A couple weeks ago, my daughter and I got together for a Girls’ Getaway Weekend in Waco, TX. Now that Bethany is pursuing her PhD At Texas A&M, I miss seeing her on a regular basis. So we’ve made a pact to get together for one weekend each semester. And because she’s the one family member who is as big of a history nerd as I am, we always find a way to work in historical places to stay and visit.
This time, we stayed at an Air BnB place that used to be an old cotton gin. The owners gutted the building and created a wonderful space. Since it was just the two of us, we didn’t stay in the main house. We rented the guest house which actually used to be the office for the gin. (I just love living in history!) They decorated with modern amenities but had classic items like these sliding barn wood doors that really added character. There was even a nice little creek running along the edge of the property.
Now, Bethany and I aren’t that into shopping, so we skipped the Magnolia Silos, opting for the historical sites instead. We toured two historic homes built in the mid-1800s, walked across an historic bridge on the Brazos, and spent the afternoon at the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum.
One of my favorite things to see in the historic homes were the antique quilts.
This first one is a gorgeous whitework quilt that is in amazing condition considering that it is over 150 years old.
All of the bedrooms were made up with quilts from the Victorian era.
But my favorite were the two crazy quilts we saw. These were made from silks and velvets from fancy dresses after they had worn out along with the usual calico cotton we are more accustomed to seeing. I was amazed at the embroidery. All of those flowers were stitched by hand when the block was pieced. Not only that, but look at the detail work of the stitches covering each of the seams. Each design is so unique and different.
This one is even more special. I took three close-up photos so you could see the treasure within the stitching. This friendship quilt carries the name of each lady who created a block. What a treasure to give to a friend or new bride as she leaves home. She can take her friends with her and sleep beneath the treasured memories of the love that went into the quilt. I just might have to work a friendship quilt into a story one of these days.
I’ve only made one quilt in my life, and it was a simple log cabin style done on the machine, but I admire the time and skill devoted to quilts, both today and those of yesteryear.
Are you a quilter?
Do you have any quilts or other needle craft items handed down in your family?
I hope that my cross stitch work will be passed down in my family one day after I’m gone.
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I have some afghans made by my mother and grandmother which are very special.
What treasures, Ellie. My grandmother made afghans, too, and I have a couple of hers as well. Love having the reminder of her around me.
I also made one quilt, Karen. It was a “sampler” quilt where each block was a different pattern but using the same fabrics. But then I started writing books.
Writers still piece things together, don’t we? Sew scenes, rip out seams that aren’t working, add embellishing touches. We still quilt, Lynn, just with words. 😉
Like you, I have only made one quilt and it was a log cabin. I did make a two quilted jackets and some small table runners. I have a quilt that my grandmother made for me when I was about twelve years old and I treasure that. It is a simple maple leaf pattern, white background with all the leaves being different cotton squares.
I like the simplicity of the log cabin. I figured I could handle straight lines. Ha! Your maple leaf quilt sounds lovely. How wonderful to have a tangible reminder of your grandmother.
What sweet memories for you and your daughter! I love that.
I am not a quilter but I have fond memories of going with my Grandmother to the Senior Center where she joined many of her friends and they quilted together. I enjoyed just listening and watching them. I do not remember who the quilt would be given to or the reason behind it.
I love that people still get together and quilt, just like the quilting bees back in the 1800s. I imagine needles flying almost as fast as the conversation when friends get together. My daughter and I will often cross-stitch together while watching a movie, but it’s not quite the same since we are each working on separate projects. I remember a lady at church who always organized baby quilts. Nine ladies would each take a square to sew or embroider, and she would collect them and quilt them all together to give as a gift to the new mother. I still have the one our church gave me when my daughter was born. So special.
Love old quilts! I have several made by my Granny that she either gave me or were passed down from my Mom. I have one that was an old quilt that as it aged my Granny uses as the batting and was used as the inside of another quilt. I’ve always wondered what the original quilt looks like but can’t bring myself to destroy the other beautiful quilt to find out. Needless to say, I don’t have to worry about knowing which quilt it is since it’s the heavier of the quilts I own.
I have a quilt rack that I display them on. I have more than it will hold so I rotate my display from time to time.
I’ve always wanted a quilt rack. I love that you have enough to rotate your displays. How wonderful! And how interesting that she would use an older quilt as batting for a newer one. So practical.
I come from a long line of quilters on both sides of the family and I have kept the tradition going. Every piece of furniture in the house has a quilt draped over, lol, plus more are stuffed in closets. My favourite display is the antique desk secretary from my grandparents where I have the quilts with the most meaning to me set up on the shelves. My dad’s aunt specialized in making crazy quilts and each family was the recipient of many of those. The best part…my young adult daughter is keeping the quilt making tradition alive!
I wish there was a way for you to share pictures, Gaylene. That antique desk and quilt display sound gorgeous! And I love that your daughter is continuing the tradition.
I started quilting when I retired. That got my mom started. I was 43 and she was 73. She made quite a few quilts before she passed away in October at the age of 90. She gave each of her 4 children several of them near her end.
I was a cross stitcher before I started quilting. Now I mainly read!
I would love to see a friendship quilt in one of your stories.
Sherri – My grandma on my mother’s side started quilting when she was in her 70’s too. She made about 4 baby quilts for my first child in her excitement. I loved that she wasn’t afraid to try something new at her age. Inspires me to be adventurous the older I get. 🙂
I make baby quilts for all of my nieces and nephews as well as some for other babies on both my side and my husband’s side of the family. I have made over 30 quilts and am grateful the babies have dwindled off in the immediate family some. 😛 It was an exhausting few years. One year, I think at least five babies were born in a six month span.
My nieces and nephews still haul their blankets around, even some of the bigger ones, and it makes me happy that they love them so much. <3
How wonderful to see your handiwork being loved on by your grandbabies, Gena! Five in six months??? You’re a rock star!
When I was in 5th grade, we studied Colonial history. Our teacher created projects for us to represent the era. Girls could choose to make a sampler or start a quilt. Boys did woodworking. I chose the quilt and brought in scraps of material from home and a solid color to match with it. Our pattern was triangular, one half of a square created from the scraps, pieced to make small square that were sewn together with triangle pieces along the edges. Then we cut a large triangle out of the solid fabric and formed a square. My “quilt” consisted of nine large squares that I always meant to finish, but never did. I found it a few months ago, and my daughter-in-law suggested I have it framed. A nice memory is that a boy in my class gave me the bed he made to use with my dolls.
Crazy quilts have always amazed me – so lovely, and I would think hard to put together. Love the pictures of your trip. Like you, I am a cross stitcher. Quilts still fascinate me, and I’ve read a series about a group of quilting women written by Jennifer Chiaverini. Thanks for sharing!
Your story brought back a memory for me, too, Betty. I can remember hand sewing squares of scrap fabric together to make a “quilt” for my doll house bed. It was just a top, no batting or backing, but I remember being very proud of that effort. 🙂
I have several handmade quilts. One by my great, great aunt, one by my great grandmother, and two by my mother. And my mother made quilts for my three children and my six, soon to be seven, grandchildren. Great treasures for sure!
What a wonderful tradition to spend a weekend with your daughter each semester! Those will be treasured memories for both of you!
What a lovely weekend! I love quilting but I’m not sure I could be called a quilter. (Don’t you have to actually finish them to earn that title?😉). I have finished some simple baby quilts, those are super fun. I also have a lovely old quilt that was originally stored in my parent’s basement with a bunch of “old” bedding. I’ve lost the “who” made it connection sadly, but when my college-aged daughter recently refinished an antique headboard (a family heirloom from my husband’s side), I knew the bed and quilt were a match made in heaven!
This discussion reminds me somewhat of Alice Walker’s short story, “Everyday Use.” Has anyone else read it? It brought tears to my eyes but also made me laugh. Like your books!