Generations ago on the frontier, brides had quilting bees to make their wedding quilts, very necessary items for furnishing a new home. Quilts evoke a sense of tradition, of our connections with the past, and our dreams for the new couple and their future home together.Here is a wedding quilt that I made for my oldest niece when she got married a few years back.

At right is a very unusual wedding quilt.  Andrea had inherited from her mother a wide variety of fabrics which her mom had collected over the years traveling worldwide. She had fine silks from India and China, heavy cotton brightly colored Guatemalan fabrics, woolen rug-weight pieces.  She wanted me to make these disparate fabrics into a wall-hanging for her younger sister’s wedding.  I also made a smaller piece for Andrea to keep.  What a wonderful tangible way to remember their mother!

The gift of a quilt can be like a great big hug! When my husband’s father suffered a stroke, I made him this quilt to soften the sterile environment of the rehabilitation facility. The personalized label reminded him daily of our love, though we were many miles away.

When I worked in Odessa, Texas for two years, I met some wonderful people who made me feel at home even though my husband, daughter and house were far away.  For Dee’s 80^th birthday, I gave her this simple quilt with personalized label to thank her for her love and friendship.

Ties of Time

Every morning that Uncle Albert went to work there was a piece of silk knotted at his collar.  Upon his retirement, he announced to his wife, “you can get rid of these!” as he handed her a bag with about fifty neckties in it.  Some were plain, some colorful, a few were jewels, a few were hideous, but when put together they formed a tapestry that was interesting, whimsical, colorful and magnetic, rather like Uncle Albert, himself.

Tee Shirt Quilts

Today everyone has a drawer full of old tee shirts that are full of memories, are seldom worn, and are taking up space! Transform them into a tee-shirt quilt, something that you will enjoy cozying up with on the couch!  A tee shirt quilt can be a great graduation present or an auction item for a favorite club or organization. A quilt made from children’s clothing is a treasure.

Signature Quilts

A signature quilt also makes a wonderful wedding present. I had fabric pens at the wedding reception so that everyone could sign the quilt and it became a kind of guest book to remind Craig and Amber of their great wedding day celebration.

A signature quilt is simply a quilt with some light-colored spaces where people can sign their names and offer best wishes.  I made a signature quilt for Ann, who had been diagnosed with cancer and had no health insurance.  We threw a big benefit party for her at the theatre, many people performed skits and songs, and everyone who came signed the quilt. 

My friend Marion had two pieced silk quilt tops that dated from about 1910. I was able to repair some torn places on them, places where the old fabric had just fallen apart. And then I quilted each top together with a backing of dupioni silk. Marion loves using and displaying her “new” quilts, while remembering the family members who made them years ago.