The Importance of a Quilt

I got the nicest gift from my daughter-in-law, Celeste, for Christmas.  She had a quilt made for me with the words Grandma in the center and my four grandkids names beneath (Austin, Eli, Sarah, Zachary).  She said there was room still for more names.  My daughter, Ruby, is the only one who might contribute and she remained silent.  Celeste told me that she was inspired by our quilt stories "I'll Tuck You in, Deer" and "A Message of Love" to give me my own special quilt.  I started thinking of how important a quilt is in an American family. 

"A Message of Love" was written from my husband and me talking about our childhood.  We both attended quilting parties when we were children.  We both got under the big top of a quilt and pulled and pushed needles for ladies.  My father would set up the quilt frame for mother in the living room, hanging from the ceiling.  Mother would beam when her friends arrived and always served them a homemade cake.  She watched David Wade's cooking show on the Dallas channel and wrote off for his recipes.  She made this wonderful cream cake with walnuts but I never got her recipe.  I also didn't take one of her quilts home with me when she and daddy died.  I was only twenty three and did not yet understand the importance of passing down something my mother made to my daughter.  In "A Message of Love", Linda understands that importance. 

"I'll Tuck You in, Deer" is about a deer that wants to be covered by a quilt that the woman has made.  She has made many quilts; but the first quilt that she made, she gave to her mother.  The book doesn't mention it, but the quilt was in celebration of her mother being a breast cancer survivor.  The book only states that it has a pink ribbon in the center.  I put the pink ribbon there because it has been seven years of celebration for me. I wanted to slip that tribute to women like myself into the story.  My hairdresser saw the book for the first time the other day.  She lost her son to AIDS almost fifteen years ago.  She saw the illustration of the quilt, and she was elated.  To her, the ribbon was red and honored her son, like many quilts have in the past.  

My daughter managed to talk her grandmother into giving her a quilt top that her grandmother had made years ago for her daddy.  I have a crochet tablecloth in the hope chest that my mother made for me as a wedding gift.  I also managed to come home with a painting that my husband's grandmother painted.  When, as in "A Message of Love", the family went through the house gathering mementos.      

I appreciate so much Celeste giving me the quilt, and reminding me of their importance.  I hope to share my special quilt's warmth with my family for years to come.

I would love to hear your quilt stories.

Happy New Year

April