks Denice (and Elke) for all your organizing and keeping us on track…..like herding mice sometimes!