I NEVER thought I'd be able to do a quilting post on my blog.
Never.
I don't sew.
I don't knit.
I don't do any of those "homemakey" things.
But I have relatives who do!!!! Lots of relatives who do.
Meet Cousin Shirley. Shirley is the sister of Cousin Doug about whom I posted here and here. She is a seamstress extraordinaire who taught high school Home Ec. before she retired.
Yesterday when Sister Pam, Dad, and I stopped in to visit with her, she was putting the finishing touches on this gorgeous quilt, getting ready to enter it into several competitions.
This is the cathedral window pattern. Shirley has been working on this quilt, bits and pieces at a time, over the last 30 years. She is using scraps of fabric left from family sewing projects. She even has fabric from our grandmother, who passed away when I was in Junior High.
This scrap of cloth was left over from the first 4H dress Shirley made when she was in 8th grade.
This scrap of fabric was left from a simple shift dress that Shirley's mom, my Aunt Ferol, made and wore to a wedding.Just before the wedding, Shirley's husband, Dave, suggested to his MIL that it was time to get ready for the wedding, to which she replied, "I AM ready." I guess Dave thought the dress was too simple and too plain for a wedding, but Aunt Ferol lent an air of grace and charm to everything she touched.
Since I don't quilt or sew or go with those who do, and since I do NOT want to be accused of neglecting the education of Brunhilda and Borris, I asked Shirley if she would give them a little quilting lesson.
She gladly complied.
"Come here, little bears, now let me show you this - - -"
"Look very closely, my little bears, I don't want you to miss this step!"If you are new here, and you think I've gone completely off my rocker, and taken Shirley with me - - - well I have. However, you will understand a bit more about Brunhilda and Borris if you look here.
For my old timers, there are still more B & B posts on the way - - -
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22 comments:
I love the quilt. It sort of has a pixelated look to it. My great grandmother was a quilter and left a quilt to me when she passed. However, my first husband put it through the washer and dryer and it all fell apart. You will only have to imagine what I said to him after THAT!
Di
Keetha you have me drooling on my screen. I don't quilt - but wish I could - but I have lots of them. Good ones and falling apart ones. Shirley's quilt is gorgeous! I love the history behind it.
Her quilt is so lovely! I love how there is so much history in it!!! Okay, your bears are freakin adorable!!!! What a fun idea!
those bears will be able to knit in days! love that quilt and story.
Have been wondering when the bears would come out of hibernation!!! Whew...I was worried that they might have travel sickness from feasting out of garbage cans along the way.
I LOVE those quilts!!! WOW...what a nice way to relive past memories.
I have made a few quilts, always want to make more...but
This one is very nice, lots of work!!
I AM a quilter (among other things) and attempted Cathedral Windows ONCE! Drove me NUTS! Ok, I was much younger then and had kids and a hectic life....but the process for this quilt is tedious and fine. Shirley ROCKS! Georgeous work and a patient teacher of bears, too.
Too bad you're not having any fun on your vacation!
Hugs,
Jan
I can only imagine the work that was put into this quilt. What a wonderful piece of art and history she has created.
What a great idea to teach the bears! They may just have some time to work on a quilt for you, Miss Keetha :)
That is a beautiful quilt. My Mom quilts and I can appreciate the work in that. I love these 'scrap' quilts with the wonderful history and memories attached. Glad B & B got a lesson!!
Like you, I don't quilt or sew or knit - anything that involves threading a needle in fact. But if I had to choose one thing you Americans (well, some of you)do best in all the world, quilting is it. Your cousin's quilt, already so long in the making, is well on its way to becoming a priceless family heirloom. B & B better be taking notice!
Keetha, sorry I've been MIA. Life seems to enveloped much of my time and has left little opportunity to hop around to visit. Cute post and beautiful quilt. ~ Sarah
I do quilt now and then. Which means I finished one and am working on the second for a few years now. I though I would never be able to finish it to show it on my blog. But now I have hope again!!! Your cousin worked 30 years on this one so I'm not hopeless. She made a real masterpiece and what a sweet memory's this brings for your family. I love it.
I enjoy all your post, but this is my very, very favorite. You see, I do not sew either, but dearly love quilts. I have so many. Old and new. This one is truly a work of art. Thanking you for sharing this with us.
OH Fabulous!!! my MIL Quilts, and so I have a appreciation for the work involved but I don't have the patience to do it myself.
I love the cathedral window quilt and hers is beautiful. What love and memories are stitched together.
What a beautiful Quilt. I love that cathedral window design...i love the stories behind each little scrap of cloth...what an hairloom quilt this is. I would keep that one in the family since it has so much meaning.
The cathedral window is a beautiful quilt.....I do some quilting however this is way over my head..... your Aunt did a great job. Trish
Lovely quilt and so many memories!
Aunt Ferol? I remember that name, and what comes after it. I'd forgotten that you were related to her.
Great quilt, great memories.
What a treasure! The quilt, the fabric, and Cousin Shirley! My grandmother had her own quilt pattern, I have 2 of them, and my mother's dresses are carefully sewn into the leaves of that pattern. One of my most prized possessions!
What a beautiful quilt. How awesome to have all those treasured fabrics on it.
Hats and thimbles off to Cousin Shirley. I have tried this pattern and given it up as wayyy too time consuming for my taste. And I don't do quick quilts, ever. But this one is lovely, full of memories. Sort of like a scrapbook to wrap up in.
Thanks for sharing!
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