Friday, November 30, 2007

Tiny Details and Lessons


This little quilt block was made by my mother and is one of twelve in a 'months of the year' quilt she made several years ago. I love this one because of all the details --- the tiny patchwork quilt, the apron ties, and the buttons on the blouse. This quilt is one of my favorites of all she made. Mom was gifted in hand-sewing and always had a project waiting by her chair. She taught kindergarten and after school would come home to work in her garden for an hour or two each day, a form of relaxation after a busy day with five-year-olds. In the evenings mom would usually have a stitching project that fulfilled her need to create. Her house was always filled with visual treats for the eye --- things she had crafted and made. Her sewing skills were learned in her early teens from her high school Home Ec teacher at Chilliwack Secondary School. From those days on, mom sewed dresses, dusters, shirts, pants, blouses, and a myriad of household products. I remember dozens of aprons she made for so that each of her kindergarten students would have one to wear while painting or cooking in her classroom kitchen. Her sewing skills were ones she taught to her daughters --- although neither sis nor I are as swift and sure as she was with a needle and thread for handwork. Tidbits, memories, lessons from the past --- all become woven together to create the persons we are today.

On the subject of aprons and sewing, here's a link you might enjoy. It shares
56 Free Apron Patterns from places all over the Internet. Enjoy!

7 comments:

  1. You know I love this quilt so much. What a treasure!

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  2. That is sweet! What a treasure...thank you for the link, too!

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  3. What a great - sweet- beautiful piece of art. Your talents come genetically I guess!

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  4. Anonymous7:59 AM

    This is sooooo lovely!! Can we see the other eleven squares?? Gwen

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  5. I loved living with your mom while I was in college. She was so creative and had decorated her home so beautifully. Her craft room was crammed packed with projects and materials for future ideas.

    I completed a couple sewing projects while I lived with her; a couple throw quilts and pillows, and a wall hanging.

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  6. I love your mom's quilt block. As a fellow quilte, I'm itching to see the other blocks. Can we have a peep,please???

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  7. lovely! and thanks for sharing the apron link.

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