Friday, 17 October 2008

Auntie P's Quilt

I would like to share with you a story I wrote about my wall hanging which hangs in the den. I will condense it for my post and hope you will enjoy reading it; maybe even be inspired somehow.

AUNTIE P's QUILT

Times were hard, but life was a little simpler back in the early 1950's. Those were the days when young women were taught by their mothers and grandmothers to crochet, knit, sew, and quilt in preparation for their futures and their own families.

Almost everything in that day was either handmade or homemade.

And so it was, in the early 1950's, that my aunt was a young bride and expecting her first baby.

I can almost see her and my beloved grandmother sitting out on the veranda, sipping cold homemade lemonade and enjoying each others company as they worked tirelessly on the many baby clothes, quilts, and necessities.
During that time my aunt had made five quilts. One quilt, she designed herself and she called it the "Star Quilt." She pieced the quilt together and my grandmother helped her to quilt it.

Each quilt was pieced and then sewn together with love and the pride of a job well done. They were works of art and served my aunt's family for many years.

The "Star Quilt," my aunt passed down to me. I used it until it was too delicate and threadbare for use and for many years, it remained unseen and unused in the linen closet.

Then one day, I thought it would be nice to display it as a wall hanging.

So I commissioned one of my daughters-in-law to salvage what she could and turn the quilt into a beautiful wall hanging. While making the wall hanging, she was able to save three star pieces which I framed for each of my daughters-in-law.

For Christmas 2005, I presented each of my two daughters-in-law with a framed star piece and a copy of my story which I hope they will treasure always.
The third star piece I have in safe keeping until my youngest son finds himself a bride.