Family heirloom

(I was still catching up from our trip last week, and then I came down with the worst head cold I’ve had in a while. My weekend flew by in a cold medicine induced haze.

So I’ve decided to take it easy on myself this week by doing something unconventional. Each day, I’ll be telling you about one of my favorite things. If you have a blog, I’d love to read about the things you own that bring you happiness. Even if you don’t have a blog, you can share yours in the comments. I could use a little cheering up to get me through this cold.)

My mom has been a quilter for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid, I was fascinated with her work. I remember watching her stitch together beautiful patterns from tiny pieces of fabric and wishing I could do the same.

When I was 15 years old, I asked her to teach me to quilt. I carefully chose the fabrics for this quilt. Since it was my first, my mom recommended that I go with simple squares instead of an intricate pattern. I spent a summer cutting pieces and sewing together the quilt top.

Then I turned 16, and I finally got my driver’s license. I had reached the age where I was rarely home, and my finished quilt top ended up in a box with my mom’s unfinished quilting projects.

My mom particularly loved this quilt top, and she wanted to see it completed, but quilting wasn’t really a top priority for me as I finished high school and college. So imagine my surprise when my mom brought this finished quilt to my wedding rehearsal dinner. She had turned my quilt top into a beautiful finished quilt as a surprise wedding gift.

I love that my mom and I made this quilt together almost as much as I love its beautiful, soothing blue colors. Now that I’m a little older, I’ve taken up quilting myself, but this will always be my favorite because it was my first.

5 thoughts on “Family heirloom

  1. Laura @ PARING DOWN

    Hi, Karen.

    I am truly enjoying cleaning out my home. It feels SO GOOD to keep the essentials and get rid of the rest. My head feels clearer, my eyes more rested, and my soul more relaxed. It’s wonderful!

    Hope you feel better soon…

    P.S. I have a beautiful “grandmother’s flower garden” quilt with yellow centers and lots of pink in it in a twin size. It was made by my great grandmother, and is GORGEOUS and happy!

    :) Laura
    .-= Laura @ PARING DOWN´s last blog ..Simple Pleasures: Crab Apple Blooms =-.

  2. Cathy

    When I was about eight years old a quilting craze went on in my house. My mom was quilting, my oldest brother and his girlfriend were quilting and my brother and I decided to get on board too. He made a quilt out of all my mom’s scrap fabric. I chose green florals and made a quilt for my 80 something year old godmother. It was so fun. When she died, she made sure I got the quilt back. My kids used it until a few years ago when the batting started clumping up (I used yarn to keep layers togethers rather than actually quilting it all together since I was only 8). I wanted to throw it out but after hearing the story on the quilt, the kids would not allow it.

    What a beautiful quilt and memories to bring cheer and love to your home. Thanks for sharing this week. I am enjoying the good reads.
    .-= Cathy´s last blog ..Rheumatoid Arthritis Update ~ Tough Decisions =-.

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