Oh the quilt will definitely go to Janice, it was always planned for her and was a group project helping us with our grief as well. She made many for Brian. On the next Tuesday we meet, it will be time and we will be there.
We first started talking that it was time to start back in December/January, and we got a bit behind. Janice is usually our leader and does such a great job dealing with us that you don't even know that you've been dealt with for two or three days.
Trust me, it was not the same without her. It's like the cards that say "This card is a group effort -- everything with this group is an effort"
The planes were chosen because they have significance and meaning to her. We deliberately chose blue skies and no rain (clouds ok) or night -- but the night border was selected over several others. The sashing grades from dark to light as a meaning. And there are other things she will see and know -- pieces of fabric from her/her other projects and other little messages from us. Things like we cut the binding on the straight of grain and 2.25 inches because that's how she does it (instead of my bias and extra wide at 3" cut) or the choice of the serpentine stitch. Little quilt messages from quilters that know you too well.
My usual role in the group is the layout/top assembly and I did that for this project. Had to step up and do the quilting to or it would not have gotten done, I'm glad it is.