Every quilt has a story… they have so much to say … about their fabrics, about the person who created them, about the loved ones in the life of the person who created that treasure. Not everyone understands or appreciates quilts and the stories behind them, but those who do, find themselves drawn to these special creations as they try to discern the story that lies hidden there…
The quilt photos on this page depict a very special quilt in my life. I designed and constructed this quilt a few years back. I started with the medallion center and the Round Barn. This barn sat on my grandparents’ farm for many years until 1981 when it was lifted and moved six miles from the farm (Down Home as we called it!) to the Plymouth County Fairgrounds in LeMars, Iowa. There it sits as a museum, restored and used during the summer for Fair events, and in the winter, it is all lit up for Christmas.
Each of the borders in this quilt share a special memory of mine of being Down Home on the farm… the pinwheel border represents the Windmill that was on the farm, the vines and birds represent all the beautiful flowers, bushes and birds I enjoyed while I played outdoors as a child, the Mariner’s compass/Sun borders represent the beautiful sunsets we experienced there. And then, of course, those whimsical roosters in each corner were not only our playmates while they were alive in their pens, but they also represent the delicious meals we had as Great Grandma cooked up duck, goose, and chicken and supplied a huge spread on the Sunday table for the gang… all fresh from the farm yard!! She and my Great Aunt Margaret were amazing cooks!
I’ve named this quilt, “Down Home Memories.” It took many, many hours to design it, piece it together and then quilt it… The custom quilting took over 20 hours alone.
Hope you enjoy it. You can learn more about the round barn just by googling “Round Barn, LeMars Iowa.” You can also learn about Wells Blue Bunny Ice Cream… LeMars is the Ice Cream Capital of the world with Blue Bunny’s home office right there. (www.bluebunny.com) To think, it’s all in the town I grew up in.. Isn’t it funny how we cannot wait to leave the small towns we were raised in and when we “grow up!” we enjoy reminiscing about the very place we couldn’t wait to leave? 🙂
So, please enjoy these memories of a very special place in my life and heart…