Tuesday, January 5

Dolls and doll quilts!

Going to take you back to December for this post...........It was the week that my mother had surgery so we were in Iowa City staying with my sister. After my mom got out of the hospital, we stayed with her a couple extra days. We enjoyed the time together and my sister made it really enjoyable when she got out some linens and doll clothes that we had all made. That's my sister, Judy, in the photo below and she is holding a baby quilt that our mother, Mary, made for her. My mother really enjoyed doing embroidery and sewing. She is definitely where my sister and I get our creative genes. :-)
Judy brought out doll clothes and stuffed toys that I had made and sent to my niece, Noelle and it was fun to see them. Have you ever made someone something and then forgot that you did?........as in.........remember the cute little mother and baby donkey set that you can see in my sidebar? Well, my sister brought out their twins! That same year that I made them for my son, I had also made a set for my niece! Funny how the mind can forget!

After we returned home to my mother's apartment, she showed me a bunch of doll quilts that she had made. Here she is with one of several that she finished last fall.
Two years ago when my dad was so sick, I cut 3-1/2" squares from lots of 30's prints and solids and gave them to my mom so she could sit and piece while visiting my dad. She didn't have the "heart" to do it right then so she set the blocks aside. My dad passed away a few months later and she forgot all about the blocks. That was until last fall and finally the "heart to quilt" came back and she began piecing the blocks. She decided to make them into doll quilts like these........


And then she gave them away........the yellow one to me because she knows I like yellow. Plus it has chickens on it. She told me my first word was "chicken". To this day, I like chickens and I love yellow, especially a soft, buttery yellow.
The pink one went to Ella, my great niece, my sister's grandaughter, and my mom's great grandaughter.
I wonder if she'll take up sewing, too?
Then there were two quilts for my niece Sue Ellen's dolls. She's my brother's daughter/my mom's grandaughter. Keeping that all straight?Anyway, I bought Sue Ellen the one on the right because it sings "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" like she used to sing when she was little. I bought the other one for her friend, Morgan, because it giggles. The girls love to play together and remind me of my sister and me with our dolls when we were kids. We also had a couple of cats that we dressed up and took for rides in the doll buggy. It was great fun!! I just had to share these quilts today. My mother enjoyed making them, then giving them away. I enjoyed the trip "down Memory Lane". :-)
Have a good day!!
Sandi

18 comments:

Barb said...

Love the quilts and the cute little ones on your blog as well!!

Marlene said...

Thanks for the journey down your memory lane. Those doll quilts are cute and it looks like they will be truly loved.
We used to have a cat,Toby, the we dressed and pushed around inthe doll stroller-he loved it 9or at least seemed to)!!

I Purr-Furr to Craft said...

thank you for sharing, Loved the doll quilts and the story of how they came about, it is so very very lovely, love the kindred sisters too. All the best and happy Sewing.

Unknown said...

i love those little doll quilts, how cute

Joanne Lendaro said...

Thanks for sharing the story and the quilts! Both are wonderful.

Pat said...

What fun to see things made years ago by family members!!! I love the new doll quilts your mom made, too. It's nice to see the happy faces of the girls who were lucky enough to receive them!

Crispy said...

Sweet little quilts and little girls. They seemed to have found very appropriate homes. Thanks for sharing your memories :0)

Crispy

quiltingnana said...

little girls, dolls, and doll quilts....what a lovely combination

Needled Mom said...

Isn't it wonderful how many bonds are made with sewing quilts and sharing?

Jocelyn said...

Sandi I love these pictures of the quilts and your family. What a sweet post!

Red Geranium Cottage said...

What a nice post. I love seeing all the little mini quilts. And yes I have made something for someone and forgot all about it. Then they bring it out years ago and I still dont remember. lolol

Janet said...

It is fun to see things you made from years before. I was at my sister-in-laws and she had a blanket I made her son 35 years ago. She was going through some things and cleaning out. It was fun to see how much I have improved. I have the Raggedy Ann dolls my mom made my 2 daughters in our bedroom. Right now they don't mean much to my girls, but because mom made them I love them. It would have been her 96th birthday today. You are so lucky to still have your mom and spend time with her. She made doll clothes for the girls too and I have them tucked away because I can't get rid of them, because she made them. Thanks for sharing. I enjoy every post on your blog. I recently downloaded the snowmen to redwork. Thanks for them too. I'm looking forward to working on them in the evening.

Owl Lady said...

I enjoyed seeing the things made in the past and also seeing the beautiful children with their new quilts made by their grandmother/great grandmother. She is truly a "great" grandmother as are you with your dear Jacob.

Rae Ann said...

Sandi, that is a great story! I loved all of the quilts. Thanks for sharing!

Terri said...

What a wonderful memory. I remember the first time I learned to stitch was when I was 7 and I helped my best friend make a quilt like the one your sister has for her cousin. I remember that still to this day. I loved it. Thank you for allowing me to share in your memories

Blogless me said...

Well, now we know where you get your lovely smile from - you really resemble your mum so much!

Susan said...

Thanks for sharing your memories with us, I just love your story.

Sandie @ crazy'boutquilts said...

Cute doll quilts! I'm sure they are each loved! :-)

"Peace can be found in the piecing of a quilt."
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