A Moment In Time...

Once in awhile in the midst of our busy lives something we do or something or someone we encounter takes us back in time.  To a Moment in Time, one that for whatever reason has memories that we hold dear to our heart.

I encountered one of these times this last week.  I made a doll quilt for Eden Jade.  The material has squares of different colors and appears to be a quilt block, so of course that was a lot easier.  Instead of quilting it by hand I used my sewing machine and also attached the binding.  I did finish it (fold the binding over and sew down) by hand and I must say it turned out really cute.  I know Eden Jade will love it.  There are a couple of pictures below of the finished product.

While I was working on this project I was taken back to moments in my childhood and in my teen years.  Mom was quite the quilter in our family.  She was always piecing and quilting.  I ran across a box full of pieced blocks not long ago that brought tears to my eyes.  She would sit for hours cutting out blocks and sewing them together and eventually quilting them. 

As I was growing up I remember thinking if she would only match her colors better she could sell her quilts for mega bucks.  But you know what I love my mismatched quilts that cry out my mom's name and I would not take a thousand dollars for any of them. 

As I was stitching down the binding on the doll quilt with my hands getting tired holding it, I thought how in the world did she hold those big ones and sew them and never complained.  I tell you how, a lot of love went into her quilts.  I sat there the other night and glanced at the one I have draped over the chair in our bedroom, there is no pattern to this particular quilt.  Each piece is a different size and it is all sewed together to form the quilt.  There are some big squares and some smaller ones along with rectangular shapes.  Looking closer though I realized each one of those pieces are made from dresses or blouses I remember mom wearing when I was little.  It actually is not quilted it is tacked with yarn which goes a lot faster.  I am almost sure if I took it apart inside I would find probably an old blanket instead of cotton batting.  You see to me this quilt tells a story.  A story of a lady who was making covers to keep her family warm during a time when money was tight.  She cut up some of her dresses and blouses to make the quilt top and put it together quickly.  A story of a lady who would do anything for her family.

I remember as I got older she always wanted me to quilt with her, but it just was not something that interested me.  I didn't ever have the patience to do a quilt, it was so big and took so long.  I wish now I would of joined in that might of brought us closer.  I can also remember those dang quilting frames hanging in the living room.  I was so excited when I was in 3rd grade we moved to Northlake and we had a basement.  Unfortunately they were hung above the pool table and as I grew up I looked at it as an embarrasement.  Ohhh I would give anything to have her and her quilting frames in my living room right now.  Funny how our outlooks change as we grow older.  I know in my heart as I finished Eden's doll quilt she was smiling from above and I know she will tell me what a great job I did at a later moment in time.

"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:2-3

until next time... nel