My dear, sweet Great Aunt Zeipher was my Granddad's sister. The three siblings grew up on a farm with their Father (their Mother died when Aunt Zeipher was about 9 or 10) and NEVER wasted anything. She raised my Dad. She was a farmer's wife, canned food, raised children, made the best apricot fried hand pies (!) and sewed and quilted her whole life.
The memories and love in each and every stitch is priceless. When I was about 8 or 9, Aunt Zeipher and Uncle Will moved back to his hometown, Eureka, CA. She didn't have as much to do, so she started quilting again to "keep her hands busy". These are really basic quilts. The fabric used is scraps from the clothes, curtains, pillows and other things my Mom, my Aunt, my Cousins and I sewed. Mom and Aunt Helen would get a good sized box and when it was filled, off it would go to Aunt Zeipher and back would come a quilt in not too long.
They are my memory quilts because I can see the clothes and things in the quilt. I remember things my Mom, Aunt, Cousins and even my Dad wore. Lots of Love went into these quilts, even if they are quite "utilitarian". The first three are machine pieced and quilted and bound by hand.
Coat of Many Colors Quilt 1960's
Everywhere I look on this quilt I can see a dress, shirt, blouse, skirt on one of my relatives or myself. I can remember fun times, parties, holidays. The quilt is well loved and I am retiring it this year. On the left, the top block of dark and light blue and white squares I made a blouse with my first machine buttonholes! The bottom block of red white and blue stripe was a shift dress I made at about 14 YO. On the right, the middle block of blue straw hat with green bow was my first major outfit. It was a Vogue design and I felt really special wearing it. It was a sleeveless dress with a cropped jacket with 3/4 sleeves and lots of buttons! Oh, and I wore my first heels....baby blue patent leather.
Green Dutch Quilt Mid 1960's
I'm not sure Aunt Zeipher made this quilt, not really her style at this time in her life. But I don't know. A Mystery Quilt?
Bright Block Quilt Late 1960's
This is probably the newest unused quilt. I like the bright colors and use it for a table topper by my side of the bed.
Pinwheel Quilt Late 1960's
I really never knew how cleverly she designed this quilt until I was standing on the cedar chest and taking the picture! I think it is really well done and probably her last quilt as it is all machine made except for the quilting. On the left is the so-not-like-her backing and on the right is a closeup of baby blue pieces with green horses on them. This fabric is used extensively in this quilt. My Mother got a great deal on this fabric and bought 10 yards. She wanted to make pajamas for my Dad. He was having none of the baby blue with horses to sleep in. He was strictly a blue and white or brown and white striped pajama man!
Ah, memories! Love these quilts. I will be doing another diary of my older quilts soon. I hope you all might help me identify just how old they might be. I thought this diary was picture heavy as it is.
Maybe you all could suggest ways to clean these quilts and preserve them? I need the help.