September 8, 2008
In Loving Memory of my Grandmother
Mary Marlene Cruise- Oct. 22, 1922 - August 29, 2008





Digital Scrapbook supply credits

flowers and leaves by Brandy Hackman- Blossoms and Blooms-ScrapGirls.com
name plate tag-Keri Schueller- Gathered Beauty collection-ScrapGirls.com
beauty tag-Ursula Schneider- Again collection-ScrapGirls.com
background paper-Dana Zarling -Up In The Attic-DesignerDigitals.com
background edge frame-Katie Pertiet -On The Edge Flourish-DesignerDigitals.com
butterfly frame-Katie Pertiet-Snap Frame Flourish-DesignerDigitals.comSeptember 13, 2008
Great Grandma’s Quilts



In 1995 I took a trip to Kansas with my Grandmother, Dorothy to visit her sister, Mildred. While we were there Aunt Mid took me into her basement and showed me a trunk full of quilts made by my Great Grandmother, Ora Belle Winter. She lived in Kansas and I lived in Florida so I never knew her. She did travel to Florida a few times to visit so I did meet her once but I was too young to remember. I do remember that my Grandmother had a few quilts when I was a little girl that I loved, but they disappeared over the years. I had no idea what a prolific and expert quilter my Great Grandmother was until I saw Aunt Mid’s collection of quilts. I took a few photos, which you can view here. Unfortunately this was back before I really knew what I was doing with a camera and with a rinky dink camera on top of that so the photos are not that great. I wish I could go back and take better photos now with my digital camera.
Aunt Mid also gave me the treasures pictured above. Buttons, quilt patterns from the 1930s and a handkerchief that belonged to my Great Grandmother. She also had her Mother’s wallet, which when she opened it had one quarter inside. That was what was left in the wallet when she passed away in 1968. The quarter is from 1965 and when I told Aunt Mid that was the year that I was born she gave the quarter to me. And then I was really blown away when Aunt Mid gave me 3 of the unfinished quilt tops and a stack of Dresden plate blocks. I layered one of the tops and began quilting it in 1995, but then I set it aside for awhile. Recently I pulled it out and I am determined to finish this quilt. It’s completely hand pieced and so I feel that it should also be hand quilted. It will take me a while, but I feel very fortunate for this opportunity to work on a quilt with my Great Grandmother.


I think this pattern is called Snow Crystal, but I'm not positive.


1965 quarter from Great Grandma's walletSeptember 30, 2008
Shake well and sew a fine seam



I just had to share this close up image of one of the Dresden Plate quilt blocks made by my Great Grandmother that was passed onto me from my Great Aunt Mid.
I love that she made sure to line up the pattern piece so that the full recipe was visible.
Mmm...I do love a good Tom Collins.
My Great Grandmother was an excellent quilter. Could this have been her secret?



Click on the journal link to read prior entries.