I am ridiculously happy!!

11 years ago

My grandmother used to make quilts all the time, that's what she was known for. When I went to her home city in 2001 (she died in 1986), I approached her sister to ask if she knew of a quilt of hers that might be available for sale, but she said she couldn't help me. Anyway, my brother was here last week, and he was raised by my grandmother. My brother was cleaning out his attic and he found 29 finished dresden circles completed by my grandmother and 2 that were finished except for the centers. He discussed the situation with his wife, and they agreed that he would give them to me!! I was so excited, I couldn't sleep the night he gave them to me! I'm still amazed that I got them, and they are in perfect condition. I can hardly wait to put them together (although I have to figure out to do it).

Comments (18)

nannykins
11 years ago
Lucky you!
Theresa
toolgranny
11 years ago
What a find. This is truly a rare opportunity to finish something within your family. I did the same for a cousin who found the wedding ring pieces. It's worth doing.

If you need help as you go along, don't forget we are here for you. Good luck.
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Thanks, @weedyacres. I didn't really expect to be told it wasn't a good thing to try to take burdens from my wife, but I think I know what you meant. We actually do work together and have a lot of fun with it. But she just gave birth. I'd rather she not have to haul heavy carpets and paneling and tile. We're perhaps unusual, but we're very traditional. My wife worked until I was done school and our first child was born and now she's a stay at home mom. This house has been our project together. She's done a lot of work on the house alongside me and she works very hard. She does a lot, but especially all the visually detailed work, like painting. My wife is a very sweet girl who takes on a lot of extra responsibilities with a good attitude; I like to do my best to make things a little easier for her when I can. She's got her hands full with our young kids, hospitality, all the driving, etc. Really a lot falls on her. I have many personal reasons for wanting to take some of these jobs off her plate; I certainly don't want to depend on her for everything. In your last paragraph you mentioned being willing to happily volunteer for even a job that wasn't your favorite if it would help out your husband because that's what marriage is all about. I think that's great. That's basically what I'm trying to do for my wife in this instance.
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tuppermom
11 years ago
I know the feeling of getting something your Grandmother worked on. I have over 50 Grandmother's Flower Garden flowers, all handpieced by my Grandma. I have to sew the white hexagons on some of them then sew them all together.
I bet your brother got a great big hug from his very grateful sister!
quiltnhen
11 years ago
What a wonderful story. Enjoy!
empress
11 years ago
Oh, Susan, I'm so happy for you, too. Have a wonderful time planning your project and remembering your grandmother.
K8Orlando
11 years ago
It's a treasure! She would be thrilled to know these blocks made it into the hands of a relative who would cherish them and use them!
bev2009
11 years ago
That's fantastic! The quilt will mean so much to you. The older we get, the more we appreciate these things.
dan_the_mailman
11 years ago
Susan, kudoes to your brother for making your wishes come true! I'm excited for you! I know how excited you're feeling. A couple years ago I was talking with my mother about quilting, and she gave me some blocks made by both of my grandmothers, and some unfinished pieces also. Right now they are in one of my sewing drawers, waiting for me to put them into a wall-hanging. I want to put them together with some blocks my mother made, and make it a 3-generation hanging.
Enjoy those dresden circles, for they are indeed treasures!
Dan
ritaweeda
11 years ago
What a great story. You are so lucky to wind up with a family treasure like that.
Robbi D.
11 years ago
Awesome!! You are so lucky! I wouldn't have been able to sleep either. Have fun :-)

Robbi
littlehelen_gw
11 years ago
How special for you! I look forward to seeing your touch to your grandmothers blocks!
V.
littlehelen_gw
11 years ago
How special for you! I look forward to seeing your touch to your grandmothers blocks!
V.
nanajayne
11 years ago
Susan, It makes my heart glad that you have the treasure that you appreciate. It brings tear to my eyes thinking about it.
I am making sure that all my family has a "piece" of me and I can only hope they will have the same fond memories that you are feeling. God Bless.
loisflan
11 years ago
Susan, what a wonderful gift! I have some crochet work by my grandmother and I treasure it too. But this is so wonderful, because you will be able to finish your grandmother's work for her. It's very special.
quiltingfox
11 years ago
Susan that is wonderful that your brother gave you your grandma's quilt blocks. And once you make a quilt from them that will be even more family history in the quilting to pass on to future generations.

Best to you,
Sandra
magothyrivergirl
11 years ago
Susan~that gift would keep me from sleeping also! Please be sure to label the quilt recording the history and timeline for future generations. This is a wonderful story and you have a very sweet brother and SIL.
susan_on
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks everyone, I knew the people here would understand! I have a couple of cake projects to do this month before I can start on it. I should be able to start by the end of August or the beginning of September. I don't move fast because I'm a little bit of a nervous quilter, but I will probably be asking a lot of questions!
polardream
11 years ago
That is so awesome for you! When my grandmother died, my mom found a stack of grandmother's flower garden blocks she had hand pieced in a box in her storage shed. Mom is a quilter, too. She laid them out, made a few more to make it large enough, then finished it and gave it to me. I LOVE THIS QUILT! It is really special since it was made by both Mom and Grandma.

I am sure that you will do a great job and treasure it for years to come.
Sue

I am ridiculously happy!!

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nannykins

toolgranny

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I am ridiculously happy!!

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