Ode to Grandmother

Yesterday, I was contemplating moving my Grandmother's old Singer out to the storage building, but I just could not do it (the machine is in the middle of the kitchen). I realized that she was the last person to put thread on it, the last one to sew with the machine I learned to sew on, and I needed her to be close to be a part of my everyday life - even now. I have not talked much about myself or my personal life in terms of quilts and quilting. It has been a hard thing for me to do. So to my Grandmother I would like to say “thank you” even though she is gone.

I learned to piece and tie quilts from her when I lived with her in Havre for two of the best years of my life. Every time I pick up a needle and thread or sew on a machine there is a part of her with me. She was 96 when she died. She saw outdoor toilets fall into disrepair, she canned her own fruit and vegetables, she watched man walk on the moon after having had horses be her primary mode of transportation, she never had a drivers license, she did not read well or much, but boy could she quilt. She taught me how to make cup cakes - and she was ALWAYS busy but never too busy for me. Part of the time I lived with her I worked late and would come home and sew and she would bring me a cup of Cafe Vienna at midnight so I could keep working.

I learned about unconditional love from my grandmother Florence and I hope that love is reflected in my work. As well as with my interaction with my grandson Keagan who is with me now. I tell him that when he looks back on his time with me that he will be able to say "My Grandmother loved me a lot and we had a lot of fun - she enriched my life." Because that is the gift my Grams gave to me.