Friday, August 1, 2008

Quilts : or Art ?... or both

Anyone that knows me now that I LOVE anything handmade. I am overjoyed when I receive a gift and it was handmade with love. My sister is visiting from Ontario and earlier this week we went with my mom and brother to a quilt exposition in a local church. All quilts were made by local ladies. I can't say they were all ''handmade'' - some were machine stitched (but still very beautiful; I love both hand and machine stitched). What you see in the picture below was only half of the quilts on display. It litteraly takes your breath away when you first walk in.

Below - my visiting sister. This was ''one'' of my favorites.

Two pictures below are the same quilt - made by my aunt. Amazing isn't it ! her hand stitching is finer than machine stitching.


But I have to tell you a story before you view the next picture. My husband's parents died exactly one month apart - July 10 and August 10, 20 years ago. A short while after the funeral Dave and I went to clear the house because we had sold it. I guess some boxes ended up in our attic because two weeks ago when we were cleaning our attic we found and opened one of the boxes and found 6 quilt tops that Dave's mom had hand sewn. One quilt in particular, Dave gasped when he saw it, he said that he remembers helping his mom cut those tiny little squares when he was ill in bed for an entire school year with rheumatic fever. He was 7 years old ! I could'nt hold back tears, I was so touched by the expression of joy on his face. Memories are so good for your soul... don't you think ?

So I could'nt put that quilt top back in the box, even though it smelled like the attic big time. I washed it, put it to air dry outside, found a huge piece of flannel at Frenchy's and some binding and presented Dave with his quilt (see below). I am not going to stitch it, I will tie it with red wool here and there in the quilt.

We've decided that this quilt is our official picnic blanket !


And while we're on the subject of quilts, I must post ''a second time'' a picture of a very special quilt that was handmade by a very special friend and offered to me. You can read more about it here.


Have a good weekend everyone and hope you make someone happy.

9 comments:

Barb said...

Oh Vickie, you brought a tear to my eye with the story about Dave's mom's quilt. How precious that quilt is and even more so now that you have made a usuable blanket out of it.

And the quilts at that show ... wow what a beautiful display.

Hope you are enjoying your visit with your sister Barb

Christina said...

Is that quilt show still on? I would love to go, we are on the south shore so do you think we could do it in a morning/afternoon trip? They look so lovely I might be able to drag my hubby.

Vickie LeBlanc said...

Dear Barb - hope things are starting to slowly get back in place with you and your family. Thanks for leaving a comment.

I am enjoying my sister so much. You know, when I was younger I was certain she was my real mom.

Vickie LeBlanc said...

Christina,

Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment. I left a comment on your blog in regards to the quilt fair. Unfortunately for you, it was over at 4 p.m. today.

Shelby said...

Vickie that is so special about Dave's mom's quilt top. How nice for you two to have it and the great memories that it evoked in Dave!

Kim said...

Amazing story!

Sebrina Wilson said...

What a lovely story Vickie! And those quilts are amazing!!!

Raegan Belliveau said...

I am always touched when my husband shares a childhood memory with me. Sometimes we think they don't notice or care about those things. Isn't it special that you only found that quilt top now? Maybe you wouldn't have appreciated them so much when you were younger. God bless.

Raegan Belliveau said...

oh...have you ever heard the story about the lady who was making quilts for men in the war? She stiched her name (Mary) in the quilt and it ended up in a bed right next to her sons! What is the chances of that happening!