From Cradle to Quilt Rack

This quilt rack is very special, first I built it as a cradle for my first grandson with the help of my son-in-law right before he was ship out to Iraq as a Christmas present for my daughter from him to give to her before he left. He landed in Iraq Feb,14 2004, grandson #1 was born Feb, 29th. He was a couple months early, and had to spend a little time in the hospital while his lungs developed. when we brought him home he really loved being in that cradle. It was turning out to be a stressful year with a new baby in the house, and newlywed daughter, who spent most of her time worrying if her husband was all right. Then one Oct morning we get the phone call that no one ever wants to get if they have love ones serving in a war zone. I knew right away he was alive because they don’t call if a soldier is KIA. it was his friend calling to tell us he was hit by mortar fire and they evacuated him to an aid station, and then he was going to be sent stateside. it took two more day before the army contacted us, thank god for friends. well, he has recovered fairly well and is doing fine, grandson #1 is a very healthy and happy little guy and he even has a little brother. who outgrew that cradle in record time. now my daughter really didn’t want to get rid of it but she really didn’t have room for it. However she had been after me to make her a quit rack to display the quit that the hospital volunteers gave her for the baby and her while he was in ICU and for the quits that the volunteers make for wounded soldiers, so I recycled one family heirloom into another and my wife and I did the painting on the crest rail to match my daughters interior. just writing this brings back a lot of emotions from that year.

-- Joey~~Sabina, Ohio http://sleepydogwoodworking.blogspot.com/