One of the items received was the letter that I had sent in October to the son of Klaus Hesselbarth, (his letter accompanied the Rolling Stone Block in the Pieces From the Past Sew Along) Tillman Hesselbarth. How disappointing it was to see that it was back in my possession.
I did a quick search for Tillman, thinking that, perhaps, with such an uncommon name, I might find some info on him. I had success! I located a picture and press release that stated that he retired in 2017 for "personal family reasons".
I have sent an email to the communications director of the company that released the announcement... so, again, I wait. In a way, I did, get my original wish granted, sort of. I had wanted to have a response from the family (a far reaching wish) before the end of the Pieces From The Past Sew Along. The end of the sew along is very near... just a few more days!
So, I didn't hear from the family. But I did have the letter returned. I no longer have to wonder if the family had received it and discarded it, or if it ended up in a dead letter section of some post office. Having it returned spurred me to try a different avenue. I have my fingers crossed and have whispered another prayer that there will be a response. 🤞
Other mail received... a wonderful quilting book from a high school friend and customer.
Chris had commissioned "The Legacy" quilt last year and gifted it to his Godson and fiancée and has a great appreciation for heritage as well as art.
The book was from the library of his Mother who passed away a year ago.
The title of the book is intriguing... it was derived from the story that a couple was making a move from Ohio to Colorado Territory. The husband's plan was to open a small mercantile so the wagon was loaded with the building supplies he was going to need for his endeavor. The wife was told that there was no space for excessive personal items, including clothing. Her solution was to wear layered clothing. Because the wagon ride was so rough they walked much of the way... for at least three months!
After their arrival to their destination, and after some time passed and the clothing that she had brought with her wore thin in spots, she used the better sections of the dresses and skirts to make a quilt. Thus the name! I haven't had time to read the entire book, but I look forward to reading more as I get time.
I can't help but think that there is a story with each and every quilt... I think that most quilters can relate to this, but what about non-quilters? Do they realize the significance and meaning behind each quilt? It is our job to share the stories and inspiration behind each one! And that is one of my passions.
When I gift a quilt or complete a commissioned quilt, I like to share all that has been poured into it. In a sense, it is the frame to finished piece of artwork.
Do you share the reasons for a pattern and/or fabric selections of a quilt that you gift?
One example is the quilt that was a wedding gift for our nephew and his wife in 2016. The story of making the quilt, True North, was printed out and included with the gift. After sharing it here on MLS, one of my sisters-in-law commented that it was an incredibly well thought out gift. You see, without knowing the story it is just a "blanket"... it is the love and care that makes it more.
If you haven't ever considered telling "the story" behind your quilt, I encourage you to do so. It doesn't need to be long and elaborate or for the world to read, but it will undoubtedly be appreciated by the recipient.
Let me know your thoughts... leave a comment. I love to hear from you.
Blessings,
Melva
Melva
Coming soon! Pieces of the Santa Fe Trail Sew Along.
Beginning April 1, 2021
I have never thought of including the story of a quilt when I gift it but it is a great idea.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that you at least have found a clue to Tillman. I hope you hear back from the company fairly quickly. That books is an interesting one. My quilts don't often have interesting stories, but another pioneer quilt story that I like tells of a Utah town which was snowed in and running out of food. The men took quilts of their families and when the snow reached to deep (hip deep!), laid them on top of the snow and walked over them, picking them up and laying them down again for miles to get to the next town and get some help. I heard about it when we were touring southern Utah years ago. The town was Panguitch, and the story was retold in Issue 9 of Quilt Folk:
ReplyDeletePanguitch Quilt Walk: When Quilts Saved the Day
In the bitter winter of 1864, as the townspeople of Panguitch faced starvation, seven brave men set out with an oxen-pulled cart to buy grain in a town 40 miles away. When they found themselves in hip-deep snow, quilts saved their lives. Learn more about the famous “Quilt Walk,” the festival it inspired, and the quilter behind it all.
Hi Melva! Another wonderful post that I'm glad I read. I sure hope you hear something back from the Hesselbarth family - prayers will be said. And sharing the tale of how the quilt came to be is just a wonderful gift. A lot of thought and care is taken to make a quilt special and I never really thought about sharing the back story to the recipients. Food for thought for sure. {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful idea, to tell the story of why one makes the fabric and pattern choices for the quilts we make, for each quitl that I make.
ReplyDeleteSharing the story of a quilt is a very good idea. I wonder if that is part of the unconscious motivation behind many of us quilters who chose to blog?
ReplyDelete