Saturday, May 7, 2022

Quilting by check, and remembering Mom

When I pay someone else to do the quilting, it actually gets done.  Here is my finished version of Gay Bomer's Heartfelt. I finished the binding a few days ago.

It fits a queen bed, if you don't need a pillow tuck, which I never use on my own bed. Haven't decided on the destination for this quilt yet. Maybe it is already there.

I just tossed it over my bed for this photo, and I got it a bit crooked. Sorry. It really bothers me to look at it--I want to reach out and straighten it, like I would a picture on someone's wall. I didn't see the "crookedness" until I uploaded the photo to my computer. But I was too lazy to repeat the process to get a photo that wasn't crooked. 

I folded it back a little to get a photo of the backing fabric. Yup, those are bees. On the back of this staid, Civil War repro quilt there is a swarm or two of bees livening things up.






And the day after I had finished the binding on that quilt, I got a call from the quilter that my next one was finished. This had been aging in my storage for over 22 years. I love what she did with it!
Here is a closer view of the quilting.
This was made using the Wyoming Valley Star block pattern, and it was chosen for a very specific reason. Twenty-five years ago our family participated in a re-enactment of the 1847 crossing of the plains from Nebraska to Utah, representing our pioneer ancestors who were part of that experience. Our family spent 4 days and 5 nights with the trek, and we were on that journey through part of the state of Wyoming. Hence the choice of the Wyoming Valley Star block.

For months leading up to our trek experience I had been sewing clothing for the family using patterns that people have drafted from actual clothing of that era. I made 2 dresses for myself and each of our 2 daughters (nothing like making dresses from modern patterns), and after making a shirt each for my husband and our two sons, I hired someone to make the rest of their clothes. I was burned out. It was the scraps from the dresses, aprons, bonnets and shirts that became this Wyoming Valley Star quilt. 
Here we are in all our costumed glory, posing in the surrey (with the fringe on top) which our local dentist used for his family to travel on the trek. We were part of the handcart company, and walked between 14 to 22 miles per day--with a handcart in tow.
Crazy to think the children in this photo are in their 30s and 40s now! 

I wish all mothers a good Mother's Day. It isn't about having been a perfect mother. It is about doing your best to love and nurture. This is my first Mother's Day without my mother. I know I am not alone in that. It is a bit lonely to not be sharing this day with her. She was a good mom, and I know there were happy reunions in heaven when she "graduated".
This was a photo of Mom and me on our shared anniversary three years ago. Hubby brought flowers to each of us while I was helping her that day, and he took this photo of us. I prefer to remember her this way, rather than the frail little thing she had become when she passed. She was quick-witted, very good at word games, an avid quilter, reader, and gardener, an excellent seamstress, and crocheter, and she had beautiful handwriting--but she didn't like to cook. Miss you, Mom!

Until next time, be creative, and be kind.
Janet O.

32 comments:

  1. Your Heartfelt quilt is beautiful and I enjoyed the story about the Trek. As to your quilt that has been in hiding, another blog quilter friend uses the term "maturing nicely" and I think that is just splendid.

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  2. yes 'heartfelt' is beautiful....i do love the colors....so thankful you have precious memories...my mom is 95 and this could be our last here on earth, who knows...i count every day with her as precious...i know your faith will comfort you...

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  3. Both your quilts are beautiful. Your quilter did a great job with the quilting. I too am missing my mother. Mine has been gone 18 years and it seems like just yesterday. She was the kindest person I have ever know. I hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day. Hugs

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  4. I didn't see the anonymous on the comment page. The above comment was from me, Cathy Buel.

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  5. Your quilts are beautiful!! That’s a lovely tribute to your mom. Hugs,

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  6. What gorgeous quilts you have made! And what amazing memories you have made with your family!

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  7. What beautiful quilts! Congratulations on your finishes! As I age and time shrinks, I am turning more often to “quilting by check” for some of my larger projects and I think it’s a good thing. What a gorgeous header photo! And a lovely tribute to your mom!

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    1. Thank you, Gladi. I am with you on the thought of having more of my large projects quilted by others. It was an odd feeling to be hosted by my daughter, rather than hosting my mom for the first time in decades.

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  8. Both your quilts are stunning Janet & I love the story behind the 2nd quilt & all the effort you went to to sew period clothing for the trek ... what special memories. I also love the bees backing & how the quilter has quilted it for you. A beautiful photo & tribute to your dear late Mum. I have just returned from staying with mine again. xx

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  9. Two beautifully finished quilts.

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  10. Over 40 years since I could celebrate with my Mother. The quilts are amazing. Quilting by check was a great choice. I love the bees on the back. Didn't know you 25 years ago. What an experience to Trek in Wyoming. Hope your Mother's was Happy

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  11. What a wonderful post!! Your Heartfelt Quilt turned out beautifully as did the Wyoming Valley Star Quilt. Great provenance behind the Wyoming quilt and you all look so cute in your Pioneer clothes!! Beautiful picture of you and your Mom!!

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  12. Same here as with Cathy Buel!!

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  13. Oh my! Both quilts are fantastic. I just love the story behind the second one. Every time you look at that quilt you will remember that special day in time. I am sorry I didn't reach out to you yesterday. It is hard to be without our mothers on this first Mother's Day without them. Hugs to you and all your family.

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  14. Happy Mother's day to you too! Amazing quilts and great story about the trek! My great, great grandmother pulled a cart to Utah.

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  15. Sometimes it is totally worth paying someone to quilt for you. Both of the quilts are beautiful! I love re-enactments! This photo is wonderful!! The clothing is awesome!
    I understand this is likely a difficult first Mother's Day.

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  16. Such memories you all made making the vintage style clothes, during those few days.. . Compared to the months that our ancestors endured coming west, and then the beautiful quilt you created from your scraps of that clothing.

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    1. It seemed like a lot of work to make all that clothing for just a few days on the trail, but we did participate in another reenactment of another trek for a couple of days a few years later, and all but my husband spent years volunteering at our local American West Heritage Center, where the clothing came in very handy. In fact, I had to make more for my boys, because they grew up. :)

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  17. Your finished quilts are absolutely beautiful~ You're quilter really understands your style.
    I loved reading about your family reenactment of the Mormon Migration. I have the quilting history book on the subject. Your outfits and Surry are just wonderful.
    Beautiful photo of you and your Mother. I am sure it was difficult this first year.
    xoxo

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  18. These two quilts were finished beautifully by your quilter. She is sensitive to the style you like and interpreted each top wonderfully. I especially love the second quilt for its special family connections, both in the fabrics used and its commemoration of your reenactment journey all those years ago. A true memory quilt.

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  19. Two beautiful finishes! Lucky you to have access to such a talented quilter, too! I enjoyed hearing about the plains crossing journey - that must've been quite the experience. I'm with you, I would've burned out on all that clothing construction way before you did! Loved hearing your reminiscence about your mom and seeing your smiling faces together!

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  20. Janet your quilts are gorgeous. Nothing like bringing a UFO or two to fruition! Yes your friend did an amazing quilting job on the Wyoming Valley Star quilt. What a story! The remembrance of which will be held forever in this wonderful quilt.

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  21. I love both those quilts..........the quilt is beautiful and thankyou for telling the story about the second quilt.........wow making all those clothes........what a great experience to have as a family...........
    lovely pic of you and your mum........remember the good bits.........

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  22. A sweet tribute to your Mom. It is lonely sometimes without our Moms... no matter our age. I love both quilts but the second one really is truly special and so long in the making. Your machine quilter really worked magic. It's just a beautiful quilt and will always remind you of those Trek times and that history and time with your children. I think maybe we made bloomers and aprons, but I bought everything else. When David and I were asked to join a Trek as chaperones, that was an easy "no" from us, lol.

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  23. What a wonderful post, Janet! Doesn't it feel good to have two quilts finished??!! The older I get the easier it is to give my quilts to a longarmer for speedy finishes. Your quilts are beautiful! I love the photo of your family all dressed in period clothing. What a great experience it must have been to participate in that trek. I've always wanted to do something like that. That is a lovely tribute to your mom on Mother's Day :)
    .

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  24. STUNNING quilts!!! Nice story about your family history. Love the description of the walking.

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  25. Two amazing quilts Janet, they are quilted beautifully. Really enjoyed reading about the trek and the clothes making, that is some dedication! Lovely picture of you and your Mum.

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  26. Your quilts (and Trek clothes) are amazing, as was your Mother; I just read your post about your Quilting Roots.

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  27. Lovely tails to read about your quilting your trek through your ancestors trail and your mother. You are right she did a fabulous job on the quilting as well the dresses you made are just perfect and something that the family travels will always remember. I wonderful memory picture of you and your sweet mom who likes to cook if to cook if they can quilt

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  28. How fun--and challenging--to have done the trek. That's a beautiful family photo. And what a great idea to use the fabric from the dresses to make this beautiful quilt, Janet. I love how one block can look so different depending on the arrangement of colors and lights/darks.
    Heartfelt turned out great! Sometimes the only way to get a quilt finished is by check.

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    1. I came back to look at your bee fabric on the back. It seems perfect to me!

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