Today is the birthday of my late paternal grandmother, Ocie Jones. Grandma was a prodigious hand quilter. She hand quilted the first quilt I ever made, and I am so thankful to have a bit of her work to share and show to others.
Ocie Jones
Grandma was also a great cook. No matter how far away my family might be living, we would always travel to grandma’s house to have Thanksgiving. I am also thankful that I was fortunate enough to obtain her formal dining room set that we used to all gather around for Thanksgiving dinner. I use her table and china hutch in my sewing room, and I like to think that she would be happy knowing that I am quilting and continuing to use and love her furniture.
Yvonne’s First Quilt – Grandma’s Hand Quilting Detail
I would not say that I was particularly close with my grandmother, but some of her quilting genes obviously passed down the family tree to me. I am also very thankful to have inherited her homemade yeast roll recipe. Every time I make the rolls, I like to tease my husband that the only reason he married me was because of my grandmother’s roll recipe.
I cannot reflect on the memory of my grandmother without thinking about the quilters in my family. Unfortunately, my paternal grandmother is the only grandparent that I really had much of an opportunity to get to know. However, I am very lucky to have a set of “surrogate” grandparents. These close family friends are family, and Bet is an avid quilter. She and my mother travel together to attend quilt shows and quilting retreats. I am thankful to be able to share quilting knowledge and love with my mom and Bet. Below is a photo of my mom, Lorna, and Bet at my brother’s wedding in 2012.
Lorna and Bet
In honor of my grandmother’s birthday, I want to take a moment to be thankful for those who have joined me along my quilting journey. So, thank you for reading my blog and participating in the journey with me. I am thankful for my quilting family, and I want to acknowledge my extended internet quilting friends as well – the blogging quilting community is such a source of inspiration, comfort, and joy for me. What are you thankful for today?
I think it’s so wonderful that you have some of your grandmothers handwork. I love having items that have meaning or a story behind them, and I find that as I get older I appreciate them even more. I’m thankful for my fantastic husband who totally understands that I need personal space and time to heal after leaving my previous job. Right now I’m being a housewife and loving every minute of it! I’m also thankful I’ve found Internet friends who love to quilt and craft as much as I do and who are there to cheer each other on every day.
How exciting! I’m always jealous (in a good way) of quilters with a family history of quilting. I’m the first in my family, and that’s fun in a different way, but I wish I could talk to my mama or grandma about it! 🙂
As to thankfulness, wow. I’m thankful for so much! But today, I’m especially thankful for my family. I really lucked out with my husband and my three sons. They are incredible, and I’m so grateful to have them in my life.
I’m thankful for the generous, honest people in the quilting community. What a sweet quilting history to draw from!
It is wonderful having a heritage of quilting. I am grateful for my family, and especially for my mother, grandmothers, and great-grandmother who have also quilted.
Wonderful…
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Quilting history is such a wonderful thing. I’m thankful for all the vintage fabrics my Mom gave me that once belonged to my grandmother. I’ve spent a lot of time this week washing and ironing some if them!
Would you believe that my grandmother, who I am very close to, doesn’t sew? She took lessons years ago and I had to help her with her homework. I rehemmed her new jeans last week.
My great-grandmother, her mother-in-law, was the seamstress in the family, and the things she made are family treasures.
I am thankful that my grandmother is still healthy.