Susann

Cathy, I have tears in my eyes reading about your Mother's quilts and ambition to continue her legacy. What a blessing you are!!

GramMER

[QUOTE=Macybaby;

My goal is to continue the tradition and make sure each of my siblings and neices and nephews have quilts - then I'll see where it goes. I love making quilts so having a lot to give away works for me LOL!!

From the eulogy - my Mother is survived by 10 childern, 27 grand childern, 15 great grandchildern, and 1 great-great grand child - and plenty of the grandchildern are still at it - and the great grandchildern are just getting old enough to start making more too!

Mom did finish a few quilts, but I'll still have a long way to go if I want to complete her plan.[/QUOTE]

This poem seems appropriate:

A CERTAIN MAGIC
by Marcella Bechtel
Forty or more long years ago,*
A lady I never knew
Lovingly pieced this quilt top,*
And added the border, too.
Each curve fits in exactly,*
It's made so carefully,
But she died ere she could quilt it*
For her great-grandson, you see.
She made quilts for all her children,*
And all their children, too;
But there wasn't time to finish*
All that she meant to do.
So this lovely top was left behind*
After she'd gone to rest;
It was handed down to his mother,*
And stored in a cedar chest.
It stayed in perfect condition,*
Though forty years it's been
Since she made it for my husband--*
He was just a baby then.
Now it is stretched out before me,*
And my needle moves to a tempo,
Quilting the top she made
So many years ago.
I feel as if I know her--*
This lady I never met;
For the cloth holds a certain magic*
Of love that is living yet.
I know it makes her happy*
That*at last it's being done
By someone else who loves him--*
Her gift for her great-grandson.

WMUTeach

I am laughing as I think of my pile of UFO's. I hope I don't do this to my children..... or maybe I hope I do. You mother was a busy lady and obviously loved to piece and give her work to others. What a privilege you have to finish her work.

I just saw the poem. Perfectly stated.

jbj137

***
*** What a Treasure Trove.
*** Mom is smiling because you are so generous to finish tphem for the others.
***

oldtnquiltinglady

What a tribute to your mother's memory, Cathy. I can't believe you have already gone through and done all you have on these quilts--have you even been home a week yet???? You must be a ball of fire when you get going...And do I understand that you also work outside your home.? Those are gorgeous quilts, and you're so lucky that you got them in such good condition. How many years' stored away do you figure they were? Good luck, and we'll be watching as you undertake this daunting thing for your family.

nancia

my condolences on the loss of your mother. it is very difficult. how wonderful you have so many remembrances of her through your shared joy in quilting!

Cogito

My goodness Cathy what a labor of love and such a selfless act! All very beautiful. I only have 1 daughter and she has made a couple of quilts. I wonder if she will be willing to finish all of my UFO's. I have often wondered about that.

caspharm

Very nice collection of family quilts.

sewbizgirl

I think you are amazing to complete these as your mother wished, for all the family. I'm sure it's comforting and therapeutic to be working on your mother's quilts. God bless you.

qltgrose

WOW ... how blessed you were to have a family pass on the quilting legacy to you and how blessed your mom and grandmother were to have a daughter to carry on....enjoy the memories while you work...My moms dementia and cancer claimed her before she could leave such a treasure trove for me, but the bits I have are some of my happiest remembering her....