My Magnificent Mentors

Marianna ~ one of my magnificent mentors,
circa 1992.

I started quilting back in 1982; the first class that I took was at a small fabric/quilt shop from a wonderfully kind lady who remains a dear and treasured friend to this day, her name is Ann.  Ann encouraged me to join a local quilt guild, it was there that I first met the magnificent mentors. These ladies may not have even realized how important they became in my life as the years progressed. There was Fannye, I have blogged about her and her legacy here before; then there were the Pfafftown Four. The Pfafftown Four were ladies who demonstrated nothing but pure and honest appreciation and love for quilting; Lib, Zola, Natalie and Marianna were masterful quiltmakers whom I admired, respected and looked to for guidance and direction. They quilted with open hearts, always willing and eager to sit and show me how to accomplish any little trick or technique if I even suggested I might want to learn how to do what they were doing. They were just those kind of ladies, through the years I have remained grateful to each one of them for their kindness and enduring friendship. One by one, they've left their earthly homes for a place in Heaven, taking a small piece of my heart each time. On Monday Marianna joined them, what a glorious reunion the magnificent mentors must be having!  I attended Marianna's memorial service yesterday, it was a loving tribute to a beautiful lady in every sense of that word; several of her quilts were on display at the reception afterwards, I am still in awe of her miniscule hand quilting stitches and flawless hand applique, there is a void now that can't ever be filled.  I am suddenly face to face with the fact that I am one of those older generation quilters now, the responsibility associated with that is a heavy one. I'm not all together sure that the next quilting generation is as sponge-like in their quest to absorb knowledge as I was. With the proliferation of classes, books and you tube videos today's young quiltmakers are equipped with everything they need to be successful from their very first project; there's value in that, but, from my perspective, they're missing out on the very best part... the intergenerational relationships that add incalculable worth.  Think about this: who do look to as a mentor (in any regard, not necessarily in quilting) today? And now, think of the flip side of that question: to whom can you act as a mentor right now? What skills can you offer freely from your own heart and hands? Personally, I know that so much has been handed down to me; others saw fit to preserve and protect what was of greatest value by passing down that torch personally; it's too heavy to hang on to by myself... out of loving respect to my magnificent mentors I want to reach out in kind wherever I can. My heart may be heavy this evening but my gratitude is overflowing, I am deeply thankful to each and every magnificent mentor who has touched my life along the way with love, kindness, friendship and the desire to be the very best that I can be in whatever I set my mind to do.

Life is Good!

Why We Quilt... And Yet, One More (But Not The Last) Reason

If you've been following along with the last few posts you'll find the theme of "why we quilt" a continuing one.  Today I would like to touch upon those who have gone before us and how inspiration has played a big part in why we quilt, and continue to, to this day.  As a new quilter back in the mid 1980's I recall being inspired, and nurtured, by the established quilting community within my own local Guild. These ladies were all highly competent, gifted quiltmakers in their own right who, seemingly, had all the time in the world to guide a wide-eyed, ready to learn young woman in the proper quilting direction. I quite literally sat at the feet of some of these quilting masters soaking up every tidbit they had to share! Here is one, Vera Bell, these photos were taken at a Guild show back in 1992, she was 77 years old. I am particularly interested in both of these photographs because I just so happen to be piecing both a sixty degree diamond quilt and a tumbler right now. As you can see, Vera was an accomplished, and stylish(!), quilt artist; a lovely lady both inside and out. She was no stranger to winning ribbons and the colorwash beauty, hand-quilted of course, on the right won her the Best of Show that year. I recall falling in love with a most stunning Carpenter's Wheel quilt that she made for her son's home. He lived in a converted barn and she leaned heavily on a silver-gray color palette  incorporating a few, choice, bright accent colors to complement the rustic two-story barnboard wall where he planned to hang it. I can't see a Carpenter's Wheel quilt today without remembering Vera.  Does this lovely lady inspire me still? Yes, she does!  Looking at these photos reminds me that I can always go that extra mile, do a little bit more, challenge myself. That sixty degree diamond quilt as well as the tumbler that I am currently piecing I had planned to trim up straight and square along the edge. Now I am thinking about appliqueeing them to a border, capitalizing on the shapes and not destroying the integrity of the pattern, that's exactly what Vera did. We quilt because we love it; we're nudged to be our best by those who have gone before and encouraged us along the way, those who recognized that spark and had the good sense to breathe life on our fledgling attempts, thus igniting the flame and passing the torch!  I will always be grateful for that inspiration that has fueled me and drives me still... it's why we quilt.

ef

Vera E Bell 1915 - 2005 was a member of the Bell family. Vera was born on April 24, 1915. Vera died on February 17, 2005 at 89 years old. Vera E Bell's last known residence is at Winston Salem, Forsyth County, NC 27103.

ef

Life is Good!

Off To See The Wizard...

A friend and I received a gracious invitation to spend the morning in the company of a dear lady and master machine quilter. She demonstrated flowing feathers and shared tips and tricks. We soaked it in; all that we could absorb. One thing (there were SO MANY!) that I've been guilty of, to my own detriment, is stitching too fast.  I'm slowing things down; and practicing, practicing, practicing. I am grateful for, and humbled by, this mentor in my life; she not only gave up a morning to teach us, but she removed her own grandson's wedding quilt from her frame and loaded a practice piece just for us to learn and to play. I remember when my daughter was in Girl Scouts, they earned badges entitled: "Each One, Teach One", if we each took the time to pass on just one skill to another how much more proficient would we all be?

Thank you, T; you're the best!

Life is Good!

The Thread That Binds

Why do you make quilts? Do you want to create something that will last longer than you do, something that says "I was here, I took the time to stitch these pieces together because that is what mattered to me"? We can only hope that what we leave behind will be appreciated and loved, we can only hope that it will matter to someone else. And so, we document our work. We tell the stories of our quilts to our children and our grandchildren, we want to live on through our quilts. Fannye Hall does. This photograph means a great deal to me for what it represents. Fannye is gone now, but her quilts live on. Nane bought this top that Fannye pieced at an auction, learned to appliqué as a means of securing it to a suitable border for stability, and I quilted it. We are now tied together, the three of us, the thread that binds us is a strong one. Here is the past, the present and the future all wrapped up in one glorious quilted creation that matters! Cooking and cleaning are all too quickly undone, I hope to leave tangible memories that will endure; this is why I make quilts.

Life is Good!

Fannye's Legacy

I'm preparing binding today for this scrappy Bear Paw quilt. Sundance helped me out to get it to this point, quilted and ready to finish. Fannye Hall died very unexpectedly four year ago; she was the matriarch of our local guild, mentor to the masses in these parts. I purchased this as a top of hers at an auction a while back, the proceeds going to benefit my aforementioned guild, a fund-raising idea of which she would definitely approve! Time and circumstances have bound us together forever on this project, I have a feeling she would be pleased with this collaboration. Fannye can rest assured that I will bind this quilt with care and precision, she'd expect nothing less from me. It was she who taught me how to bind a quilt properly; how turn a sharp, square corner, one of which we could both be proud. Fannye's legacy lives on. I still miss her, but today I recognize it's the blessing of having known her that will endure into tomorrow through every quilt of my own.

Life is Good!

Spending Time With Fannye

This little beauty of a quilt top, a Bear's Paw, (71" X 82") made its way home from last night's Quilt Guild meeting with me, I was the high bidder when this was auctioned off as a Guild fund raiser. The top was sewn by Fannye Hall. Fannye was thought of as the matriarch of our Guild, a founding member, a quilt teacher to almost every quilter that I know here, a friend. Fannye passed away almost three years ago; suddenly, unexpectedly. Her daughter donated a few quilt tops to the Guild that her mother loved so dearly for the express purpose of raising funds in Fannye's memory. I am so pleased to have captured something tangible to remember Fannye, I will enjoy quilting this and reminiscing. I'll close with comments that I submitted for a memorial tribute to Fannye that was displayed at NC Quilt Symposium in 2006. Thanks, Fannye, for always expecting excellence from me; I remember, rest assured, I will quilt and bind this to the very best of my ability! "I was a brand new quilter. Not knowing any better, I entered that first quilt; with it's wavy borders and puckered, gathered binding into our Guild's show! I worked at that show; helping to scribe for the judges and, hopefully, to learn a lot. I heard one of the judges remark about my quilt, when it's time came to be judged: "someone needs to show this woman how to put on a binding and turn a corner". I dutifully wrote down, "binding can use improvement" as directed by the judge. I hoped no one noticed my pained expression, I was working hard to guard my own anonymity. Fannye was in the room at the time, folding quilts and stacking them for hanging. At lunch time Fannye requested that I sit beside her, she quickly and efficiently showed me right then and there how to bind a quilt and turn a sharp, square corner at the same time! I was amazed that she had known the quilt belonged to me! Fannye knew all, and was always quick to share her skills and knowledge with all of us; that we might be better quilt makers. We became friends from that day on. I learned a LOT from her. I think of, and thank, Fannye with every single quilt I bind to this day! Fannye is deeply missed, I am happy to have known her and will always treasure her kindness."