Threads that Bind Us!

A while back, Mom and I were talking about some of the family quilts that she had been given from her mother, grandmother and her stepmother. I told her that I really wanted see them and the patterns they used and really I wanted just general information about them. You know it is one of things that need to be done, but not that important to make a point to actually make it happen. At the last cousin retreat when we saw the family crazy quilt, my sister, Pattie’s interest was peaked and she started asking Mom questions. So mom tried to take pictures and then Pattie just told her that she would take pictures when she came for spring break.

Pattie and her family drove in from Tyler for spring break on Saturday and they ended up coming to my grandson’s birthday on Sunday. It was almost a mini-family reunion. After the party we planned a quilt show and documentation event for today. I think it took us two hours to go through the linens and quilts and make all of the notes that Mom was telling us – well we had a few interruptions. One I well tell you about later in the blog.

Before we got started I had a little binding to finish up on the baby quilt that Cathy quilted for me. This is my first double-sided quilt and it came out much better than I thought it would, and what I mean is that I didn’t like the backing at all. Cathy did a wonderful job centering the back with the front and I really thought she did a great job.

the baby quilt

a close up of the baby quilt

the back of the quilt

The red and white cross-stitch was made by Floy Leamons Massey (my grandmother). It was a quilt kit that she made in or around 1972-1975. I actually remember my grandmother making this quilt, it was hand quilted, I’m not sure who did the quilting. It was red and white, but it has yellowed with age.

this is the red an white cross-stitch

the quilting the on red and white

The nice green and white with 30’s cornerstones and has a Lemoyne star center made by Great Grandmother Massey; Mother got this from her brother, Jimmy Ed. Uncle Jimmy Ed got this quilt from Great Uncle Seth, which was Uncle Seth’s mother.

this one is in really great shape

the quilting on the green one

This bright blocks were made by Marie Massey (my step-grandmother), made from polyester fabrics, this quilt was all hand pieced in the 70’s.

the polyester quilt that Marie made

this is all hand stitched

The next quilt was made by Floy Leamons Massey, it is a bowtie pattern made in the 70’s and the fabrics are polyester. I remember wearing some of the clothes in this quilt. Mom always made our clothes and when had a paper bag or garbage full of scraps she would take them to my grandmothers. That was just what we did and they were always used!

the bow tie block

bowtie quilt

This afghan was made by Floy Leamons Massey and was a favorite of ours when we were young and took naps on the sofa.

the afghan

a close up of the afghan

This quilt was loved by us a lot and I loved this quilt. Mom got it from my great-aunt Alma Leamons Collins (Auntie) after she passed away and it was unfinished when mother got it and she gave it to Marie Massey to finish up the edges. Mother believes that it was originally made by Great Grandmother Leamons.

we used this one a lot

the quilting

This quilt was made by Marie Massey, the quilt design was actually a Baptist Fan, not sure what the block pattern is.

this quilt is in good shape too

a block up close

the quilting

When we were very little, we used this quilt as a pallet many times and it was so soft! It is a hexie pattern. It was made by Marie Massey. Mother and Dad bought some furniture from Marie and Ernest Massey and Marie used this quilt to pack the furniture and Mom just didn’t return the quilt, but Marie never asked for her to return it either. ☺

our play hexie quilt that got used a bunch

a close of the play quilt

another view

the quilting of the play hexie

This quilt looks like it was a utilitarian quilt; kind of ugly, but it was used just the same! It was quilted in Baptist fan design.

this was the plain quilt that was used a lot

Iva Bible, my father’s mother made this in 1934 while she was pregnant with my dad. She used a cone to string. Back in the day they packed everything in a paper and wrapped it in string. The string was started at the back of the stores and hung up to the ceiling and then used to wrap up the packages. This top weighs a TON, but is really in amazing shape considering it’s age.

this was Iva’s top that she crocheted made of string

Great grandmother Leamons made this quilt, probably before 1936. She made quilts for all of her grandchildren except my Mom’s brother, Kenny and Mom. She also made ones for her two daughters Alma Leamons Collins and Floy Leamons Massey. My mom got Auntie’s (Alma’s) and Uncle Kenny got Floy’s. Great Grandmother Leamons made a label for the quilt but it is very little!

this is all hand appliquéd, still in great shape

the appliquéd center

the appliquéd border

her label

her backing to show the quilting

Marie Massey made this quilt in 1996; it is a double wedding ring quilt, all hand sewn and hand quilted. Mom and Dad actually commissioned her to make it for them.

Mom’s double wedding ring

a close up of the block

wedding ring quilting

I never knew that quilts are similar to a family tree; at least it seems that way to me. Our lives are loved by their threads and it is really nice to have them be around us.

As I mentioned above, close to the end of our documentation my phone rang and it was Denise, she didn’t sound very perky – more like something was wrong. She put a quilt on her machine for me this morning and was calling me to say there was a mistake in the top. Somehow I had turned a block the wrong way and she was close to the end of quilting the quilt! My heart sank, she asked me what should she do, just keep on quilting or did I want to fix it. As she is taking a picture of it and sending it to me I pulling up the picture of it on my computer! Sure enough, plain as day – it IS UPSIDE DOWN! So I told her that I would come and pick it up and fix it!

my boo boo, do you see the wrong one?

I have to say I am glad she called and gave me the opportunity to fix it, and it would have to be right in the center! It looks so much better now! I get to take it back to her in the morning!

now it is removed

all is good again or should I say the way it should be!

I am truly blessed; I hope you are blessed by your daily threads. Love and hugs,
Ronda