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Best Thank you Ever!

8/31/2022

I have made and gifted many quilts and handmade items over the years as you have all done. This quilt elicited the best expression of gratitude that I have ever received. Ever!

The gentleman in the picture is a former colleague, Ricardo. I was a Spanish teacher in a former life, and he was a member of my department. He was a wonderful teacher and always willing to give a hand to a new department member like me. One of my favorite memories is when it was snowing outside and Ricardo would use his free period to knock on your classroom door and whisper in your ear that there would be an early dismissal. Long before cell phones and the internet, Ricardo was our text messenger!

My other strong memory of Ricardo was the smart style in which he would dress everyday. He had more button down shirts and ties than any man I have ever known and my dad had a lot! Ricardo believed that teachers should always dress professionally and I cannot remember a day except the photograph above, that he did not have a crisp button down and sharp tie! So when he was getting ready to retire I decided that I would make him a shirt and tie quilt. I did not have a pattern, so I set about trying to draft it.

I raided my stash for all of my low volume beiges and then I set about looking for novelty fabrics for the ties. I wanted to reflect aspects of Ricardo's life in the ties. I found chocolates which were his favorite treat; American flags since this was his second country having immigrated from Cuba following the coup by Castro; flowers for his gardening and so on. It was a fun scavenger hunt.

To make the shirts, I used a rectangle for the body and I decided that prairie points might fit the bill for the collar. I added the small white buttons to accent the collar just like a button down shirt. I did fuse the ties using a soft fusible and then button hole stitched around each one. I framed it in black and brown to give it an artistic feel. I could almost see a Campbell soup can poster-like picture in my mind.

The day for Ricardo's retirement luncheon came and someone in the department found a Cuban restaurant nearby for the celebration. When he opened the package he was stunned. He read each message that had been written on the back. (I had each department member sign a square and I added them to the backing) I was very happy that it was so well received. It was not until the next morning at school that I found out just how well received it was.

Because it was final and state exam week, there were no classes and my exam was already given. I was in my classroom getting ready to clean and organize for the fall, when my door opened. It was Ricardo. He came over and hugged me. I will never forget what he said: "That is the best gift that I have ever received! Thank you so much!" Ricardo had never been one to be overly expressive but he was that day. And I am reminded of another time when he was supportive, as was the whole department. They sent me a card when I was going through a tough time and he wrote,"tarde o temprano, todo cambia" which basically means "this too shall pass". I was caring for my mom during that time and it was a very emotional period of my life trying to keep all the balls in the air so to speak.

Like most quilters and crafters, I have gifted far more than I have kept. My joy comes from the creating the quilt but also from the gifting. I get to try out a new pattern or new technique and then share it and move to the next new thing. I have rarely made the same quilt twice and by making for personal experiences of others, I get to try it all. How blessed am I!

I would love to hear from you what experiences you have had in sharing your quilts with others. Drop me a message on the contact page if you have a minute or two.

Also, if you would like to receive an email when there is a new blogpost, you can use the contact form to leave your email address and I will add it to the list.

Until next time...
Piecefully,
Trisha

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My first quilt!

8/8/2022

1 Comment

August 19, 2022
Here is a complete photo of my very first quilt. I decided to make a heart quilt for my parents' 48th wedding anniversary in 1994. My mom had no idea that I was following in my nana's footsteps since I lived in the Hudson Valley of NY and she and Dad were in PA.

No one told me that applique was supposed to be difficult. Especially those inner curves and points of the hearts. So I jumped in. I used muslin which was probably pretty inexpensive since I had two sons and I was stay at home mom. I used fabric that my sister in law had given me. It was scrappy and I liked it that way. I traced the hearts with a wooden heart from a craft store. I traced each heart and cut it out by hand. (No Accucut back then!) I used 9 inch squares and began the task of appliqueing all of those hearts. I do not remember how long it took but I made the anniversary deadline in November.

I used my evenings to sew while my husband was either coaching late or scoring science labs, etc. I pieced them on a $50 Singer sewing machine that my mother in law had purchased for me. No quarter inch foot but masking tape sufficed. I put them all together and was it square? Absolutely not! Not in the least but I had tried.

I did not understand the concept of squaring a quilt yet. So I added some muslin borders and set about cutting two inch squares for another border. Well, I had a problem because I did not realize the importance of that squaring up step.
When I began to add the squares, they were too long on one side. As you can see on the center picture above, I simply folded it over and stitched it down. I knew Mom and Dad would never even see it!

I added the outer borders and began to hand quilt it. That was a long task but one that I found that I enjoyed. It was very relaxing for me. I know that today I do not do that much anymore but I felt then a connection to my nana and great nana. Each stitch had a bit of me in it.

After binding it, I wrapped it and was off to the UPS store as I was not prepared to give this to the postal service. They did not have all of the tracking that they offer today. When I went to the counter, there was a lovely man and he took all of my information. I wanted it to be there the next day which was easy as we were only three hours apart in distance. No air travel, only ground. I had put my heart and soul in this quilt and I wanted to be sure it would arrive. He understood that he had a crazy quilter in front of him. He guaranteed me that unless the world ended, my quilt would arrive the next day safe and sound. I relaxed for a moment. Then he said, "how about insurance?" I said, "INSURANCE? You said it would be there!" I was a bit overwhelming to him I admit but I did take some just in case. He had a story to tell his wife about a lunatic he had in his store that day. I like to think that she was a crafter and completely understood :).

The next day, Mom and Dad phoned to say that they had received my first quilt and how happy they were. I was extremely happy. I wanted to go back and hug the UPS man but I restrained myself.
I was so pleased to be able to surprise them and to channel a bit of the Cramer/Chilcote women in my life.

What is the story of your first quilt? Do you still have it? I was fortunate to get mine back and I cherish it. A lot of lessons were learned from that experience and each time I make a new one, I learn something else.

Piecefully,
Trisha

I am a foI am a fourth generation quilter but the third generation was skipped. My mom never picked up the craft as she had too many other activities filling her plate including being a full time wife and mother, grandmother helping to raise three granddaughters and a full time RN. How she even did all of that, I am not sure. I think my mom was sleep deprived for many years and I am grateful for the opportunities that she and my dad gave to me.

My grandmother, Flora and her mother, Arletta (my great grandmother) were the quilters in my past. My mom said that she remembered tracing and cutting out triangles for pinwheel blocks. She also said that she never wanted to cut another triangle LOL.

As one of the three youngest grandchildren, my nana did not teach me to quilt but she did try to help me to learn clothing techniques. They did not stick to me but skipped to one of my very talented nieces who sews like the best designer out there.

I credit my sister in law, Judith, with my beginning to quilt. She gave me some books, some fabric and lots of encouragement. That was all that it took! I was hooked!

The quilt below was made by my great grandmother in the 1930's. There are all types of fabrics here: serge, upholstery, dress, etc. My mom said she could pick out her grandfather's suit as well as curtains and slipcovers. The center picture is special to me but I did not notice that fabric until after my mom passed in 2012. I was working on a portrait quilt of my mom's high school graduation picture. My grandmother made the suit that she wore and a scrap of the fabric is in the photo in the circle. I was very emotional about it for some reason. I found a direct link to my mom in this quilt beyond the fact that it was a wedding gift to my parents in 1946. That touched me deeply.

While my nana was a traditional quilter and hand quilted her other quilts (which did not survive, unfortunately) she would have been first in line for a rotary cutter and ruler when they became available. She was always ready for change and she would be amazed by what has changed in the world of quilting.

I am amazed myself when I look back at my 28 years of the craft. I look forward to what tomorrow will bring.

Dulcemente, (sweetly)

Trisha
urth generation quilter but the third generation was skipped. My mom never picked up the craft as she had too many other activities filling her plate including being a full time wife and mother, grandmother helping to raise three granddaughters and a full time RN. How she even did all of that, I am not sure. I think my mom was sleep deprived for many years and I am grateful for the opportunities that she and my dad gave to me.

My grandmother, Flora and her mother, Arletta (my great grandmother) were the quilters in my past. My mom said that she remembered tracing and cutting out triangles for pinwheel blocks. She also said that she never wanted to cut another triangle LOL.

As one of the three youngest grandchildren, my nana did not teach me to quilt but she did try to help me to learn clothing techniques. They did not stick to me but skipped to one of my very talented nieces who sews like the best designer out there.

I credit my sister in law, Judith, with my beginning to quilt. She gave me some books, some fabric and lots of encouragement. That was all that it took! I was hooked!

The quilt below was made by my great grandmother in the 1930's. There are all types of fabrics here: serge, upholstery, dress, etc. My mom said she could pick out her grandfather's suit as well as curtains and slipcovers. The center picture is special to me but I did not notice that fabric until after my mom passed in 2012. I was working on a portrait quilt of my mom's high school graduation picture. My grandmother made the suit that she wore and a scrap of the fabric is in the photo in the circle. I was very emotional about it for some reason. I found a direct link to my mom in this quilt beyond the fact that it was a wedding gift to my parents in 1946. That touched me deeply.

While my nana was a traditional quilter and hand quilted her other quilts (which did not survive, unfortunately) she would have been first in line for a rotary cutter and ruler when they became available. She was always ready for change and she would be amazed by what has changed in the world of quilting.

I am amazed myself when I look back at my 28 years of the craft. I look forward to what tomorrow will bring.

Dulcemente, (sweetly)

Trisha

I am a fourth generation quilter but the third generation was skipped. My mom never picked up the craft as she had too many other activities filling her plate including being a full time wife and mother, grandmother helping to raise three granddaughters and a full time RN. How she even did all of that, I am not sure. I think my mom was sleep deprived for many years and I am grateful for the opportunities that she and my dad gave to me.

My grandmother, Flora and her mother, Arletta (my great grandmother) were the quilters in my past. My mom said that she remembered tracing and cutting out triangles for pinwheel blocks. She also said that she never wanted to cut another triangle LOL.

1 Comment

I am Trisha Moller and I am a quilter! This is my journey into the creativity of quilts!

Best Thank you Ever!

My first quilt!

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