Thursday, June 23, 2011

Favorite Things Firday - June 24th

It's not quite Friday here.  Just one more 8 and half hour day, then it will be the weekend.  It's been one of those work weeks.  My best laid plans were hijacked by multiple meetings that weren't on my calendar Monday morning.  Well, there is always next week right?

On to more gratifying topics, such as Favorite Things Friday.  Our hostess, Shay of Quilting in My Pyjamas, wrote about her new found appreciation of hand stitching this week.  Shay has some lovely hand work projects underway.  Looking at her work brought to mind my first forays into handwork, which my Grandmother called embroidery.   My Grandmother was not only an incredible seamstress, she did a lot of handwork at night while she and Grandpa watched TV.  

Her project of choice was quilt blocks.  When I was a kid, you could pick up preprinted quilt blocks to embroidery at the local Five and Dime store.  She taught me to stitch and gave me my first set of quilt blocks to work on.  Over the years I finished 3 sets of quilt blocks that she set together for me and hand quilted.  Of all the grand kids, I was the only one to follow in her footsteps there.  Grandma embroidered blocks and made quilts for all her kids and their kids.  But she never made one for me.  I can't complain, she did set together those 3 of mine.  Right before she went into the nursing home she was cleaning out the house and was looking for homes for a few of her quilts that she'd kept for herself.  I begged for one (her quilts were very popular gifts within the family).  She never realized that I didn't have one she made.  So I was lucky enough to get one of her last quilts. 





I love the setting she used for this quilt.  Since this quilt is hand quilted it doesn't get a lot of use, but I love having something Grandma did for herself because she liked it.  There was a second quilt that was in the box with this one.  Along with it was a hand written note asking me to keep this quilt in trust for Kiddo.  She didn't trust it to anyone else in the family because they were all  Republicans and might be tempted to burn it. 


My Grandmother was a staunch Democrat all of her life.  There was a running joke in the family about her love of donkeys (she had quite the collection).  In the note she said this was her "Democrat Quilt".  It's hard to see in this picture, but the border is red and blue stars on a white background. 


The donkeys are pretty cute.  This one is also hand quilted.  It's being stored until Kiddo is old enough to appreciate her family history.  

I feel very blessed to have shared a love of sewing with my Grandmother, to have been young enough and old enough to take the time to learn from her.  Grandma passed on to be with her Lord about 5 years ago.  I still miss her.  

That's it for my favorite things this week.  Thanks to Shay for reminding me of my "quilting roots".  Check out Quilting in My Pyjamas to see Shay's beautiful stitchery and other cool favorite things. 

19 comments:

Michelle Ridgway said...

Beautiful post Kate and I adore your quilts. Waht a treasure for you to have and to pass down in your family. Your Grandma did beautiful work.
Michelle

Michelle said...

Your grandma made BEAUTIFUL quilts. How awesome that you not only have some, but that you picked up her love of quilting as well.

Keep Stitchin' said...

Very nice! How wonderful to have those treasures, especially the love of handwork she passed along to you!

Baa-Me Kniits said...

Your Grandma's quilts are beautiful, the embroidery and the hand quilting...so special.

It is so lovely to have something that was special to our Grandmothers isn't it :-)

Lynne said...

Oh what lovely keepsakes - thanks for sharing your story.

My Nanna was very talented in the needlework and sewing fields buut she also knitted. When Iwas born in Australia, she was still living in Englnad. A knitted teddy arrived for me - squashed in an Oxo box! He is now fifty-four years old and still sits on my bed. He did have a short time living with my DD when she was small but she didn't love him the way I did, so when she got married I reclaimed him.

seabreezequilts said...

Wow to have quilts to pass down wonderful.Lovely FTF. No quilters in my family just sewers.

Kris said...

I loved hearing about your quilting heritage! You are lucky!

Chris said...

How wonderful. Both quilts are certainly treasures. I love the Democrat quilt, even though I would have done elephants instead LOL. Thanks for sharing :)

Pat said...

I love those quilts! Especially the donkeys! When my children were young I did a horses embroidery quilt for my son and a kitten one for my daughter. My son still has his. He turns 35yrs tomorrow. He's the keeper of our family history.

Larri said...

Beautiful favourite, Kate. Thanks for sharing your heart today. How fortunate you were to have a Grandma who could pass her legacy and love of quilting to you. ☺ Happy FTF!

SpinningStar said...

Great story and quilts. My grandmother did needlepoint, so I have a few framed pictures with her signature on the paper on the back. My maternal grandmother sent all of us granny-square blankets.

Liz

Shay said...

Oh Kate - what a wonderful story you've shared for FTF. I envy anyone who has something that their grandmother made because I dont have anything like that.

Both of the quilts you've shown today are rich with history and have beautful workmanship. What a thrill for kiddo to have one being held in trust for her so she can marvel at it when she's old enough to appreciate something from her great grandmother!

I loved reading your post this week. Thank you for sharing it.

Marg said...

What a wonderful post Kate. Such a lovely legacy of your grandmother. As far as I know no one in my family has quilted before me. Both quilts are fabulous.

Unknown said...

It is so nice to have something your Grandmother made. The story about the Republicans burning the quilt was funny!

No one in my family quilted, but they were some prolific knitters and I have saved everything they ever made me. Handmade items from family members are so special.

Paulette said...

Oh my, how lovely! I just love that setting she used on the floral embroidery quilt. Just gorgeous handwork! And I laughed out loud about the "Democrat" quilt and not trusting it to anyone else. That is a priceless story. This is such a nice post, Kate, I really enjoyed it.

Love Of Quilts said...

How fortunate your grandmother was to have you to keep her quilting alive....that means so much for someone else to appreciate your work and carry it on...my first quilt was a gift to my oldest son and after a couple of years he has no idea where it...now I have granddaughters that love my quilts. You are also blessed to have her quilts. Trish

AnnieO said...

That's a very special favorite thing! How wonderful that you have so many memories of working with your Grandma and have her treasures. My grandma also did handwork and quilting but she didn't live close by. I am the stitcher/sewer/quilter; her only daughter knits!

thea said...

What a wonderful favorite!!

Shelia said...

You are a blessed woman, to have these trasures. My grandmother made a few utilitarian quilts, she lived in TX (not too cold) and they are long gone. She made loads of embrodiery pillowcases, dresser scarves and flour sack towels. She passed that love of embrodiery on to me, I have carpal tunnel in both hands so am very limited in my handwork, but whenever I pick up a needle I think of her. I was very close to her, she's been gone since 2002, and I miss her so much. I have been quilting since 1989 and am self taught. When I would have a question as how to do something I would call her and she always had the answer. Thank you for sharing your grandmother. You have brought a tear to my eye and a smile to my face, thank you for helping me remember my Granny in a very special way.
I enjoy your blog and am an avid reader. Thank you for sharing with us.