What’s in a name?
I was raised on a farm in western Kansas, the next to youngest of six children, and spoiled with love. My parents and grandparents were a strong influence in my life, and one of the greatest compliments I can receive is being told that I remind someone of them. We learned early to respect what we had, use our resources wisely, and be creative with what was available.
I learned to sew and crochet from two very special women: my mother, Marieta, whom my dad nicknamed “Mert,” and her mother, my grandmother Opal. There was nothing those two women couldn’t fix, create, or make more beautiful.
They always seemed to have a handmade project in their hands—whether they were on the tractor waiting for the combine to make another round, out on the lake in a boat, or sitting in the bleachers at yet another kids’ sporting event. From them I learned the joy of making something from almost nothing and giving something made from the heart. In my world, nothing says “I love you” quite like a handmade gift.
And that’s where Opal & Mert began.
After 20 years as a Registered Nurse, I retired and moved with my husband to Navarre, Florida, near the beautiful Gulf Coast. Now I have the time to take my love of creating even further.
I make my quilts from start to finish in my own studio, including quilting them on my longarm. I love the entire process—from choosing fabrics and colors, to piecing, quilting, and finally seeing the finished piece come together. And yes, I confess: I’m a “petter” of fabric. If it looks soft, I have to touch it.
Today, Opal & Mert includes quilts and other handmade pieces created one at a time. I hope that when something I’ve made finds its way into your home—or becomes a gift for someone you love—it carries a little of the same joy that Opal and Mert taught me to put into everything I make.
Jennifer Henry