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6B September 28, 1995- Lockhart Post-RegisterReflectionsBy Dorothy Taylor - 398-5504The art of quilting seems to be the “big thing'’ to do lately. If it isn't there are certainly a lot of people deep into quilting whether they have time to do so or not! At least we read about all types of contests held for a variety of reasons for quilting. You know...the prettiest, the most original, the oldest...and the like.Well, far be it from me to knock any type of activity if it gives any means of satisfaction to those involved. The quilt memory is so far back in the brain cells that I’ve forgotten just who the women were who came to our house in order to participate in quilting. But, they did it! The quilting frames took up a lot of the ceiling space in one of the rooms in that old farm house. The ladies did their work in the daylight hours because of lighting problems at that time. (After all, coal oil lamps didn’t really project a floures-eent glow or totally light up a room. Rather, the glowing and flickering light made eery shadows and covered only a few feet from its stand with its glow.) But, the ladies worked together alright...that is to say...their nimble fingers moved smoothly over and under the quilting chore.My Grannie Vestal would and could sit for hours with a large wad of cotton and work it into a soft and pliable substance to be used in thequilts. She used carding combs to gently work the cotton to her desired consistency. Mom did some of the work and ever so often she allowed us to try our hand with the soft cotton. It was a difficult job but fun to give it a try.It was amazing to watch the ladies as they sat quietly and did their work. It was almost ritualistic. The women would gather one afternoon, lower the quilting frames from the ceiling, arrange themselves in various places in order to work on one part of the process, and get to work. Then, after they finished one part they moved the quilting frames in order to get another part finished.Lots of work had to take place before the group gathered to put the quilt together. The first thing they had to do was decide on what pattern they would use. All the pieces had to be cut out and placed together if the work was to take place in a sufficient manner.Supposedly, the time spent quilting was to be fulfilling and rewarding when the finished product could be removed from the frame and put to use. Some of them were just too pretty to think about placing onto a bed where country folks would rest their tired bodies for the night.Perhaps it was the time involved that was discouraging to my way of doing things.There isn’t a leftoverthought at all about any desire to work on those quilts. My “druthers” involved more time to play outside, rid* the horses, chase the young calves, boo the chickens, scare the piglets, or hang from a tree limb. But, PII have to admit that those quilts were really something to see. The Doll quilt and the wedding ring quilt would be considered my favorites.During the present time friends talk about their quilting and I harbor no envy. They enjoy the job and are very prideful when their creation turns out to be quite beautiful. Pm most happy for their accomplishments.As for that quilting frame that took up all that ceiling space in that long ago farmhouse it left the premises early on. When a Vestal Auntie decided she needed the “thing” in her home Grannie agreed and that was the end of Mom’s quilting. But, in later years she continued to piece together quilt tops and paid a “quilter” to do the quilting. As a result, all her grandchildren have a quilt made by their own sweet grandmother.I Cor. 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
Newspaper Details
Lockhart Post Register
Lockhart, Texas, US
Thu, Sep 28, 1995
Page 8
Full Page
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NC, USA 19 Feb 2022
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