The past eighteen months have been difficult for Monica with the loss of both her husband of 30 years and her father. Staff, friends and customers offered comfort in a variety of ways.
Two such efforts were particularly visible: a quilt called "Monica's Garden" stitched by the Monday at Monica's Friendship Group of the Coachella Valley Quilt Guild and a necklace called "A Gathering of Hearts" organized by two of Monica's staff members.
Here are pictures from those projects.
The frontespiece of the journal accompanying A Gathering of Hearts
The completed project: Three necklaces that can be worn in at least six ways with coordinating earrings on a display fashioned from the jeans of one of Monica's children.
The inner necklace includes pictures of Monica and her family.
The middle necklace includes fiber with the chain and points where the other necklaces can be joined to make a different look.
The outer necklace includes one detachable strand that can be combined with the other two necklaces.
Lampwork, metal clay and cinnabar hearts are the focal point of the middle necklace.
One of the unusual beads contributed to the project.
Five strands from the outer and middle necklaces display the diversity of styles and the unity of color in the work.
The complementary earrings pair handmade heart
pendants with fiber and beads.
Stamped, rolled paper inserted in plastic tubing and finished
with bead caps makes an interesting addition to the necklace.
Monica's Garden Presentation
A first look at the completed quilt.
The label tells Monica who contributed blocks, did the sashing and borders, did the quilting and made the label for this beautiful quilt -- a treasure to savor!
"It looks just like my back yard!"
MORE QUILT PICTURES TO COME