Re-Introductory Post

It has been a while since I have posted.  Life happened and very little quilting.  I am trying to carve out some time to get back to something I really enjoy.  Since it has been so long I wanted to repost my Introduction Post. 

I am a happily married, mother of two beautiful young children, and a quilting newbie.  My family has a long history of quilters.  Of the quilters in my family that I got to know and love, there was my paternal grandmother, Gladiola Meade, her daughter, Sandy Thomas, and most notably, my double maternal great grandmother, Lillian Kelly Yount, or Mom Mom as I called her.

I have fond memories of each of these women, all for different reasons.  Aunt Sandy was very industrious.  She made a living sewing for others.  When my sister and I were taking violin lessons, she made a killing making the little neck pillows and an elastic band that make it more comfortable for kids to play. 

Mammaw (Gladiola) was what I consider a mountain woman.  She knew everything there is to know about herbs, gardening, cooking, and could make pretty quilts out of all sorts of scraps.  She also taught me to crochet. 

Mom Mom was a very creative person.  She designed and helped build the house she and my Great Grandfather lived in until they died, including the kitchen cabinets. She made most of the furniture in the house, and even made the quilts to cover the beds she created with her own hands.  She farmed, went to church, crafted, and loved her family.  Is it any wonder these women are a great inspiration to me?

I have three or four of the quilts Mom Mom made that were handed down to me, each a special treasure.  As I started having kids, I started thinking about who would make a special quilt for them or their cousins now that all these wonderful quilters have passed.  So here I am.  I have completed two baby quilts for my nephews, one hand quilted and the other machine (I ran out of time).  I can’t say they would win any awards, but it is a start.  I am currently working on a quilt made out of my daughter’s receiving blankets.  I should be done soon.  I have only been working on it off and on for three years.  J  (Update- I finished this quilt.  You can read about it here.)

I made the jump and bought a Grace Z44 hand quilting frame.  Now, I just have to put it together!  Once my mom found this out, she gave me a quilt top my Mom Mom pieced but never had quilted and my grandmother offered some more she has stored.  Such a blessing!

I am starting this blog basically to share my journey.  I hope to catalog my quilts as I make them so that I will be able to see my progress.  I hope that along the way others will enjoy the posts and be moved to post inspiration and tips along the way.  Lord knows I need all the tips I can get!

I hope to post pictures of some of the quilts made by these lovely ladies very soon.

Please leave a comment describing the person that has been the biggest inspiration to you as a quilter.