Long Distance Quilt Delivery

We’ve been incredibly lucky to have our grandchildren grow up close to us.  But things do change.  Grandson Brandon now lives in Atlanta with his mom.  I’m glad he’s there, but we obviously miss him.  He painted his bedroom some lovely shades of green with burgundy accents.  I’ve made him quilts before, and of course had to make one celebrating this move.  

I went to the fabric store with his paint chips and put together a bundle of fabrics.  As I was checking out, the woman asked if I was working on Christmas projects.  And did that ever throw me off.  Christmas?  No!! Wise quilt buddy Sarah S suggested adding navy into the mix.  And was she ever right! As I worked on the quilt, I had to switch from the design wall to the design floor.  Although. It exactly an improv project, I had to see and keep track of what I was doing as I segued from one color to another.  Once the top was finished, I used the dining room floor to lay out the backing and batting.  And then I began to hand quilt like crazy, trying to finish it for an ore-Easter drive to Atlanta.  You’ve heard of day drinking?  For me I was day hand quilting, an activity normally for evenings. And since I now know how to make pillow cases, Brandon got two pillowcases as well! 

It was gratifying to see how nicely this quilt looks in Brandon’s room, and even more gratifying that he announced he well he slept and how nice it feels.  His mom is going to wash it and get it even more puckery and textured.  This quilt was an immensely fun and satisfying project! 

Generations and Talents

 I have always loved books that span generations.  And here I am, part of the oldest generation and able to see three generations after me.  I was so lucky to have a mother who sewed and encouraged me to use her machine, which I still have - a 1948 Singer Featherweight.  So I have always sewn.  I took that machine to college with me.  My sister knows how to sew, but it’s just not her thing.  When my brothers and sister had children, I then had 5 nieces who were all pretty close in age.  When the girls were in junior high and high school, I invited them for summer quilt camps.  With the help of the good quilting fairies (my mom and my two sisters-in-law), the girls made quilts with me for four summers.  Well, almost all the girls.  Niece Jennifer politely declined to be a part of these quilt camps.  

Ali was so little her foot almost didn’t reach the pedal. Ah, the look on their faces.

Candace, who is now a Lt. Col in the Marines took her sewing very seriously.  So did Laura, who now has five children, and Leslie (with her braids), a wedding and makeup artist. 

One summer Laura had an Irish exchange student at the house, and Lauren joined in!  

But let me get back to generations.  Niece Jen, the nonquilter, is a dancer and instructs all the things - dance, Pilates, choreography.  Her talent is movement and not fiber.  Which is okay, right?  But her daughter Eloise has discovered her talent at creating. Look what she just completed!

And best of all, she liked finger knitting.  I asked Elo and her grandmother, my sister, for a demo of how finger knitting is done…

I feel so connected to my grandmother Eloise Sheehan White, and I love that four generations later great niece Eloise is carrying on a tradition in fiber that may have skipped her mom! I am so impressed with Elo’s finger knitting that I’ve decided I want to try it, too.  My mom was a great knitter, and she led me through some projects at which I failed - perhaps it’s a left-handed thing. But if great niece Eloise can do this, perhaps I can too!