The Story of Ryan's "Grammy Blankie"

I'm copying the post from my Mom's blog about this one so I'm sure to get it right. Here it is.

Little Baby Ryan Arrives

(post by Lorraine Jameson aka "Grammy" May 5th, 2012)

April 10, 2012 was a wonderful day for us. We got a call from our kids, Corinne and Klint, saying that they were on the way to hospital for what they hoped was the birth of little baby Ryan. They didn't feel very sure that this was really the day. Corinne had been to the hospital many times during this pregnancy and was pretty convinced this was just another trip there. So, we waited anxiously.

About an hour later we got a skype call and were greeted by this beautiful little boy and his Mom and Dad. It was so wonderful to actually get to see them. Since he was born in the middle of the night in Arizona, we actually got to be the first to see him.

Ryan's name is a special one since it's the name of his Uncle Ryan and his Great-Grandpa Karl Bird. All three of their boys have family names and that makes the name even more special. It's fun too that Corinne used cars made for her boys by their Great-Grandpa Bird for the theme in decorating little Ryan Karl's nursery. She put up the cars, truck and helicopter and then used the brown color scheme for the room, which also contains the cradle and changing table made by Great-Grandpa Bird.

Not being able to resist being a part of this wonderful event, we decided that there just had to be a little quilt to go in Baby Ryan's room. So, we went to work to make it happen. We were determined to get a quilt made and make it a surprise for the family. It was indeed a challenge. I wasn't able to get any fabric that would go with the car theme. They have beautiful bright-colored printed cotton fabrics here in the Congo, but nothing suitable for a baby quilt and nothing BROWN. So, with the help of my good friend in Utah, Beth Ann, the process of getting a quilt made began. She went to work to help me get fabric chosen and delivered to the Congo. This great friend went to fabric stores and took pictures of fabrics. She emailed the pictures to me so I could see what was available and chose the combinations I liked. She made a few trips, sent lots of sample pictures and then went back and bought the ones that I had chosen. She even made the extra effort to be the first person in the store that day, since that gave her a big discount on the fabric. Thanks BA! About that time a new couple was coming to the mission. Beth Ann's sister, who lived near our couple, delivered the fabric to them. Thanks Claudia! They packed it into their already full luggage and brought it to us. Giving up precious packing space was a real sacrifice. Thanks Elder and Sister B. The next job was designing a quilt that would go with the room. I got pictures of the cars, designed patterns and appliqued cars and trucks that match the vehicles made by Great-Grandpa and then figured out the layout, and the fabrics and colors for the sashing.

The next thing I had to do was to explain quilts to our African staff member, Pascal. The whole concept of a quilt was unfamiliar to him. I needed him to get the frames for my project. I had brought clamps from home, but needed the frames. So, I told Pascal that I was making a blanket for our new grandson and needed some boards to help me make it. I told him that I was cutting material into small pieces and then sewing those pieces back together in patterns. Then I'd put some more material inside and backing material on the other side. I'd sew it all back together again. I couldn't believe how silly it sounded as I was explaining it. I knew that Pascal was wondering why I didn't just buy a piece of material to wrap around him. I tried to explain that it was an American tradition and he just wasn't sure about it at all. But he knew that I really wanted those good boards and somehow that would make it so I could make a special blanket for my new grandson. Pascal went to the furniture maker who does all our missionary furniture and the next day we had four great 2x4's all stained and varnished. They're made of hardwood and are the sturdiest, fattest, heaviest, hardest to pierce quilt frames I've ever seen. Thanks Pascal! The clamps that I brought from home were much too small to fit around these big boards and I was distraught. Brent said that he thought there were some industrial strength clamps at the office. It was late at night, but he went right down and found some. Voila! We were back in business. Add four folding chairs for stands and I was ready to go. Thanks Brent!

Conference weekend was the perfect time to enjoy general conference and quilt furiously. Brent took over some household tasks to help out. Thanks again!

We even had to move the quilt aside for a zone leader counsel. It was pretty scary, but we moved the quilt to the office, where there was barely room for it, and the quilting went on.

Finally, on the very day that Ryan Karl Webb was born, the quilt was finished and only the task of getting it to Arizona and to that cute little baby lay ahead.

It happened that some doctors from the US, who were working on a short term humanitarian project, came to Kinshasa and one of them offered to take the quilt to Utah and get it to Uncle Ryan and Aunt Linsey so they could send it to Baby Ryan. Then he said that he would actually mail it himself. So, we left it in his care and headed to our conference in South Africa, with his promise that it would be sent as soon as he got home. And it was! They even gift-wrapped it for us. Thanks Doctor and Sister D! 

Stacy set up the surprise opening of the package. She arrange for us to be on skype when Corinne and Klint opened their package. Thanks Stacy!

This little quilt was indeed a labor of love from a lot of wonderful people, but little Ryan is doing well and now he even has a "grammy blanket." We love you, Baby Ryan. Thanks everybody!

Epilogue 

(By Corinne) 

Thanks so much Mom & all those who helped make it possible. It means more than words could express for us to have this special gift that required so much effort & sacrifice. We love his new "Grammy Blankie". Jameson & Alex are so happy that Ryan got "his very own Grammy Blankie" so now they each have a special one made by Grammy. Ryan loves it too. Thanks Everyone!