In Memory

I love making quilts that are inspired by nature especially in rural areas. A drive through some very rural back roads near our home a few days before Memorial Day revealed an old cemetery that is sure to inspire some artful quilt designs.  The lichen covered wrought iron fence attracted our attention indicating it was on the verge of being abandoned.  As we stopped to explore further the grass had been carefully mowed around each headstone so someone was still taking care to respect the souls resting there. According to dates on gravestones no one had been laid to rest there since the 1970’s.  The majority of stones were from the 1800’s. Some were broken or had fallen from their base. Some were still standing although in precarious positions.  Inscriptions were fascinating to read and made one wonder about the rest of the story. Many headstones were commemorating the death of babies and very young children causing one to wonder the cause. One stone recognized a private in the infantry during WWI. One modern stone was engraved with a birth date of 1901 but no date of passing had been recorded.

I’m sure every stone had more to tell just as our quilts have more to tell than the first glance reveals.  The brief information on a headstone give us a glimpse of the life lived Our quilts are labeled so that generations to come will have a small glimpse of our life.  Perhaps we can share more so those who come after us have fewer unanswered questions.  The premise of my book, Hand Me Down Quilts, was to help you share your quilts and the family stories that preserve our heritage for future generations.