Oh, the things found in old blog posts!
My First Quilt
Back in the early 80’s, I was trying to find something to occupy my time during lunch one day. Shopping was my favorite thing to do back then and I came across a little quilt shop. I had always loved sewing and had played around with some of my grandma’s quilt patterns when I was a kid but I had never had a class or any “formal” quilt training. So, I signed up for a beginner’s piecing class. We were going to make a four block sampler. Well, I had too much fun and I made 16 blocks. This quilt, besides being ugly, is hand pieced and hand quilted (quite sparsely!) Looks like I had lots of fun fussy cutting those roses in some of the blocks. Heck, come to think about it, everything was fussy cut since it was all done with templates and scissors. There was a little old lady who worked in that shop, Ava Broussard. I know I would never have stuck with quilting if she had not taken me under her wing and kept me enthused. She passed away years ago but she became a good friend to me, even outside the realm of quilting. She would invite me to her house for lunch sometimes. She lived in one of the BIG, old house in north Lake Charles . . where some of the first houses in Lake Charles had been built. Her husband had died and she lived in this huge house by herself and the neighborhood was rapidly going downhill. I always worried about her living there alone. She made the best kibbeh and she knew I loved it so she would make a big batch and freeze some for me to take home. And, she always had homemade lemonade! I can definitely thank Ava or blame her for my love of kibbeh. In the late 80’s or early 90’s, Ava began losing her eyesight and had to move from her big home where she had raised her family into a townhouse in Sulphur near her son. The new home was in a much safer neighborhood and was brand new and really nice. When Chad was born, she made a baby quilt (3 pigs) for him. I kept it and he hardly used it but I gave it to Addie.
Quilt Made by Mrs. Broussard
I would have saved it forever and it was hard for me to see Addie playing with it but I think Mrs. Broussard would rather have seen it being used than tucked into a drawer to be saved forever.
More precious memories in an old blog post!
Ranch Wife says
Look at you – stitching up a masterpiece your first time up at bat! I love it! Even then, you had a great sense of design and color. I was in high school back then and never dreamed I’d EVER be a quilter, much less own a sewing machine. I loved hearing about your friendship with Mrs. Broussard and how she sparked your quilting journey.
Lisa Boyer says
I had a mentor like that–her name was Ruth Mosher. She made beautiful quilts, (some of which are in museums), yet she took this beginner into her heart. She was known to be feisty (she wore a button that said “No Whining” in her classes), but she was very kind and generous with her time and attention if she thought you really wanted to learn. She has also passed away, but I will always remember her.
Teri says
I love that! So nice that you kept it. Looks like you have always been a perfectionist even with your first quilt!
Kathy says
I wonder if at some point in all quilters lives they made a quilt using those exact colors. I know I did. It was also a sampler early on in my quilting journey.
April R says
My aunt made me my first quilt when I graduated college. It was all hand pieced and quilting. It was not allowed to be used. Just hanging pretty on a quilt rack I had stained myself. Only after I took up quilting, did I realize she would want it to be used and not just hang in a corner.
Dottie says
Brings back memories of when I started quilting…..Our teacher taught us how to draft any size pattern, make cardboard templates that we glued our graph paper templates on, trace around the template on our fabric, cut 1/4″ outside and hand stitch. I had GRAND plans to always hand piece/hand quilt, but, even though I loved doing both, I realized I would NEVER finish all the quilts I wanted to make.
Nelle Coursey says
I love your first quilt! And yes, I bet Miss Ava is smiling knowing Chad’s little girl is loving her quilt. She made it with such love! And what a precious gift to pass along!
Susan says
It isn’t ugly. Times and colors have changed, but it would still look at home on a bed!
Twyla Starr says
That is a beautiful quilt. What a first quilt! All of your quilts I have seen are great.