I am the new owner of several wonderful family heirlooms. We are helping my mother and father in law to clean out their house in preparation for sale. It is a bittersweet time. So many memories, such amazingly wonderful people. I am truly blessed and I know it.

As part of the process, my mother in law has given me some family quilts that I will share with you in this and some future posts. The first was made by her mother, Grandma Swartzendruber. I met her when I married into the family and she was in a wheel chair by then. I loved her immediately. She was quirky, no doubt, but a better quilter I have never met. She did the most beautiful embroidery and crochet as well. Grandma was a Mennonite and her parents before her were Amish! I have lots of Grandma stories…..maybe I should tell one here now and then.

For now, I will share this quilt, a lovely Carolina Lily pattern made in the 1930s or so:

It is very thin now but the quilting is nothing short of incredible! I wish you could see the feathers and the tiny stitches! She was an industrious woman and knew well the art of making do. I am thankful to have this and now it is hanging above my bed. here is a close up of one block:

I love the way she substituted a yellow when she ran short of green and used a green that faded differently for some of the leaves :).  Hope you enjoy this peak into my family history!

Until next time….