Ocie Jones
Life

Family Quilting History

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

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

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

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?

0 thoughts on “Family Quilting History

  1. Beth S. says:

    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.

  2. Audrey says:

    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.

  3. Renee says:

    I’m thankful for the generous, honest people in the quilting community. What a sweet quilting history to draw from!

  4. Jasmine says:

    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.

    1. Thank you! I found this comment in my spam queue, so hopefully you will have more success trying to post in the future. At least, I hope!

  5. 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!

  6. 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.

I really appreciate the time and thought you take to comment, and I look forward to conversing with you. :)