Piecing a Quilt

After learning to stitch on a "cheaters quilt" I was even more desirous of learning to make an actual quilt. For a time between high school and college, I lived with my maternal grandmother. Gram was alwasy making something with fabric or yarn or lace thread. Once again I brought up my wish to learn to make a quilt.

Gram took me into her craft room and let me dig through her fabric scraps. We had decided to make a simple quilt for my first one. It would be made of three inch squares for fabric sewing four of them into a larger square. Each of the larger squares would have two solid and two printed squares.

I wasn't going to make a quilt with a set color pallet. I wanted to use an assortment of colors. Gram's scrapbag was the perfect place to start. Some of the scraps were just big enough to get 2 four inch squares from, some were big enough I could take all the squares I could want.

I ironed the material I selected and took them to the living room to draw my quilt pattern on. It was tedious to draw the patern and cut out the squares, but then I got to sew. I hand sewed the squares together in the four square larger piece, then the piece was set aside as I started my next four square larger piece. Finally I deemed I had enough of the four square pieces to begin to lay out my quilt.

Gram and I pushed the foot stools away and got on our hands and knees to lay them all out. Once we had everything laid out, we stood and looked at what was laid before us. After a few tweeks and shifts the colors were laid out the way I thought looked best. I sewed all the larger squares together and finished the top of my first quilt. Sad to say 20 plus years later, that quilt remains just a top.

learning to quilt

By the time I was a teenager, I had learned to hand sew, to crochet and to embroider. My mother and my grandmother both created quilts during that time and one Saturday, I begged my mother to teach me to quilt. My mother had a different idea. She brought me a printed panel, batting and a piece of material for the back. She stated that when I could make the stitches on the front and back match then I would know how to quilt.

I put the three pieces together and placed them in an embroidery hoop to keep it taught. I began to stitch around the printed picture, but no matter how much I tried I could not get my stitches on the back to match the smooth, small, even stitches on the front. I decided not to pull them out but to make a quilted pillow out of the panel instead. With that in mind, it didn't matter if the stitches didn't match up.

I worked diligently on that square. As I got near the end, I burst into tears. All my hard work and I couldn't finish it without putting a major crease in it. In order to do the pillow I wanted to make, I was forced to pull all my stitches and begin again. My mother patiently explained to me that I needed to begin stitching from the center outward instead of from a corner. And so, I began again.

Over time I made many "cheaters quilts" as I called them. I learned that if I kept the materiel out of a frame or hoop and just pinned my corners and parts of the centers, I could get my stitches even on front and back. Because of the pillows I made, I also learned how to hide the closing when they were stuffed. This helped me when I made an actual quilt and was putting a border on it.

While I didn't understand that initial idea of giving me a printed panel to sew at first, my mother knew the stitching wouldn't be the only lesson I learned. Patience and quality control were in the lesson plan as well.

violins and girlscouts

When I was in junior high I insisted on learning to play the violin. I wasn't good at it at all and I pity my poor family having to listen to me practice that thing. I squeeked and sawed my way through practice and lessons. I lugged the violin with me to school at least once a week. They came to my concerts at school and even when I hated it because of a change in teachers I kept at it. I didn't want to be a quitter and kept hoping it would get better.
On the days that I carried that violin on the bus to go to school, I also had girl scouts. After school I would carry it and walk to my girl scout meetings. We had a fairly large troop and met at our leaders home. I remember wearing my green uniform to school and carrying that violin case. What a sight I must have made.
While I don't recall much of what I did in scouts other than the camping trips, I do remember carrying that case and that I looked forward to those days for one especially good reason. When scout meetings were done for the day, I got to walk up to my Aunt Sissy's house to wait for my father to pick me up.
Aunt Sissy was my grandmother's sister. She was a favorite of mine. She lived in this cute little house that was big enough for her and my cousin Butch. Butch was Aunt Nita's son but he lived with Aunt Sissy when I was in my preteens. Anyway, I would come in and Aunt Sissy would ask about my day. Her dog Mimi would be barking and growling at me and I would talk about what had happened that day as I was sitting at the table drinking a glass of water or tea.
Sometimes I would get to stay for dinner at Aunt Sissy's and she or Butch would bring me home afterwards. I don't recall much what we would have for dinner although I do know that I got to help make the tossed salad. Aunt Sissy taught me to make radish rosettes to put in the salad. I didn't really like the peppery taste of radishes but the fact that I got to make something pretty out of them was such fun.
Aunt Sissy always seemed to enjoy my company. I loved going to her little house and being there with her. It was quiet there and I got attention that I didn't have to share with any of my siblings.
I wish that my children had been able to meet and know her in person. Instead they know her through my memories and the things I treasure about her.

Buttons and newsprint

When I was a little girl, almost every day we would go to see my Gram and Grampa Beebe. Some days while there we kids would play outside. There was a big yard to play in and a boy my brothers age that lived next door.

Other days we would play in the house while Mom spoke with Gram. Sometimes we would watch television which was more fun than at our home because Gram had 13 channels instead of our one. Other times I remember playing with Gram's button can.

Gram had a coffee can full of all different types of buttons. I never did know where they all came from but it was so much fun to get to take a large handfull of buttons from the can and see how many of each kind I had in that handful. Sometimes I got to use a needle and thread and string the like buttons together. I think some of my favorite buttons in the can were the kind that looked almost like black berries with their ridges and bumps and roundness.

At other times we were allowed to get paper and draw pictures. Gram had a large roll of paper like would be used to make newspapers. I am not sure at all where she got this but it was one of the favorites for use at her house. Sometimes it was just a small bit we would tear or cut off and then use one of the thin hard lap boards to lean against while we drew. Gram had crayons and colored pencils for us to use on these papers. I can't say that I remember any of the small pictures that we drew but I do remember sometimes taking a peice of paper big enough to trace around a small body. Sometimes I would be the one traced but others times it was my youngest sister. Then we would draw our faces and clothes onto the traced body.

I wish I knew whatever became of the button cans or the newspaper pictures that we drew. I just know that it was fun for my brother, sisters and I to be able to play with these items whenever we went to Gram's house.

Good Spirits

Things have been rough and a roller coaster ride of emotions over the last several weeks. My father in law had to have surgery which removed his left foot at mid calf level. My husband left to go up to help take care of everyone up there in whatever way he could be supportive. I am happy that he was able to leave and go up there. I was sad to have this going on with my father in law but knew that my husband would be a good tonic for his spirits. Little did I expect that my father in law would be the one cheering everyone else. Apparently when he decided that the doctor was right and the foot had to go, he was at peace about it. He is working hard towards healing and getting mobility back. I got a call from my husband this morning and found out it will probably be another week before he comes back to me and the kids but I fully understand and support that decision.
Today my hubby is watching his sister's babies. H is 2 and is potty training. J is 6 months old and scooting around. He is watching them so his sister can visit with his father and then when she returns he will go up and spend time with his dad. I am glad that not only is he able to be there for his father but also for the rest of the family.

I can do all things.......

I can do all things through Christ who stregnthens me. ( Phillipeans 4:13)

Sometimes it is hard to remember that as a human I am not able to do it all. I can't fix everything the way I want. I am not able to make someone happy or to make the world do what it ought to. Sometimes it is about just giving it all up and giving it all to God. He is almighty and all powerful. He knows what is needed and what is just a want. He has a greater design in mind than what I can see with my failing eyes.

It isn't easy to admit that I am not able to do it all. It feels like a failure to me to not be able to reach in my pocket and just provide what I want to for my children. I hate going out and seeking help when it is needed. But I do what I must and that is where the verse above comes into play. I can do what I needs to be done because God gives me the ability to see past my wants and desires and shyness and lets me do what what I need to. He helps me to give the push that is needed as well as the words to say.

The Eyes Have it

I have been blessed with three sisters by birth. Each of them is unique and special to me. However there is one thing they all share. They each have beautiful eyes. Each of my sisters has blue or hazel eyes. One sister has bright blue eyes that have such life and vitality in them. Another has hazel eyes that sparkle when she smiles. The third sister has grey blue eyes that hold mischief and mystery and change with her moods. There is a saying that the eyes are the window to the soul. I know the eyes reflect the soul and personality of each of my blessed sisters. I love them all.

So Proud

Last week my daughter went to the GA State Hosa Conference. The conference was from Thursday through Saturday and was a series of classes and competitions for students planning to enter the health care feild. My daughter and her partner were competing the the first aid/cpr competition.
Prior to dropping her off at school on Thursday her father and I both told her to go and have fun and not worry about the competition portion, we would be proud of her if she placed or if she didn't. We wanted her to enjoy herself and the opportunity of being around other like minded students with similar goals as she had. The conference would allow her to meet other students in the state that were pushing forward with those goals.
The two students had to take a written test on Thursday to find out if they would qualify to do practical competition on Friday. My daughter called me on Thursday night and told me that the written test grade was high enough to allow them to do practicals. Again, I reminded her to have fun and relax. I knew she would do well. I passed on the best wishes from the rest of the family and friends who had asked me to do so.
Friday evening she called and told me that she was done with practicals and didn't think they had done really well as their scenario was different than what they had been practicing but that their coach was proud of them anyway. I told her that her father and I were proud as well and that she should enjoy the rest of the conference and I would speak to her the next day.
Saturday morning I was on pins and needles through the morning as I waited for her phone call telling me how they had done on the practicals. She called to tell me that they were on their way home and that she and her partner had placed 3rd in the state for their competition. Their placement meant they were eligible to go to national level competition in California in June. I was over the moon with excitement for her. Not only had she done better than she thought they had done but they had placed high enough over other students in the state to be able to go forward.
She kept telling me that she didn't see how they could actually go to practicals though because it was so much money to send them and there is less than 3 months to come up with the money. I keep telling her to not worry about it. That if God wants her there the money will be there. We will find a way for her to go.
Tomorrow we will go out and try to gain sponsers for her and her partner to be able to go to California in June. It is not that far away and it will be a good opportunity for her to compete on a national level even if she doesn't place there. I am proud of my baby who is growing into the wonderful giving and caring and smart woman God would have her be. I know it is going to be a challenge to her to overcome some of the shyness she has and go compete. I know it will be a challenge for me to let her go and trust that she will be safe but this is part of letting my baby fly into adulthood.
My heart is still swelling with pride and I am going to do everything I can to help her go and to achieve her dreams.

Gardens

When I was a girl we lived on the eastern tip of Long Island in New York State. The yard around the house I grew up in was mostly moss and sand with a little bit of grass trying to grow. It wasnt anything that wouldn't be like most houses out there where there were 5 children in the household along with an assortment of neighborhood children that would play at each others homes. We had oak trees for shade and they did shade the yard well. I never really thought about it, it was just our yard.
When I was married and moved out on my own, most of my siblings were no longer in the house full time either. I guess Mama decided it was time to do something with the yard. She began to plant. There were gardens all over the yard then. I don't know for sure what she planted and where other than knowing that she had a few azaleas that were from my wedding and some hostas that I gave her from the front of my first home that my husband and I had purchased. I didn't take much interest in it truthfully other than to be glad that Mama enjoyed what she was doing. The front lawn didn't have much moss anymore as she had grass and assorted plants. She put in a walkway down to the transplanted mailbox in front of the house. The oak trees were still in the front yard though and provided shade still.
The backyard had an assortment of plants waiting for their beds or already in their areas. Papa, my stepfather, was a tree surgeon who also couldn't resist a plant that needed care. He brought home many a free plant that others felt were past their prime. Somehow in that sandy soil, Papa and Mama made them grow.
As an adult with land of my own again, I find I have married a man who enjoys finding bargain plants, many of which others would think well past their prime. They maybe are past their prime for this season or the times when he purchases them, but I take them and put them in the ground and see what will happen. Sometimes they grow and give me blooms and joy the following spring. Sometimes they die.... but that is the nature of plants. I never thought I would be one to enjoy digging in the dirt and trying to figure out flower beds and where things will do best.
Honestly I don't plan much. I sort of look and see where I think I would like to see flowers the next spring or where something looks a little too bare for my taste. Then I put a plant in the area. I have a lot of bulb plants. I like them because they don't take a lot of care. You plant them in the ground and they grow. Sometimes you have to split them off after a while, but I love the look of a very full bulb bed as I call them. Mixtures of crocus and daffydils and tulips and iris and hyacinth bless me every spring when they come up. The little shoots of green leaves coming up through the frosted earth and then the buds bursting forth into a riot of color give me such joy.
The summer months bring my roses to bloom. They grow and send forth buds and flowers in an assortment of colors and varieties. The fall brings me mums and pruning of my other flowers to get them ready for winter.
Oddly, I am turning into a gardener of sorts.... or maybe I just like the sight and scents of the flowers.