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Thursday, July 3, 2014

Grandmother's Quilts


I recently visited my Dad in the Great State of Texas, and while I was there, my Aunt Sandy offered me the last couple of my late Grandmother's enormous cache of hand-made quilts. My Grandmother won ribbons at the Calcasieu Parish Fair back in the 80s (she died in 1989), and she made many, many quilts throughout her life. She had a quilt frame suspended over her bed, and when she wanted to quilt, she lowered it on its pulleys and sat by her bed and patiently -- so patiently -- stitched. I remember baskets of cloth remnants by her chair in the den (I don't think she used store-bought quarters).

I tried to quilt, I really did, but I am just a terrible seamstress. I once sewed an article of clothing onto my own pant leg. And my quilt squares were just never even. Anyway, I am now lucky enough to own four "Grandma quilts." A diagonal-patterned red one that I got when I was too young to remember getting it, another with a sort of pinwheel pattern I was given when I was a young adult, and now these two:








I don't know what these patterns are called, sorry ...



Aren't they gorgeous? I am looking for a quilt rack, so I can display them until winter. I can't imagine how many hours it took to make each one of them, then to sit by the bed and carefully stitch it all together.

Creativity runs in the family, though. My first-cousins-once-removed, young adults themselves, have a fabulous Etsy store which I am shamelessly going to promote. It's called The Evergreen Nest and is focused on fairies and that which pleases fairies!

I got these lovely items from Evergreen Nest:


I took the mushroom and the three ladybugs to work, and set them up on my desk with two of the ladybugs crawling around the mushroom cap. I swear they come alive at night ... when I come in most mornings, the biggest ladybug has moved a little! 

So, on to knitting issues ... 


Well, spinning issues. Tour de Fleece is starting the day after tomorrow. I did it once before, a few years back, and haven't since. To be honest, I haven't used my spinning wheel in quite some time! I think it's time to dust Esmerelda off and give her a good oiling, and then spin up some fiber for TdF. I do have a lot to spin. A lot to clean, card, and blend, too. I don't know that I'll want to do that in July, but I think I should have a go at some spinning.


In closing ... a sweet little recipient of one of the many cat mats I've been making lately. This little sweetie is at the Petco in Columbia, MD, snoozing on the top left. They had six kittens in the adoption cages. Very sleepy, smug kittens.












Thanks for stopping by!

7 comments:

  1. OMGosh! Those quilts are amazing!! Your Grandmother did beautiful work.

    I love quilts, but am not certain I have the patience to make one myself.... I have mad respect for those who do.

    Yay for the TdF!! The spinning bug bit me a few days ago... perfect timing, I think. :-)

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  2. The quilts are beautifu. It must be lovely to have something that brings back memories of your grandmother.

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  3. My husband's grandmother was an avid quilter and we are lucky to have couple of her quilts. There are all hand stitched, beautiful treasures.

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  4. I love those quilts! I'm always in awe of those that make them. I have a couple that my grandmother and great-grandmother made. You just can't beat the workmanship they put in them. Hooray for dusting off the wheel! Hop over to the Team of Wonder if you need some cheering on.

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  5. You are a lucky gal to have some Grandma quilts. She would be proud to know they are still being used and appreciated.

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  6. What beautiful quilts and lovely memories to have. The kitten looks so cute! I'd have taken him home with me.

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