It is time for the Quilt story.
A labor of love for my dear mother.
In October 2004, I got the brainy idea to make my mother a quilt. She is a quilter that has no quilt upon her bed. Weird eh? I tell her it is weird all the time. So I figure as the oldest child of 6, yes 6 children. It is not only my duty to make my mother a quilt but also a testament to the overwhelming gratefulness that she is my mother and has give me and everyone around her so much, it is my way of really sticking it to her. I knew she would have a cow.
So I get started right away, I want the quilt to be ready for her 50th birthday. I knew right away what quilt pattern I wanted to do. It is a pattern she taught me to do but is unable to do herself, did I tell you she is a remarkable woman of many feats? So I chose a “Log Cabin”, I figured it would be a pattern she would NEVER have on her bed unless I made it for her.
Now there are some really neato things you can do with the log cabin patch. It can be manipulated to be quite the optical illusion. I chose to put it together in the “Sunshine and Shadow” version yet still maintaining randomness. This fits my mother because she is an Aquarian, and if you know anything about Aquarians you will know that they definitely have sunshine and shadow moments that can be completely random. Perfectly fitting.
Next I needed to come up with a color scheme. I decided upon Amish style colors, because my mother (like myself) was born in Lancaster PA, and if you have ever been to Lancaster PA you will know that it is not uncommon to see a horse and buggy trotting up the road. http://www.padutchcountry.com/
Finally, I had to choose the backing. This was hard. My mother had recently re-worked a quilt she made for my brother Ben. She put satin on the back because my brother is a little pervert and likes to have silky things next to his naked body. Ah, what can I say I do too! Don’t you? So I figured I would put satin on the back of her quilt, I knew she would love it. She currently had a satin comforter on her bed. Yes, store bought comforter. I chose the color silver because it was to be for her fiftieth birthday, what is more suitable? Birth place colors on the front and grey hair reference on the back. Perfect.
Now, I will say, there were moments of pure frustration because I COULD NOT call and ask for advice. There were moments of uncertainty of design, when the only person I had to call was my sister Katie, who graciously answered my every frantic phone call. There were moments of no motivation, where the only person driving me towards the finish line was my dear husband, strangely pushing me to get it done. There were moments of absolute joy when my little two year old daughter would climb up into a chair next to me and with a thimble on her three fingers, pretend to be helping mommy. There was even in the last moments, a frightful rush because she was almost here and I had not finished the quilt. Finally there were only the feelings of completion, of finality, of pride and of hope that it was going to be delivered as planned.
I missed my Feburary 17th, 50th birthday deadline. I even forgot to call her on her birthday, I was consumed with finishing the quilt, I never sent her a card or wished her well. The day came and went. She was hurt. She didn’t know, and I couldn’t explain. I accepted the mark of “ungrateful child / asshole” It was ok, I would redeem myself. Strangely after her birthday passed, I didn’t want to work on the quilt. I was disappointed that I didn’t hit my target date, and that I missed my mother’s 50th birthday. I didn’t resume for a few months. Then I was happily working on it and then hit another slump. It was a huge undertaking!!! More than I really expected, though I had seen my mother make countless quilts I never understood the reality of doing it. In the end, I was in a rush. Of course. My mother was on her way to my house for the Christmas holiday and I had to complete it before she arrived. I spent two, almost sleepless nights, finishing the edging. I got it done, though I did break my sewing machine in the process. I hit a safety pin. The head of a safety pin. Yeah so the presser foot exploded, the needle broke in two different places and the timing was thrown off. But it was WORTH IT!
To properly present the present, I had realized early on, that I was collecting bits of string and fabric in a jar on my sewing table. I thought it would bee cool to give the jar to mom as a precursor to the quilt. You know lengthen the delivery, cause confusion. In the last days, I decided I also wanted to compile a photo album, purse sized, for her to show all of her buddies at work, which I knew she would like to do. So I did that too. The plan was set.
On Christmas morning, Dwayne set up the video camera and we all opened presents. After everyone had finished, I thought Georgia was going to be opening presents in to the New Year, I gave mom the jar. She opened the jar and looked under her brow at me as I sit crying, damn hormonal pregnant woman, crying now too. She got this really puzzled look on her face, she could see bits of batting, fabric and a leather finger patch worn in the center (a nasty looking safety pin too!). ThenI gave her the photo album, ta da! She paged through slowly gathering herself around each page, scooping away tears as I did too. When she was finished reading and looking the last page in the album asks “Are you ready?”. She looked at me and said “I am ready.” in a quivering little voice. Dwayne went upstairs and brought it down. She opened it slowly and pulled it out of the box. Tears streaming from her face she says, “You know I don’t have a quilt on my bed.” I said, “I know mama, and now you will.”.
Pics:
Deciding on design (Oct 2004):
Design preview (Dec 2004) 100 blocks to make:
Top patchwork finished (March 2005):
Quilting begins...pic taken June 2005:
Georgia Helps (July 2005):
Rounding the edges, the last rush for the finish line (Dec 2005):
Mama sends pics from home:
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