Monday, October 29, 2007

Quilts


I think my mother has about 3000 cousins, but I know very few of them because we haven't all stayed within the same 90-mile spread of countryside like my husband's family. (but that's another post) The only one I really feel like I know is my C'auntie J, who has recently started her own blog, called Still Waters Run Deep. She is a special-education teacher, mom to twin 18 yr old girls, church worker and an all around great person. As evidenced by the fact that she is making me a quilt. Maybe I didn't put quite the right emphasis on that. She is MAKING ME A QUILT! Now really, how many people on this earth would just do that for their first cousin once removed. Not many, folks, and that's why C'auntie J is getting a big bloggy hug from me. Please stop by her blog and tell her "hi". Who knows, maybe she'll make you a quilt too. (Just Kidding, C'J, don't have a heart attack please.)

Which brings me to my own abysmal failure at the handicrafts in general and quilting in particular. (Yes, Grandma, I'm about to say something bad about myself. Don't worry, I'm OK, really.) I have this quilt I cut out and pieced before Zaya was born (that would be a little over three and a half years, if you're keeping track). It's been pinned to its batting and back fabric since that time, but only partially quilted when I happened to have it at Auntie M's house one time. A lady in our community here showed me how to hand quilt so I can try to finish it, but let me just tell you how easy hand-quilting isn't. My stitches look like they were made by a three year old. Not just any three year old, but one with absolutely no small motor skills at all. None. At all. I'm serious. So, I think I'll be taking my quilt over to the house of this lady. (Who happens to be the new dorm mommy that took our place) and ask her to let me use her sewing machine...and knowledge...and abilities, maybe. I'm truly pitiful. (The quilt in the picture above is mine. It's made with fabrics from my wedding dress and the dresses of my attendants. It's baby-sized.)

7 comments:

aftergrace said...

Merci for the big bloggy hug!
It's always a pleasure to make quilts for those who are as sweet as you. When your quilt arrives it will be filled with hugs from me.
p.s. I really love the quilt you are making from your wedding memories. Don't give up, handstitching is an art (of which I have not exactly mastered myself)
xxoo

JAM said...

I love hand made quilts as much as any girl. But that type of work would have me batty in about half a day. Hat's off to your C'auntie J, both for her patience and the fact that SHE'S MAKING YOU A QUILT!

That's cool.

I always wanted to draw, and I'm a GREAT drawer if what you want to see is stick people. That's why I gravitated toward a camera. I can see things that I want to turn into art but couldn't draw or paint them to save my life.

I know this quilt will be special to you too.

Anonymous said...

All this talk of handicrafts reminds me that I still owe Mim a sock monkey! I'm getting right to work on that.

Unknown said...

Quilts are such an awesome legacy. We are using my wedding dress to make a dress for our Ladybug's dedication at church. It's this Sunday and I hope the dress is done in time!!! (my SIL's mom is doing the sewing)

Have a blessed day!

Unknown said...

Wow, did my comment make any sense? I'm sick and been taking care of the baby all day, so I'm exhausted. Just excuse the mumblings...

Qtpies7 said...

I can't quilt either, but I'm not even going to try. I would cry to see my wedding dress cut up.

Crissybug said...

My best friend DID cut up her wedding dress and made a full size quilt with it. It actually turned out beautifully, and in all reality she gets more use out of it now than when it was sitting in the closet.