Helen Kelley
A few days ago, my Mom sent me a clipping from the Minneapolis Star Tribune on Helen Kelley's obituary. Helen was one of the founders of the Minnesota Quilters and was internationally famous for her quilts and for her monthly column in Quilters Newsletter Magazine. She died on Sept. 1 of a heart attack in her home at age 81.
When I heard the news, I felt like a friend had died. I've been reading her column since 1983 - often it is the only article I read in QNM - and through her column I have followed her life of quiltmaking and her family life. I got to meet her once at the Minnesota State Fair several years ago when she was at the Minnesota Quilters demo booth in the Arts Building. She was just as lovely, warm and friendly in person as she came across in her column.
Yesterday, the Nov08 issue of QNM arrived in the mail - no mention of Helen's death, but her regular column was there - a piece about having eyelid surgery that improved her vision for quilting and driving. Nothing out of the ordinary - just one of her usual funny observations of everyday life and quilting - written without knowledge that it would be her last one. It made me think about how none of us know if what we write or what project we work on or what quilt we make will be our last. Then by some kind of serendipity, last night Aaron, Becky and I saw the movie Ghost Town - a sweet, funny, and touching movie about people who have died with unfinished business. Much food for thought.
When I heard the news, I felt like a friend had died. I've been reading her column since 1983 - often it is the only article I read in QNM - and through her column I have followed her life of quiltmaking and her family life. I got to meet her once at the Minnesota State Fair several years ago when she was at the Minnesota Quilters demo booth in the Arts Building. She was just as lovely, warm and friendly in person as she came across in her column.
Yesterday, the Nov08 issue of QNM arrived in the mail - no mention of Helen's death, but her regular column was there - a piece about having eyelid surgery that improved her vision for quilting and driving. Nothing out of the ordinary - just one of her usual funny observations of everyday life and quilting - written without knowledge that it would be her last one. It made me think about how none of us know if what we write or what project we work on or what quilt we make will be our last. Then by some kind of serendipity, last night Aaron, Becky and I saw the movie Ghost Town - a sweet, funny, and touching movie about people who have died with unfinished business. Much food for thought.
Labels: Quilt
posted by Ruth at
8:11 AM
2 Comments:
I didn't know about Helen Kelly.........yes...she seemed like a friend - from her articles in QNM and others.
The quilt world will miss her.
By
Linda, at 5:15 PM
Of course I wish you luck in getting the quilting done --- the quilt is another example of simple is sometimes very effective--- the flowers really add a lot. I had read about Helen Kelly dying on "The Quilt Show". I had the pleasure of spending time with her years ago, at Beth Donaldson's Quilt Retreat --- and she was a real treat. Very funny. I remember she had us stand up and march in place --- don't remember why.
By
Anonymous, at 10:46 PM
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