Quilting, memories saved..

This month we have been on a new adventure..

A dear friend of over 30 years who is now in her 80’s invited us to help her restore a quilt that is over 120 years old.  It was raveling because of the age of the fabrics.

This amazing quilt was hand done by her father’s mother..Back in those days her grandmother embroidered her children’s initials on separate blocks.

She also embroidered flowers on many of the squares. On one square there are little chicks. The whole quilt is pieced in the crazy quilt fashion and the pieces are ALL hand embroidered together.

Being a seamstress I noticed how well these fabrics have held up for over 120 years!

Very well made, high quality fabric.  The main fabrics that seemed to be in tatters was a black velvet that she embroidered some of her children’s initials on and a cream silk piece, where only the warp of the weave was left in tact, there was no weft or latitudinal weave left on that cream silk, interesting…

Also, being a needlewoman, the intricate embroidery stitches, and the variety of stitching, this dear woman was clearly a detail oriented woman. And a patient woman..she literally worked this quilt in patience.  She also was an industrious woman, this quilt was stitched on many a day and took many hours.

Being a mother this quilt speaks of a mother’s love for EACH of her children, how each is special and unique..This quilt is a treasure to my dear friend for many of these reasons on top of it’s visual beauty…

Another project she enlisted us to do was a little dutch girl quilt that her mother appliqued.  Many of the blocks were done by her mother and she enlisted some other women to make more to be enough for a quilt.  This quilt, we will stitch together with sashing and will put a back and then I will machine quilt it.

We are in process on this quilt, but it will be a precious memory of her mother to her.  She also mentioned to us how some of the fabrics she recognized from her childhood as her mother’s aprons and a neighbor lady’s aprons! How fun is that!

It is a joy to work on these because of their history and the love that is sewn into them.

It is also a joy to bring joy to our dear friend! She is a treasure to us! We love you Mama A!!!

 

Travels and lessons

The Lord has been good to us.  He is always good, but through my human eyes sometimes I perceive Him as good when a desire is filled, or a trial has been put behind me..

Oh how faithless I am, but He is always faithful.

2015 was a huge year, so huge I hardly had time to chronicle it.  2016 started off with a trip to Florida and a much needed surgery for my husband… A trial and a gift..sometimes the trial shadowed the gift..

While we were gone my adopted mother fell, had emergency surgery, and is now in a nursing home, the very last place she ever wanted to be.  A trial, a sore trial, my heart breaks for her, but rejoices in her sweet spirit and her resignation to the Lord of her life..She continues to teach me as she goes through her trials..

Airboat ride with very generous friends..a desire of a life time..any one remember Flipper???  Time discovering with family..home education at it’s best…and time reconnecting with family..Joys..beauty..

The richness in life is contained in the relationships, in the giving of oneself to others..sharing your hearts, joys, sorrows, fears, victories..

Reminds me of a favorite hymn:

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word

what a glory He sheds on our way.

When we do His good will, He abides with us still and with ALL who will trust and obey..

The light of His word..

Love the Lord your God with all your heart soul mind and strength, and Love your neighbor as yourself..

I have always wanted to be accepted, to be loved no matter what..God loves me..and in giving love to others, I have received much much more than I have given..

The Love of the Father is manifested in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us..Such love..such love

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

first was from my heart, where His Spirit has graciously taken up residence, and the second is the actual, word for word, from the King James version of the Holy Bible.

I ramble..but that happens when I am filled with wonder..