One of the important projects on my “to do” list is to compose a family quilting and sewing history; I’ve written to various family members to ask for their input and have recently received wonderful letters from my grandmother and two great-aunts on this subject. The quilt pictured above is a generational quilt started by my great-great grandmother, Emma Acelia Wakefield Fitzgarrald and completed by my great-aunt Joan. There are 86 grandmother’s flower garden blocks with each having a yellow hexagon for the center, solid colors for the next ring of six hexagons, and coordinating prints for the third ring of twelve hexagons. When my great-aunt received these blocks upon the passing of her mother, some of the blocks had been sewed in strips with white hexagons in between; however, it was evident that her grandmother had started removing the white hexagons from the flowers. My great-aunt decided to continue removing the white pieces and applique’d each flower onto a 7-inch hexagon of white cotton. My great-aunt wrote me that she has worked on this quilt at home in Iowa and has also carried the blocks with her to work on them while traveling in Minnesota, Kansas, South Dakota, Michigan, New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas, and several other states along the way. My great-great grandmother began this quilt in the 1920’s, and it was completed by my great-aunt Joan in 2001. How grateful I am to have the information on this piece of my family quilting heritage!
I’ve been doing some sewing with Mill House Inn recently…the fabrics are absolutely gorgeous! Recently I completed a wonderful quilt using a jelly roll of this line by Joanna for Moda. I can’t share pictures of the blocks or quilt…but I can say that you are going to love it. This is one of those patterns that is not only fun to make but also leaves you wanting to make another when you’re finished–it’s that cute!
I hope you have a wonderful week and that lots of quilting time comes your way!
Stephanie says
Ooo…are you pattern testing for Joanna? How lucky you are to have such great history on your quilts. Very pretty grandmother's flower garden.
Sachiko says
I love the grandmother's flower garden quilt!! So beautiful!!
Stina says
Wow… catching up on your blog and it is always so much fun.. and busy as always!!!!
Loved your familys Garandmothers Flower Garden.. a treasure!!
And your new sewing project looks just wonderful!!! :o)
Joy says
Oh Sherri what a fantastic history your beautiful Grandmothers Flower Garden quilt has – you're so lucky to have so many quiltmakers in your family, no-one else in my family does patchwork.
Love the Mill House fabrics … they remind me a lot of the Fig & Plum … I still haven't gotten around to playing with mine yet ;o). Can't wait to see the quilts you've been making :o)!!!
Hugs,
Joy :o)
maria says
I enjoy you family quilting stories. You should write a book.
Cardygirl says
Your flower garden quilt & story is lovely. I like the Mill House Inn project too.
Carol says
What a treasure! You are so fortunate to be able to get all of the information. I have several quilts of hubby's grandmother's but not a speck of info…but I love them. Can't wait to see what you're making with Mill House Inn…can you tell us what fabric we need so we're ready when the pattern is revealed? Don't want to miss a thing. LOL!
Vickie E says
ah that's what you're up to…I wondered how someone as talented as you could sneak past Lissa…tricky heehehe…
Jackie says
How wonderful it is that you have that gorgeous GFG all to yourself! What a terrific piece of family history, just gorgeous. Looking forward to seeing your newest project.
Kaaren says
Your GFG quilt just speaks to me. I have an amazingly similar antique one from 1923 that I'd love to know the history on. What makes yours so special is the fact that you do know the history and can pass this on.
Your sneak peek looks wonderful.
jaybird says
sneaky sneaky… can't wait to see what you are cooking up!
Terriaw says
Wow, what an amazing family quilt! I am in awe at how detailed and how big it is! Amy over at Amyalamode did a project similar to this where she documented her family quilts – you should check it out. Your new project looks like fun too!
Rose Marie says
A delightful quilt and you are so fortunate to have older quilters in your family who can give you information to work with. What an interesting book you will have.
Shasta says
I think it is wonderful that you are documenting the history, and what wonderful a story it is indeed!
rachel griffith says
ooohhh.
another 'make your heart happy' post.
i can't wait to see your mill house inn!!!
OzRose says
How lucky are you having a quilt like yours?! It is beautifull. Are you going to print out the history and sew onto the back for the future?
Material Mary says
I absolutely love the grandmother's flower garden quilt. Lovely…
Mary
dotti white says
You have a wonderful quilting history in your family–that is so precious! I am excited to see the rest of your work with mill house inn. I am loving that line, too! Let us know when we can see and then where we can get the pattern! Have an awesome week!
Barbara says
What a beautiful Grandmother's Flower Garden and to have the history too. I have the flower garden that my great grandmother, grandmother and mother made many years ago. I love it. Thank you for sharing.
Hugs, Barb
Nedra says
You know how I love GFG's and yours is such a treasure! I think it's wonderful that you are gathering the history of the quilt, along with family stories.
w&v says
V. here… beautiful quilt by your Family. The hexagons are such a source of oohs and ahhs! Can't wait to see your finished Mill House. Just your words make me want to make one now!!And I have so many other projects to finish. My eyes are bigger than my quilting fingers are fast.v
The Rabbit Factory says
Provenance is what they talk about on the Antiques Roadshow…and you have that! How nice you are gathering that information to follow with the quilt!
Karen says
A very good idea to document quilting history in the family. What I know about it in my family is limited, though many quilts were made by an aunt & some by my mother.
Robin (rsislandcrafts) says
Beautiful GFG quilt!
Carrie P. says
What a great quilt and a piece of history. Love it. Love the new fabric and the sneak peek.
Mary on Lake Pulaski says
Do you have/own the grandmother's flower garden quilt? It is lovely!
What a tease with Mill House Inn – I know I will like it!!
Candace says
What a great story about your quilt, Sherri – and to think its traveled to so many places in the US! Can't wait to see what you're working on!
Cheers!
Happy Cottage Quilter says
What a special family quilt! Such a rich heritage. And to have the history about it too! Very beautiful.
quiltmom says
What a wonderful story and how nice that your aunt Joan was able to complete such a beautiful garden. It is really a terrific version of the garden.
I love the oldfashioned design of- Grandmother'es Flower Garden but making that quilt is too scary for me- I don't know how to hand piece it nor hand quilt something that small so (I am a machine girl all the way) I guess I will have to be content with admiring other people's beautiful antique quilts.
Warmest regards,
Anna
Jane's Fabrics and Quilts says
Oh I love history, how lucky you are! The quilt is so beautiful!
Peg - Happy In Quilting says
The flower garden quilt of your Grandmothers is just so beautiful Sherri…lovely fabric in your new project.
Miriam says
That quilt is so precious! A family heirloom.
There were lots of dressmakers in my family, but, as far as I know, no quilters.
Brenda says
It is great o have family history on your quilts. I am starting to write down everything that my mom tells me about quilts in the family.
Purple and Paisley says
oh my! the grandmother's flower garden quilt is fabulous! wow…and your new sewing project looks wonderful…☺
Nanette Merrill and daughters says
Look at those points!! Wow. Perfection Sherri. Love that. I love your grandmother's quilt.
Eileen says
ooo.. that Mill House Inn stuff is so rich and pretty. I do love it.
However.. the grandmother's garden made by your family women is too wonderful to behold. Don't you wish you could have added your own stitch here or there to it too? I think I would have begged to put the border on or something. 😀 But just knowing the history of it and having it in your family is so precious!
*karendianne. says
Another really treasured quilt with such an interesting chronicle. I was really taken with all places this quilt has traveled over the years.
Jenny says
found your blog, and I love how you're cataloging your family's heirloom quilts. What a treasure to have. I'm hoping that the quilts I make become family heirlooms.
Michell says
Your flower garden quilt & story is lovely
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Michell
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