10/29/10

Fun Fact Friday Freebie

For today's Fun Fact question, I would like to know:

Did any previous generations of your families quilt?  And, if so, what happened to those quilts?

My mother didn't quilt, but her mother (my grandmother) did.  She made beautiful quilts, including this double wedding ring that won her grand prize at the Malheur County (Oregon) fair one year. 



She was a member of the Bretheren church, which is an offshoot of the Mennonite faith, and so this quilt was made all in traditional solids.  It was completely hand-pieced and hand-quilted by her.  Here is a close-up of the quilting:



I had several of her quilts, but they spent decades sitting hidden in my cedar chest.  They were too precious to actually use.  I'm not sorry that I kept them pristine, however, because about a year ago, I donated most of them to the Latimer Quilt and Textile Center in Tillamook, Oregon.  I kept three of them for myself, including this one that she made especially for me:


and this one because she made two of them:



Those little squares are postage-stamp sized.  I keep these two quilts on my guestroom bed now to avoid folding them up.  I kept a flannel crazy quilt, but donated a silk crazy quilt and a doll quilt that was pieced from my grandfather's night shirt.  There were about half a dozen others as well.  Anyone can visit the museum and see her collection by calling ahead and asking to see the "Bertha Maust Collection."

I realize that some of you might have family quilts you'd like to show off, and so I'm going to put Mr. Linky up this time.  If you like, you can blog about them, and then link to your blog post (not your blog) so that others can see them.  And if not, just leave your usual comment.  Either way, you must leave a comment to be entered in the drawing.  Followers get two chances.  Post my Fun Fact Friday Freebie button on your blog for a third chance to win a fat quarter.

To show off your quilts, link up here:

34 comments:

Greg said...

I believe I'm a first generation quilter. Even though both of my grandmothers were homemakers they didn't quilt. My paternal grandmother could cook and bake but to my knowledge didn't own a needle let alone quilt. My maternal grandmother made clothes but never quilted even though she had the Spinning Spools binder set by Georgia Bonesteel (it's now in my possession!).

Greg said...

I'm a follower

Greg said...

Your button is on my blog as well.

Flat Out Quilting

Sandy said...

I'm the first one in my family to quilt. My maternal grandmother did crochet and some sewing, but no quilts.

Kelsey said...

I really have no idea. I know my mother doesn't, and I never really knew either of my grandmothers. Your grandmother was crazy talented!

Kelsey said...

I'm already a follower.

Kelsey said...

Your button is already in my blog.

Quilts and Cats said...

Those quilts are just gorgeous! Nobody in my family ever sewed...anything! Sewing has been my passion for 45 years and I've been quilting for 20 years.

Quilts and Cats said...

I've been following you for awhile now and enjoying every minute.

Quilts and Cats said...

Got the button on the blog!

Irina said...

hello!
unfortunately I do't have any quilter ancestor so Ithink I'll become the first generation of quilters of my offspring...
my mum sew a lot though, and when we were kids, my sister an I were really nicely dressed because of her!

Irina said...

I follow! and also have your button!

Cyndi said...

Hi Barbara! Great question. My great-great grandmother on my dad's side was a quilter. I have two of her quilts - one was made around the time of the Civil War, the other in the later 1800's. My dad and uncle have the majority of her quilts. It's sad to say, but she was the last of the quilters in the family!

XOXO,

Cyndi

Cyndi said...

I'm a follower!

:o)

Cyndi

Cyndi said...

...and I have your button on my blog!

=^..^=

Cyndi

Lee said...

My grandmother and great grandmother quilted. My grandmother's sisters only daughter has all the quilts. Except for the one my mother had which was worn to pieces when I was a small child - I have one block of it - a dresden plate.
I am also a follower.

robin said...

My great grandmother made at least one quilt - my grandmother gave it to me and you can view it on my latest blog post. Other than that, my mom was just starting into quilting when breast cancer kind of changed her plans. She finished a basic 9 patch quilt top for my sister but was unable to finish it. Grandma had some church ladies finish it.

Dana Gaffney said...

I wish someone had, I am the only one in my family to quilt. My grandmother was a seamstress and taught me to sew when I was five. Now I never make clothes, but the love of making beautiful things with fabric is still alive.

LethargicLass said...

Only my great-grandmother on my mom's side quilted... we have one that has always been my favourite but we recently saw that it is started to look a little worse for wear :( I never met her, so I can't say she influenced me unfortunately...

caitlindevlin@hotmail.com

LethargicLass said...

and I'm a follower :)

caitlindevlin@hotmail.com

robin said...

and your button is on my blog. :o)

Cheryl said...

My great Grandmother DaisyBell Ely was a quilter ,My Mom DaisyBell Schoonover is a quilter and still quilts at 82 yrs of age. She has made so many, I have some of her quilts on my blog also, my great- grandmothers quilt that we used to have I just posted a few days ago trying to find the pattern & name so I can make Mom a replacement .I love quilting and have only been quilting about 8 years.

Joanna said...

I really don't know. My mother sewed, but didn't quilt. She did teach me to sew though, and I do come from a long line of sewers. That talent is certainly one reason why I quilt today.

Joanna said...

I am a follower.

Joanna said...

I have your button on my blog. Thank you.

quiltzyx said...

Although my Mom & her mom were both creative, sewing, building furniture, painting, etc., neither of them quilted. But my Dad's grandmother was a quilter & I have a picture of her, sitting on my Grandma's couch with a quilt on her lap & a needle in her hand. I've seen a few of the quilts that she made for my Dad & his siblings, and Dad gave me the one she made for him. It's in tatters, having been well used & loved for many years! I should find it & take a picture....

quiltzyx said...

I'm a follower!

quiltzyx said...

And I have your button on my blog too. :^)

Marcia W. said...

I know that two of my great grandmothers quilted - because I have one quilt from my grandmothers mother and my mother has one from my fathers paternal grandmother. My maternal grandmother and several great aunts on both sides of the family quilted. All of these were either hand-pieced and hand quilted or pieced on a treadle machine and hand quilted. Aunts on both sides of the family quilt. My mother quilts, and so do I. Of all these family quilters, only one aunt occasionally machine quilts. We want quilts to look nice, but the main reason for making a quilt is to be a gift, keep warm or use in lieu of a bedspread or comforter. Thank you for the opportunity to walk down memory lane. BTW, my grandmother's favorite pattern to make was double wedding ring.

Rhonda said...

Actually no one in my family that I know of ever quilted. I have always loved textiles, the feel, the textures, the colors, prints, and wide array of artistic expression one can do with fabric. So it was only natural for me to fall in love with quilting.

quilary said...

I don't know of any quilters in my family. I only have some embroideries done by my mother, a grandmother and a great aunt. I don't know where the gene for "cutting up perfectly good fabric and putting it back together again" came from.

quilary said...

I follow your blog

quilary said...

Your button is on my blog

SJSM said...

On my mother's side all the women were/are quilters. The first thing I sewed was quilt blocks on my grandmother's treadle. My mom made a quilt for my daughter when she was born. Otherwise, my mom hand quilted my king sized bed quilt. I used the money her side of the family gave me as a wedding present and pieced my first quilt. It is a 9 patch done in 70's colors;avocado green, harvest yellow, browns and other earthie colors. Other relatives received my grandmothers and older generation quilts. Since almost all do sew the quilts are valued highly by the present owners. I am hoping to get one quilt at some point in the future but won't be devastated if it doesn't happen.