I was lucky enough to celebrate the birthdays and the lives of two special women this weekend.  I was in Malad, Idaho for the 95^th birthday of my Grandma Faye and then in Salt Lake City, Utah later the same day to celebrate the 99^th birthday of my husband’s great aunt, Mimi.

Faye and Mimi grew up in a world where craftsmanship and handiwork was not art but a way of life.  When they were young, quilts were not sewn with designer fabrics on machines for display but were made specifically to keep off the chill of a cold winter’s night.  A warm and well-made quilt helped the species survive.

Quilts were made from fabric scraps.  Quilting was social and characterized by helping each other complete the work. Maybe that is why quilting continues to draw in new and younger enthusiasts……

Quilting provides a connection to such great women like Faye and Mimi. These are women that survived two world wars, the great depression, and the deaths of their husbands.  These are women whose talents blessed the lives of many.

Their lives are a patchwork of people, experiences and places. Faye chose to stay close to her roots in rural Idaho.  Mimi traveled to Hawaii nine times. Their legacy is that some of us were fortunate to be wrapped in the warmth of their love.

Despite the many changes in technology and the world, as modern quilters, we still value the social aspects of quilting and the opportunity to share ideas and express ourselves through the work of our hands (and machines). Today, some of our quilts hang on walls but many still adorn our beds and let us and our loved ones bask in the warmth of out toil and love.

Happy Birthday Grandma Faye.

Happy Birthday Mimi.

Until next year.