If we were in the 17th century marraige mart, we would be snatched up by admiring beaus, for sure! This trip home has been memorable by the amount of embroidery I've accomplished. Mom is an adept needlewoman, and her hobby has rewarded all the gals in the family with delightful dishtowel sets over many years. Her stitched treasures go back as far as projects she did while living in her first married abode - a large tent on a hillside in Bay City. Having learned the art from her mother, Grandma Pearl, she has passed on the love of beautiful and skillfully done needlework to her daughters. That would be me!
One of our Mill's Family Reunion traditions has become the the family quilt project. Lydia Jane Mills, known as Grandma Groce, was a quilter - many family members cherish samples of her wonderful, colorful old quilts. One of her spectabular Lone Star quilts, donated by the family, now resides in the Latimer Quilt and Textile Center Quilt Repository in Tillamook. It is occasionally on display, having been in a show in Washington DC on one instance. This quilt is retrieved from the Center and displayed at each Mills Reunion, as a memento to honor our ancestress, and to encourage the art of quilting in our younger generations.
Hence the Family Quilt project.
For each reunion (held every even year), a Quilt Coordinator chooses a pattern and fabric, and those who wish to participate help make the necessary blocks. The blocks are returned to the coordinator in a timely manner (mostly), for her (and one time, HIM), to assemble and finish. The quilt is then displayed and raffled at the next reunion, providing funds for the kitty as well as a wonderful sample of family skills and memories for some lucky person to enjoy.
Cousin Carey Morris-Hart provided the 2010 Quilt of Windblown Sunbonnet Girl pattern and fabric packets for the next quilt. This is an applique project, which some of us found a bit daunting. Especially for beginning quilters, like sister-in-law Diane.
But there is strength in numbers - sharing tips as well as having an audience to hear your latest sewing challenge, making the time fly with laughter and cups of tea.
Becky, Diane and I gathered around mom's kitchen table to begin the task, and with a couple of follow-up sessions we were successful in finishing our blocks - a whole year ahead of schedule, for once!
Diane's " Pinkie girl".
All that's left on Diane's next two ladies are the embroidered embellishments,
Here are my four little girls, as well as a recently finished embroidery project - two flour sack toweling Bread Basket liners adorned by the colorful butterflies.
We are eminently marketable, ladies! Pricked fingers and all.
1 comment:
Beautiful work! One of these days I want to learn to piece a quilt and quilt it. ONE of these days...
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