Quilt Qwazy
Only Quilters can stretch an International Quilting Day into a week. The wonderful Marian of Seams To Be Sew has gathered a whole bunch of Qwazy Quilters to share their joy.
We were asked to share what inspired us, our first projects and why we love quilting.
These lovely ladies - my mother and her 5 sisters - were a constant in my life and an inspiration. They were hard workers who loved to talk, laugh and a have good cuppa tea. They were all sewers and all stitched quilts. I remember being very young and stitching on a treadle machine when one of them dropped in on my mother and asked why she was letting me use the machine because I might stitch the needle in my finger. Her reply was "how else is she going to learn". I don't remember pricking my finger and I was always at the machine.
They stitched quilts for babies, brides, family members, celebrations and community fundraisers but primarily for warmth and coziness. Their early quilt fabric would be leftovers from old clothing or garments they stitched. Nothing went to waste.
When my mother turned 75 we surprised her with a quilt created by blocks contributed by family and friends. It became one of her treasures and she spent many hours looking at the blocks. But it was 'too good to use' so had an honored place hanging on the wall for all to see.
Each block was different and had special memories.
In her stash my mother had a lot of embroidered umbrella ladies. These became a quilt for her youngest granddaughter.
We make Graduation Quilts for our nieces and nephews. One of the ladies became a special block in another Granddaughter's quilt as she left high school last year.
The aunts were always creating.
This Dresden Plate is one of my favorite earlier quilts. It is showing its age. Our fabric choices mature and today we would never use so much polyester.
This is a music quilt stitched for my musical brother. Took me a while to collect all the right notes.
Perfect cabin quilt for another brother.
This is my special quilt. Not fancy but so many memories because it was made from my mother's house dresses after she left us. Lives in this little shed my brothers built last year. I call it a "Stitching Shed". A little bit of heaven on the Bras d'Or.
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One of the nice aspects of Marian's blog hops are the lovely giveaways. The Fat Quarter Shop is giving everyone who makes a purchase a 10% discount. When you check out use the coupon code seamstobe316. The discount is not good on gift certificates and good for only one purchase per customer.
So check out all the goodies at today's featured bloggers and at SeamsToBeSew. And Marian always has an applique surprise gift. Make sure you leave a comment because we Qwilting Queens love to hear what you have to say.
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A Fat Quarter Bundle is the lovely gift offered by Timeless Treasures on my blog today. To enter just leave a comment on my blog and Tuesday some lucky person will win. Please make sure I am able to contact you.
Please join today's Qwazy Quilters and explore their inspirations.
March 21
QuiltShop Gal
TeaTime Creations ~ you are here ~
Ravelly
Meadowbrook
After You leave your comments at the above blogs
Stop In To Enter Only At
Seams to Be Sew
QuiltShop Gal
TeaTime Creations ~ you are here ~
Ravelly
Meadowbrook
After You leave your comments at the above blogs
Stop In To Enter Only At
Seams to Be Sew
This is a lovely post. You family sure has it's roots in quilting. I loved seeing all of your quilts. My fav is the one that you all made for your mom, then the one created from your mom's dresses.
ReplyDeleteLove your post! You are so fortunate to have such a rich quilting background! Thanks for sharing! mumbird3(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your history and wonderful quilts with us!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to have so many beautiful women share their love of sewing and quilting with you! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing , it is obviously in your blood!
ReplyDeleteIain.ross30 at gmail dot com
Thank you for sharing! I love hearing everyone's stories,and seeing their beautiful quilts.
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful quilts and all so meaningful!
ReplyDeleteSuch a delightful post! Thank you for sharing your rich quilting history! Do you come up to CB to visit your little stitching shed often? Where on the Bras d'Or? XO
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing your quilting pictures and for the awesome giveaway.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing heritage you have. Thank you for sharing. kmcassie at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful gift for your Mom! Love the stitching shed and great memories I am sure while making the quilt from her dresses.
ReplyDeletepatsystitch@gvtc.com
So many quilts with such wonderful memories. Sweet stitching shed.
ReplyDeleteSuch a wonderful story and such wonderful quilts!
ReplyDeleteGreat stories and lovely quilts...thank you
ReplyDeleteLoved the picture of your Mom and her sisters. They looked so fun I wanted to be part of the family. You are blessed.
ReplyDeleteMarvelous,your family has quilts for all occasions! Practical, sentimental and beautiful.
ReplyDeletenelljeancam@gmail.com
We Quilt Quazy Queens just love hearing your wonderful family quilt history. That's quilt inspiration:)
ReplyDeleteYou have a rich history of quilting, lucky! I have been a QQQ for 25 years
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful memories! It seems that each of us have family members who influenced us greatly. Loved reading your journey.
ReplyDeleteGreat story & great memories. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing these memories with us.
ReplyDeletesyvisser@gmail(dot)com
What awesome memories!
ReplyDeletesara.arno8@gmail.com
What a wonderful quilting heritage you have! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteVery very nice I also have 2 of my grandma's quilts....We are very lucky to have familys who taught us how to create things.... happyness04431@yahoo.com
ReplyDeletewhat a wonderfully rich and special history of stitching. thanks for sharing. quilting dash lady at comcast dot net
ReplyDeleteI have great family quilt memories also and try to make them for my extended family. Graduation and baby quilts are always in the pipeline. Thanks for your stories.
ReplyDeleteYou certainly had a lot of quilting inspiration in your family! It must be fun to have so many involved to share your work with them. I can just imagine all of those great quilty hugs.
ReplyDeleteI also come from a family of quilt makers. And I treasure the quilts my mother and grandmother made me. Thanks for sharing your story.
ReplyDeleteWow a lovely dedication page of your family of quilters. All of the quilts looked gorgeous. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteSo enjoyed reading about your mother and aunts and all the quilts they made.
ReplyDeleteForgot to leave my email address: martha_ogden@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI am the first quilter in my family. The family sure loves to get quilts though. They keep me busy. I have one granddaughter who loves to sew with me too when she is here.
ReplyDeleteMemories are stitched into every quilt aren't they...the good the bad and the ugly. That's what life is though. Love the stitching shed. A well deserved place to stitch and reflect!
ReplyDeleteI have yet to complete a quilt but I have several started. My grandmother was instrumental in teaching me to sew although she didn't quilt. I enjoyed your family history of quilting.
ReplyDeleteI loved learning about your family's quilting journey. Definitely sound like a family I'd love to be part of. What fun.
ReplyDeleteQuiltShopGal
www.quiltshopgal.com
Love your story about your mother and her sisters. I am the oldest of four girls and three of us quilt. One sister and I have gone on Shop Hops together-what fun. Thanks for sharing your wonderful family tale.
ReplyDeleteRosemary
Beautiful quilts! The Dresden plate is still on my bucket list, but it's moved up now that I've seen yours...I really want to work on one!!!
ReplyDeleteYou are so lucky to have such creativity in your family. I enjoyed reading your story.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful quilts. I enjoyed the family stories.
ReplyDeleteWhat fond memories you have of our family. I really admire the cabin quilt for you made for your brother. I seem to favor anything with houses of any sort on it. Nice post.
ReplyDeleteI don't have this type of creative family. I love to make quilts with piecing, paper piecing, hand embroidery, machine embroidery, and FMQ them myself. Your family quilts are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI love looking at all of your family quilts throughout the years! Thank you for sharing with us!
ReplyDeleteThis was such a sweet walk through your quilting memories! I laughed out loud when you mentioned polyester in quilts. My mom used a lot of that! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteTHANKS FOR SHARING! MY PASSION AS A QUILT QWAZY QUEEN IS TO MAKE BABY QUILTS FOR OUR LOCAL CHARITIES !
ReplyDeletemsstitcher1214@gmail.com
Great to hear about your journey. It's all about stitching with a little thread and a whole lot of love.
ReplyDeleteI had two grandmothers who sewed. One made quilts, the other made clothing, home decor, curtains, drapes, window treatments, upholstery. Thanks for the chance to win!(celiaambrose@hotmail.com)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful story of your family. They really created some beautiful memories!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing all those quilts. I'd love to study and hear the stories for all those blocks in the quilt made for your mom; such fun. Remembering mom is the next best thing to having her here.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your quilting journey. Love all the pictures!
ReplyDeleteThat was a really nice story. Love the Stitching Shed.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely photo of your mom and her sisters! And what a lovely quilt the family made for her.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful story- thank you for sharing it with us! I love the idea of a quilt from a loved one's clothes- such a useful way to keep those things near to us. Lovely!
ReplyDeleteWow - you and your family are certainly creative and prolific quilters. Awesome!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to have all that family history with sewing. I don't have that, but when I married I got a MIL who is an accomplished seamstress and quilter. So I have learned a lot from her in the last 30 years.
ReplyDeleteLove the family tradition of quilts, trying to continue it in my family. New Follower here, love blog hops they let me meet so many new quilters. crystalbluern at tds dot net
ReplyDeleteGood family memories. Love Timeless Treasures collections. Thank you for having this giveaway. 24Tangent@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteWonderful selection of quilts and I love the picture of your mom and her sisters and her 75 yr old quilt. How wonderful to have that inspiration behind you.
ReplyDeleteHow I wish I had mementos like clothes from my Mom to make myself a quilt!
ReplyDeleteHow I wish I had mementos like clothes from my Mom to make myself a quilt!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your stories and quilts...so much fun.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful blog post. Happy quilting.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your family memories.
ReplyDeleteLovely quilts. I made a Sun Bonnet Lady for one of my nieces as a wall hanging. I also love your stitching shed, I want one!
ReplyDeleteLove the stories. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLovely story and an awesome quilty shed.
ReplyDeleteYour mom and aunts look like a great bunch of ladies. Thanks for sharing your memories with us, they are special. vickise at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed reading about your quilt history and seeing all the lovely pictures and quilts. What a quilt legacy! Please leave my name out of the draw...just wanted to say hello and admire your quilts!
ReplyDeleteGosh, your mom and sisters are so lucky to have each other to share so many memories together. And so nice for you too! Thanks for sharing, and thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to have all your beautiful memories. No on in my family really sewed. I love your shed, I would live in it! I need a few brothers!
ReplyDeleteYour mom looks delighted! I recently surprised mine with a quilt for her 78th. Precious. Really enjoyed your post today!
ReplyDeleteOh, you are on Cape Breton Island! I would love to visit there someday...thank you for sharing your story. Your quilts are great!
ReplyDeleteLooooove your story & pictures! The quilts are Beautiful!!! Thank you for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteI so enjoy seeing everyones "trunk" shows...what a wonderful thing to be crazy about! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy hearing the stories behind quilts, it makes them extra special.
ReplyDeletejen dot barnard at btinternet dot com
Thank you for sharing these beautiful memories and quilts. What a wonderful legacy there is in your stitching family. Heart warming ... <3 Pat
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful story about "Family". Thanks for sharing. raydeer@memlane.com
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post. I have been sewing since I can remember and the story of your mom's quilt made me think of the quilt I made for my mother. I still have it and each block brings back wonderful memories.
ReplyDeleteRina
What a Blessing to have such wonderful roll models and how lucky your family is to be on the receiving end of such beautiful treasures (your quilts to each other).
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing. How wonderful for you to have such inspiration from your mom and aunts. My mom was my inspiration also. I have four sisters but I am the only one that sews.
ReplyDeleteI love your quilts. I need to make a music quilt for my husband, he play guitar. That is one he would love.
ReplyDeleteThis has been a fun hop around - your blog included! Always an adventure.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Jules
bestlock(at)aol(dot)com
Thanks for your lovely post. And now for the answer to the question: Qwazy, me?? I'll try anything and have been known to spend alot of time touching my fabric collection. Also like to dress up at quilting events!
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful memories and inspiring people you have/had in your life! Thanks for the opportunity to win!
ReplyDeleteYour quilts are beautiful Thanks so much for the wonderful inspiration
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to come from a quilting family! I don't have any family members who quilt, but I'm teaching my five-year-old granddaughter to sew. So I hope she will eventually be my quilting buddy.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful projects to go with those very special memories.It is so wonderful to be able to share something you love with others in your family.
ReplyDeleteVery lovely quilts! I especially like the last one in the Stitchin Shed. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLovely family memories and quilts. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteGreat post filled with wonderful memories and beautiful quilts.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful quilting journey shared within your family.
ReplyDeleteA great story which I'm glad you shared. Thank you for showing all these lovely generations of quilts.
ReplyDeleteIt was great to read your quilty story. Love seeing the love that is passed down through families. My love of quilting came from my grandmother.
ReplyDeletedebbygrawn at yahoo dot com
Nice way to look back and see how sewing skills, styles, and fabric choices change over time.
ReplyDeleteWow! A beautiful history of your family and quilting... Something to treasure indeed!!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun history there is in quilts and our lives. jarvenpa1ne(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother made quilts the old fashioned way - completely by hand.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Peggy
Peggy_verdongibbs@att.net
What a wonderful legacy. I have one quilt made by a great aunt that I treasure. otherwise, no one in my family sewed or did anything crafty or artistic. I have sewn since age 6 but all self taught. pjrquilter (at) msn dot dom
ReplyDeleteoops pjrquilter (at) msn dot com
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful story, you were lucky to have such beautiful ladies to give you inspiration and knowledge.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful peak into why you love to quilt. How wonderful that you all shared the same love.
ReplyDeleteWow! You really know how to inspire! Incredible stories! My mom wore "house dresses" too, but they were so worn out when she passed away a quilt wouldn't have held up.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I love the history of your love of quilting. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the lovely photos of your wonderful mother and your aunts. What a gift of love and beauty they all gave over the years.
ReplyDeleteYour stitching shed looks like a wonderful place to make more quilts and retreat from the world.
My email is: bestbelle2010@aol.com
Thanks!
What a lovely tribute to your mother! Thanks so much for sharing your story. It brings back memories of me own mother and all that she taught me.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely tribute and great legacy! pbstrand@msn.com
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing such a lovely story :)
ReplyDeleteMy apologies for commenting so late, but what an amazing history Rhonda, thank you so much for sharing it. I loved reading about it, seeing the quilts you've given, made and scraps used from other places..
ReplyDeleteI am impressed about all the quilters in your family. Not strange you are making lovely quilts. The quilt for your mother's 75 years anniversary, and the Graduation quilt is very special. It must be wonderful to get a quilt like that, it is filled with memories and love.
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely family history. Thanks for sharing it. I have 2 quilts that my great grandmother made. They are very special.
ReplyDeleteAnd to continue the tradition, Fran, you inspire me (your youngest sister). I love your quilts, and someday, my attempts at quilting may equal yours. :-) LOVE this post!
ReplyDelete