This is Lucy's Flower Garden
I wanted to share my one of my Mom's quilts as an entry in the Blogger's Quilt Festival. As my podcast listeners know, my Mom, Lucy, was a prolific quilter who lost her battle with Alzheimer's almost 2 years ago. She is my inspiration in life and in quilting. I like to think her creativity still lives on through me and my crafty sisters.
My mom never entered her quilts into a show, but she really should have. She did beautiful work, and I hope she was as proud of it then as I am now. As she was creating her many quilts, I appreciated them on a purely artistic and functional level - each member of our family was kept warm by mom's loving handwork. Now that I'm a quilter, I have an even deeper understanding of the talent and hard work it took to create these quilts.
Most of Mom's quilting was done by hand. Yes, the queen size flower garden quilt you see above was pieced and quilted 100% by hand. I get a little faint just thinking about it. Each of those pieces are little. She did some machine piecing, but not much. And, all of her quilts were finished by hand.
The Flower Garden was one of her favorite patterns, and she made many different varieties of them. You can see another example below:
Most of Mom's quilting was done by hand. Yes, the queen size flower garden quilt you see above was pieced and quilted 100% by hand. I get a little faint just thinking about it. Each of those pieces are little. She did some machine piecing, but not much. And, all of her quilts were finished by hand.
The Flower Garden was one of her favorite patterns, and she made many different varieties of them. You can see another example below:
I think she was a hand-quilter mostly because that was how she was taught. Truly, her mother and grandmother made quilts from scraps of clothing as a means to keep their family warm. Plus, by hand-quilting, she could always have a project going in the living room, spending time with her family, while still enjoying her quilting. It also made most of her projects portable. Heck, Mom was multi-tasking before the word was even invented!
My sisters and I entered the Lucy's Flower Garden quilt in our Guild's recent show, and it made us all so happy and proud to see her work represented there.
My boys are quite attached to the quilts she made them, and love Lucy's Flower Garden in particular. After I washed it and placed it in a pillowcase prior to delivering it to the show, they mourned its disappearance. When it returned after the show, it was like an old friend came home. I love that we still have a way to feel mom's warm embrace through her legacy of quilts.
Want to see more awesome quilts, please visit Amy's blog, and the Blogger's Quilt Festival.
22 comments:
It's Fabulous! These quilts are always so inspiring... hand quilted huh? god bless her!
This is a fabulous quilt. Something I will not be able to make!
It's great your family has such treasures from your mother.
The quilt is just fantastic! And so is the sweet story. How nice you have something so special to hold the memory of your mom.
Le trapunte fatte a mano sono le più belle e le più preziose!
Ciao
Domenica
My sympathies on the loss of your beloved mother. It is wonderful that she was so present in your lives that her quilts are missed when they are away from home! These are gorgeous quilts, a true heirloom. Thanks for sharing your quilt's story :)
Beautiful quilt - thank you for sharing! Through her quils she will always be there with your family!
I know your mom is happy you all love and use her quilts. I know she's happy to have passed down a love of quilting to you and your sisters. And mostly, I know she is so proud of the mom that you are to her grandsons.
Love ya
Donna
Beautiful beautiful quilt! Wonderful memories of a dear Mother.
Gorgeous quilt! Thank you for sharing your mother's story. So nice that you have these beautiful quilts to remember her by.
This is a beautiful quilt and so special because your mum made it. My Mum is getting to the final stages of Alzheimers at the moment and it is very hard. Thanks for sharing your mother's amazing quilt.
It's a beautiful quilt! I think it's extra special because of what you shared. Very special. Thanks for letting us have a glimpse of such specialness!
Alovely story and a lovely quilt.
Thank you for sharing your Mom's quilt! It's AMAZING! I think I might be a little faint too! =)
This is so beautiful and amazing! What a wonderful and talented lady your mommy was!
Thanks for sharing!
Genevieve
Wonderful in so many ways. Thanks for sharing it with us!
Your mother sounds like a wonderful woman. How great to have her influence on your life!
Thankyou for sharing her work, it's beautiful.
Lucy's Flower Garden is beautiful and is an inspiration to MANY! Thank you for sharing this gem!
As another motherless daughter, I know how special it is to celebrate mom by sharing the things she touched. I love the quilt, but even more, I love that it's your mother's quilt. So nice of you to share your quilts, blog and podcasts with all of us -- we can't get enough!
I saw this link (got to it via LizzieB creative somehow) http://www.thequiltedfish.typepad.com/ and immediately thought of you. Hope you enjoy it.
Jaye
http://artquiltmaker.com/blog
Gorgeous quilt and a great heirloom piece :)
Thank you for sharing the quilt and the story. I cherish the quilt made for me by my mother and my great grandmother's quilt as well. I'm sure my children and grand children will value my work as well as my daughters are quilters too.
blogger's quilt is a wonderful idea, look like you had fun
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