Today would have been my mother’s 99th birthday. Gwendolyn Verona Brown Smith. The petite woman with a strong influence on us all went to be with her Lord in 2005, just shy of her 92nd birthday. Some of my favorite memories were her asking me to go shopping with her to the fabric store in Lincoln, Nebraska (where I live) because she had found a new quilt block pattern she wanted to try and just wanted an extra set of eyes to help her color coordinate her pieces. That always made me feel like a million bucks.
My mother left a quilt diary, to which my daughter now has the original and all of us siblings have a digital copy of. So I got out my CD of her diary this morning to pick a quilt that would show her true talent. I can’t pick just one – there are too many that show my mother’s precise and professional looking quilts.
But I shall start with the largest quilt she ever worked on, and that was for a high school play as the backdrop for “Quilters”. Hopefully if you click ‘Quilters’ you’ll be taken to a video of one of the scenes and songs from this play, “Never Grow Old”. I remember it being extremely good and thought provoking about life on the prairie. This is the quilt that she helped construct for the play. If I remember correctly, it was 12 foot by 12 foot.
Quilt made for David City Aquinas High Schools’ play “The Quilters”
Too bad the picture isn’t very quality, but what do you expect from a regular camera and gym lighting. It’s huge, isn’t it
I own only a few of her quilts, our daughter has at least one. But there is one that sits in its storage bag in our home, never again to be used. Our son’s transportation theme quilt she made when he was very young. How ironic that transportation was his way of leaving here to be with our Jesus.
Transportation Quilt (at top of page) for our son Tyler, circa 1985
The bottom of the picture shows an elaborate embroidered scene that mom made also. I have no idea where that is or even IF it is anymore.
With all the beauty I’ve been able to enjoy reading mom’s quilt diary, she would have had many quilts showing at the University of Nebraska’s International Quilt Study Center and Museum. Yes, she was just THAT good and I was very proud of her.
Today also marks the day our 17 day old granddaughter Lily was taken in to the arms of Jesus in 2006. My hope is that Lily and my mother are making heaven just that much more beautiful with their beauty, and creativity.
Celebrate your family. Pay attention. After this week and the tragedy in Connecticut, please hold that loved one just a second longer, and tell them you love them.
Thank you for reading. :)
Filed under: Random, Sewing Tagged: Arts, colors, Connecticut, Crafts, granddaughter, heaven, Jesus, mom, Mother, perfection, plays, Quilt, quilt blocks, Quilters, quilting, sewing, The Quilters, United States
