Friday, January 29, 2010

Redwork Quilt



I'm playing around with some pictures this morning.  I have some in e-mails that won't let me copy and paste so I'm trying to figure out how to put them in something else so that I can put them in my post.  I should be doing my homework for my board meeting on Friday but I'm goofing off.  What can I say?

Well I didn't get very far with that as here it is Friday and I have already been to my board meeting this morning.  I think I am over the worst of my headcold as I have only sneezed once this morning and that was when I had a mouth full of vitamins and they went all over the kitchen!

It is bitterly cold today with the wind whipping around the house making drifts out back.  Noodles and Munchie went out for a short time and then headed right back in and are curled up in their favorite spots in the sun on their blankets.

I watched two operations today after my board meeting.  A little girl cat got spayed and a little boy cat got neutered.  It only takes about 6 or 7 minutes to take care of the boy cats but longer for the girls.  It was very interesting and I can see why most vets prefer to do small animals rather then horses or cows.  Thank goodness we do have our large animal vets though!  Nick is coming along good with the hand walking.  Next week he will be able to go out in the inside arena by himself and move around as he wants.  I hope he takes it easy for a while but time will tell.  He does have to have a couple of shots in that hock on the 10th of February.  I just got the call from my vet. 

What I really wanted to write about today is one of my possessions that I consider a treasure.  My Aunt Joyce and I were very close for many years until she passed away a number of years ago.  We both loved horses and she ended up with one of mine in her later years and found much enjoyment in having him there at her home.

She also loved to do redwork quilting and drew many of her squares by hand or copied them from a greeting card or a picture she found in an old book or magazine.  She wanted this quilt to show things about her life and some of the things that she enjoyed the most.   

I was the lucky recipient of this quilt one day when I was over at her house visiting and I was thrilled!  She wanted to give things to people that she knew would enjoy them and take care of them.  Here are just a few of the squares that I particularly like.

She always tapped the maple trees in the spring to make maple syrup.



She always skated on the lake in the wintertime.


Growing up there were always pigs and piglets on the farm.


She loved Arabian horses and always went to watch the shows.



She loved wildlife especially the eagles that flew over.

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This is Smokey Jack the appy that I had for many years until he retired to her home.  She loved to take him out in the sleigh for a ride.


This is my grandfather, her father, ice fishing on the lake.


Going down the hill on the toboggan with my mother and her other sister.



She and her family lived in California for many years and they loved going into the dessert and camping on the weekends.


She loved the rodeo and went as often as they could.


This is my grandparents house, it had a horseshoe shaped drive way and my grandmother had beautiful flowers all around it.  The tall things on the left are the gorgeous hollyhocks that she grew.  I have never been able to grow them anywhere near like hers.


This is the old barn that was on the other side of the drive way.  It had vines going up one side of it.


There was always a swing in the tree to play on.


My grandfather made stilts for the kids.  My father always made stilts for us too.

This was the block she did for me on the quilt, a picture of Smoky Jack and my initials. Probably 1993 was the year she got Smoky from me.


They really did ride the pigs on occasion!  Probably when my grandfather wasn't home!


Another square dedicated to horses.


This was in each corner.


This was her block with her initials and a spider web.  She loved spider webs and her antique shop was named Joyce's Web Antiques.  I have the big sign that hung on the front of the building out in my barn hanging on the wall.  If it wasn't so cold I would go out and take a picture.

This quilt has many more blocks, with a meaning to each one.  It took her years to make as it was all done by hand except the sashing around each block and that was done with her old treddle sp? machine.  I have all of the patterns that she drew for it and consider them a treasure too.

Thanks for going down memory lane with me via this quilt.

25 comments:

ms martyr said...

This is lovely and so meaningful. Makes me ashamed that I can't even finish a counted cross stitch project.

Jocelyn said...

Oh my goodness, what incredible redwork!

Susan said...

Thanks for sharing such a wonderful treasure. WOW a lot of work and love in that project. Loved your cartoon, too.

Mrs. Mom said...

Oh Wow MM- that is just beautiful. Absolutely beautiful! I can just imagine all the hours and hours of work that went into that project, and am so happy that something with so much meaning went to you!! What lovely work....

Rubs to your critter crew, and big hugs to you! Waiting for yet more rain to wash us away in the southland. The sun did peep out some this morning, but it is dark enough now at almost 3P that I need to turn on lights. Wow those are some heavy clouds... Suppose that kinda tosses my ride out the window.... *sigh*

At any rate- stay warm up there!!

Carole Burant said...

That cartoon at the start of your post just cracked me up! lol I'm glad I'm not the only one who goofs around on the computer when she should be doing something else!!! Ahem!

Glad to hear your headcold is over the worst. I had a bad cough right after New Year and it last a couple of weeks. Still get coughing fits once in a while but nothing like it was. Tis that time of year!!

I imagine it would be quite interesting to watch the vet doing surgeries, I think it's something I would enjoy watching as well. I'm always curious as to how things are done:-) That's such great news about Nick doing so well, long may he continue that way.

Your Aunt Joyce's redwork quilt is absolutely amazing!! I can't even imagine the time it took to make all these wonderful pictures depicting parts of her life. Such a treasure indeed and I'm so thrilled that she left it to you, she knew you would take good care of it!! I'm useless with a thread and needle, so it really impresses me when someone can create such a breathtaking project.

We're having a sunny day here but oh my, it's frigid out there. I knew we would pay for those couple of weeks we had of mild temps!! lol It's -4F as I type this and the wind makes it feel more like -20F!! I'm staying inside and enjoying the sunshine through the window:-)

Take good care of YOU and know that I love ya to bits:-) xoxoxox

P.S. Oh yes, I would soooo love to be able to join you and Needled Mom!!!

sue said...

OOOHHH I love redwork!!! I made one and it took judge's choice in the local fair. I am planning on doing a blue work one day soon.. (just need to get into that house of mine)... I collect children's coloring books and make block from them.. nice big pattern to follow and easy clean line.. your quilt is amazing and I really, really enjoyed seeing it.. stay warm.. we are in the tundra for sure this weekend!!!!!

Donna. W said...

What a treasure! I love it.

Carroll Farm said...

What a great gift. It keeps all the memories alive, and another story to share with the grand children!

Val said...

I am just speechless! This is so beautiful.

Linds said...

I absolutely love your redwork quilt! Can we see a photo of the whole quilt please??? What a wonderful heirloom!
And that cartoon had me spluttering my coffee all over the place. Dell and I have had "issues".....!

Needled Mom said...

I am so glad that you are feeling better. Let's hope you stay well as I would hate to not see you next week.

The redwork is incredible! That truly is a treasure to own. Her stitching, as well as the drawings, are unbelievable. Do you keep it displayed?

Glad to hear that Nick is doing so well too. I know what a relief it must be for you.

I had jury duty yesterday and did not get seated because we had airline tickets. Whew!!! I am so looking forward to some real chat time. Take care and stay healthy!!! Hugs.

Hollie said...

What a treasure you have in the quilt! It's gorgeous! Thank You for sharing it with us.

Anita said...

Thanks for sharing the redwork quilt squares! What a treasure you have from Aunt Joyce.
I agree with one of your other readers - I'd love to see the whole quilt, even though the details wouldn't be obvious.

Rising Rainbow said...

Wow! I can't even imagine the number of hours in each of those blocks. Amazing

You definitely got a chuckle out of me with the farmer in the dell.

Glad to hear the hand walking is going well. I hope he is a good boy when he's finally loose in a large area for the first time.

bj said...

OMGosh...this is just about the most awesome quilt I have ever seen. How do you display it?
I would love to see a photo sometime of the whole quilt...
The handwork is priceless...
You and she both were very blessed to have loved ea other so much.
xo bj

Kerri said...

I love that cartoon :)
Do hope you feel completely well again before your trip!
We have that bitter cold too and our house kitties don't want to be outside long either.
Your Aunt Joyce's quilt is absolutely amazing. What an interesting story the details tell. She certainly had wonderful creative talent. I too was thinking how nice it would be to see the whole quilt.
Glad to know Nick is doing well. Lucky you to have the opportunity to see those operations. Neat!
Stay warm, rest yourself and get well!

Alice Grace said...

This is one of the prettiest things I have ever seen! I love redwork, and this is some of the prettiest I have ever seen! What a treasure you have! She was a great artist, as well as beautiful handwork! Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful work! Some of it brought tears to my eyes, in that she so appreciated every facet of her life and shared it with you.

Chrissa said...

What a lot of work Aunt Joyce put into that quilt! It's awesome that you have the stories that go with each square.

Dawn said...

Oh, my goodness - that is incredible! Absolutely wonderful. You are so blessed to have it!

Every time you write about how cold it is, I feel for my son and hope he doesn't have to stand outside all day!

"Talk" to you again soon --

Julie Harward said...

Hi. I'm new to you, but I love your blog, so full of all that I too love. I'm adding you to my blog list..come say hi :D

Sharon said...

That is a beautiful redwork quilt and what a great memory it is for you.
I remember that my MIL used to make her own designs for quilts and for dish towels.
Thanks for sharing.
I also liked the kiddos sledding.
It sure did look like fun.

palmtreefanatic said...

OH WOW! Its amazing! totally incredible!

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Supergoof said...

Thank YOU!
This quilt is a TREASURE!

Cactus Pearl said...

how wonderful you know the history of the designs. if you will please contact me Im working on a book idea of where or what inspired redwork patterns anyway i wonder if she had an arizona or colorado river connection that kind of saguaro cactus is not easily found in california except in a very smal limited area vrty close to the colorado river although it is found in a large area of arizona and mexico.