All this talk about quilts reminds me of the time that I, in my 'modernness' wanted a hand-quilted quilt. The grandmas were patient, but I got the idea that they thought me somewhat silly for wanting something so fancy. They were plain, English women who had lived practical lives, and a tied quilt was good enough. But, they loved me so went along with my idea. During a spring break from school our family visited the grandmas and together we quilted a quilt. I still have that quilt; thirty-some years later. And I treasure it yet! Four generations of quilters worked on creating a beautiful design that only we could love! Great-grandmother's stitches are long and rambled (she was old), Grandma's were medium in length and only somewhat crooked, Mom's were even and getting smaller, and mine were the smallest yet (I had a vision in my mind's eye as to how this was to look). It's a mis-matched quilt of many stitches! And a treasure to me forever! My four-generation quilt, made with love by four women --- great-grandmother, grandmother, mother, and daughter. Just thinking about it makes me a little teary. Life has gone one and only Grandma and I remain. . .but the loving stitches of Great-grandmother and Mom remind me of who they were and who I am today.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Heirloom Quilts
All this talk about quilts reminds me of the time that I, in my 'modernness' wanted a hand-quilted quilt. The grandmas were patient, but I got the idea that they thought me somewhat silly for wanting something so fancy. They were plain, English women who had lived practical lives, and a tied quilt was good enough. But, they loved me so went along with my idea. During a spring break from school our family visited the grandmas and together we quilted a quilt. I still have that quilt; thirty-some years later. And I treasure it yet! Four generations of quilters worked on creating a beautiful design that only we could love! Great-grandmother's stitches are long and rambled (she was old), Grandma's were medium in length and only somewhat crooked, Mom's were even and getting smaller, and mine were the smallest yet (I had a vision in my mind's eye as to how this was to look). It's a mis-matched quilt of many stitches! And a treasure to me forever! My four-generation quilt, made with love by four women --- great-grandmother, grandmother, mother, and daughter. Just thinking about it makes me a little teary. Life has gone one and only Grandma and I remain. . .but the loving stitches of Great-grandmother and Mom remind me of who they were and who I am today.
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And I got a little teary thinking about you all working together on such a treasure of a quilt. God blessed you through the simple, yet precious English women in your life. Your quilts are treasures.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth Joy
These quilts are valuable because they have so much of your heritage and memories wrapped up in them. What lovely pieces of your life to have!!
ReplyDeleteI'm one of those folks who does laundry according to the weather, I save the heavy stuff for the warmest day of the week to hang on the line. I've got a few family heirloom quilts that I was thinking of airing on the line tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteTher are so many fabrics to look at in this quilt. What a treasure !
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