“Bride’s Quilt”
After they are married, some of their times together will be bright as noon and others will be dark as night. But they will try to share their happiness, their miseries and their chores – she grabbing a wrench to help with household repairs and he grabbing a towel to help with the dishes. Sometimes they will have broken dishes, but they will try to remember that “things” can be replaced, whereas harsh words, possibly spoken about the broken dishes, could chip away love. They will try to follow the Golden Rule as they are learning to communicate openly with each other.
They will also try to keep in mind the symbolism of Jacob’s ladder – “steps of communication” between themselves on earth and God in heaven.
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Grab yourself a cup of tea to enjoy as we hear from Tressie & Forrest and their memories of Christmas Past?Grandma, tell me how your family celebrated Christmas when you were a child. Did you hang up a stocking for Santa to fill?
We always had a tree. I would go with Dad to cut our tree. We would decorate with tinsel and string cranberries. We made popcorn balls a lot too. I never had a special stocking, but we did hang stockings.
What kind of gifts did you give your parents? Did you ever receive something very special?
I don't really remember anything special that I gave to Mom and Dad. I'm sure I made a gift or something in school. I'm not able to remember what though.
Grandpa, how did your family celebrate Christmas when you were a child?
We always had a Christmas tree that sat in the corner by the fireplace. I think we probably had turkey for our Christmas dinner. I never hung a stocking until after I got old.
Did your mother ever make you something special?
I always got pajamas. Then she would take the leftover material and make quilts.
They all got fancy "Victorian-style" women's boots in bright pink with fuzzy stuff at the top of the boot. As we all grew up and got married, the new family member received a Christmas boot to match all of ours. And if you are wondering... yep, our children also got cowboy boots.
Each boot is decorated with items that represent each individual... I did not carry on the tradition of making boots as our family expanded... My Dad was gone by that point, and it wasn't anything that the "boys" would have appreciated, and the grands wouldn't have cared about them either.
So, tell me... Do you have a special Christmas stocking?
Leave a comment... I love hearing from you!
Now is the time to head over the store to get the final pattern ~ Jacob's Ladder. These 4" blocks are quick and fun to make by strip piecing the 4-patch blocks. You will need 12 of them and then make sure you return to link up for the final prize package of this sew-along. Stephanie at Cornerstone Tea Company puts together a generous package of assorted teas... you should check out her store. She is also offering a discount by using the promo code LADDER. The 20% discount will be valid through December 31. I'd love to find a collection from her store in my Christmas stocking or under the tree!
Keep Piecing and Merry Christmas!
Melva
Linking with:
Put Your Foot Down at True Blue Quilts
Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation
Free-Motion Mavericks at Quilting & Learning
Can I Get A Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Off The Wall Friday with Nina Marie
Brag About Your Beauties at From Bolt to Beauty
Peacock Party at Wendy’s Quilts and More
Friday Foto Fun at Powered by Quilting
Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts
I do not have anything special for a stocking. An aunt made special ones for my younger brother and sister, but she never went back to make them for those of us born before she started making them. Poor me!! I've loved your blocks this year, and Jacob's Ladder is one that I especially like. I have a quilt made with the block, but maybe now I need to make one with just these little blocks. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI do have a special stocking, made of felt, with felt appliques, rick-rack and lace. It was made by my aunt, and I've had it as long as I can remember. Dot in NC
ReplyDeleteMy mom crocheted stockings for our family when I was little. When my husband and I got married, we cross-stitched each other's stockings and I sewed them together. Then we worked together to cross stitch stockings for the boys as they came along :) Your Jacob's Ladder blocks look great!
ReplyDeleteAwww, sorry to see this series coming to an end. Thank you for sharing your family history with us! No special stockings but I did make the "High Strung" cover quilt from the book "Tis the Season - Quilts and Other Comforts" that features a string of appliqued Christmas stockings in its header. That's as close as I come to hanging holiday stockings, Lol!!
ReplyDeleteMy grandma made us all PJ's for christmas too!! Love your Boot stockings!!!
ReplyDeleteI remember our stockings that we had as kids. They were quite large and often had things like fruit in them, but as we got older more toys. I love the traditions of the boots, but can see when it is time to stop and make your own tradition. I made rather elegant stockings, a very modest size, which we hung in our entry way (no mantle/fireplace).
ReplyDeleteHi Melva, we all had Christmas stockings as kids - mine was pretty small but was given to me by a friend of the family. I still have it but I don't use it. I bought my hubby a gorgeous quilted stocking for our first Christmas together (way before I started quilting!) I made myself and my daughter a new stocking after she was born. My son has a small but cute one that I bought for him. This year my son's girlfriend will be joining us, so there will be a new stocking, that she's bringing but that we will fill, under the tree :-)
ReplyDeleteI never had a stocking and we never did Santa Claus! However, I made my girls cross stitched stockings, and have material to do some for Greg and I, just because I like having them hanging!
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