Discarded Baby Quilt

Today I was out bumming around.  I've been looking in antique  and resale shops for a couple of items to use in my porch and garden.  Today I hit the jackpot at a little antique store in Ball Ground, GA and found exactly what I was looking for. 

Then I turned and I saw this darling, little baby quilt.

I have to say it tugged at my heart.  Someone, at some time, took the time to embroider and sew this sweet little quilt together  for a baby - most likely a little boy.  And, now here it was sitting in a rather junky little antique store. 

Puppies or pigges?  I think puppies!

It makes me wonder.  Who made it?  A young mother?  A grandmother?  Auntie?  Friend?

Was it ever used? 

Did a little child drag his/her "blankie" behind them, needing it to sleep and find comfort?

Little ducks

I carefully washed it.  It is in great condition.  And, I have no idea of the age of it.

Little chicks

Being a quilter, it always breaks my heart to see quilts dumped in resale stores and antique stores.  I shudder to think that someday some of my quilts will find their way into Goodwill.  I know how hard I work on a quilt and if I am making it for someone special in life - how much love I sew into each stitch.

How did it end up here, at this store?  I fail to understand how this baby quilt wasn't passed down (but, then I feel that way about all discarded quilts).

Kitty faces
 

For now I will keep this sweet, little quilt.

Maybe some day a little boy will be born and I will give it to his mother as a gift. 

But, I will make darn sure she appreciates the age of it, the love that was probably sewn into it and loves quilts  - both new and old.

Puppy face

WOMEN OF COURAGE QUILT

I've been slowly working on a Block of the Month quilt based on famous women in American history.  Windham Fabrics are used in this beautiful quilt designed by Denise Libscomb.  I won't go into how tiny the fabric has to be cut and how frustrating I find it working with tiny pieces of fabric, but I will say making this quilt is very inspirational!

What I do want to talk about is the women this quilt represents.   Each month I receive the instructions along with fabric to make two identical blocks.  Plus, I receive a short biography of the woman the blocks represent.  Most of the women I am familiar with - Susan B. Anthony,
Sojourner Truth, Mother Theresa, Amelia Earhart, Helen Keller, Corrie Ten Boom, Sacajawea, Rosa Parks and Christa McAuliffe. 

But, there are several fascinating women I never heard of (I am ashamed to say):

Nancy Wake - Member of the French resistance during World War II
Bessie Coleman - First woman African American pilot
Maude Finch - Ambulance driver during World War I
Mary Edward Walker - First woman to be awarded the Medal of Honor
Mary Roberts Wilson - First woman to be awarded the Silver Star
Madelaine de Vercheres - A Canadian girl who held off the Iroquois and saved a fort of women and children.

All of the women represented in the quilt were brave and remarkable women.  Women who faced danger, helped others, lived their beliefs and overcame insurmountable odds.  Some, like Bessie Coleman, Amelia Earhart and Christa McAuliffe died trying to achieve their goals or doing what they loved.  The sacrifices these women made are incredible. 

If you have a chance, take some time to read and learn about the women listed above that you don't know.  You will be amazed.  And, they might prompt all of us to follow our dreams, fight for what we believe in and be better women.

I'm Turning Into My Parents!

Mom ( Geneva), me and my dad (Verlon), Christmas 1996

It's not a bad thing.  It actually makes me laugh sometimes when I find myself doing what my father did or, I swear, when my mother's voice comes out of my mouth!   I think the older we get the more we tend to "turn into" our parents to some extent.  Fortunately, in my case, it is mainly a good thing.  I had wonderful parents.

For years my sister, Linda, has told me I walk just like my mom.  I know this is true.  Being retired I find myself wanting to bake more often, which is something my mother enjoyed.  I find myself using her phrases or doing something the exact way she would have done it.  I am starting to have hip and knee issues like she did.  My mom had  tons of health issues, so I hope I didn't inherit any more!  I am also impatient like my mom. I hope I have a good dose of her tenderness. I am definitely a "softie" as both mom and dad were.

Walking the dog with my daddy, April 1958

I get my love of walking from my father as well as my love of dogs.  Also, my love of nature.  I wish I had more of his "stingy-ness" although my mom sometimes had a better sense for business/finances than my dad did.  I think I have pretty good common sense, like both my parents.  My dad was a very romantic guy and I sure take after him in that aspect, too.  Being retired and on a very fixed income, I am learning their frugality.  Wish I would have learned it sooner! 

Now that I have a garage I find myself either pulling in too far or not far enough.  My grandpa had a rope tied from the rafters of his garage with a fishing "bobber" attached to the  end of it.  When the bobber hit his windshield he knew that is where he should stop the car.  Oh - I want grandpa's rope!  I chuckle every time I pull into the garage and think about it.  Someday I will figure out how to do it!  I can be bull headed like my grandma, too.  Not something I care to admit, and not as bad as my sisters (especially one in particular!).  My grandparents loved to entertain and enjoyed people, something I do, too.  My grandma also loved to feed people her great cooking.  While I am not quite as good of a cook as she was, when I do bake or make a large batch of something, I enjoy sharing it with my neighbors. 

We are all a blend of who not only "made" us genetically, but who raised us.  It's our choice to keep the good and discard the bad, if we can.  Heredity health problems or the color of our eyes we can't easily change, but mannerisms, actions and thoughts we can.  My friend David grew up in a divorced family.  His father was a lousy dad, which had a profound affect on David both as a child and as an adult.  David continually battles his lack of self confidence and self worth.  Yet David is a truly wonderful parent to his daughter.  When I asked him about this he said, "Every time I wonder about how to do something or handle a situation with my daughter I think about what my father would have done and do the opposite."  It seems to have worked.  David has changed his family dynamics in a very positive way.  His daughter, who will be going to college soon, is a very sweet, thoughtful and self confident young woman.

I come from a long line of strong women and have called on their strength to help me through the bad times as well as the good.  I also come from a long line of gentle and tender men, strong in their own right, but able to show love.  For this, I am thankful.

So, turning into my parents can be a good thing.  Well . . .  maybe!