“Bride’s Quilt”
Once upon a time, there was a little girl, who wore a bow in her hair. When she grew up, she began a friendship with a young bachelor. As the hours and days passed, they began to look at each other with stars in their eyes, and as their love grew, they thought about taking steps to the altar. So, the young girl got out her spools of thread and made clothes to get ready for their wedding ring day.
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.
Please join me (and Grandma) for a cup of tea as Tressie Edith Teegarden tells me of her childhood...
Grandma, tell me about when and where you were born.
I was born February 16, 1915. It was a cold, cold night. I was born at 418 Kansas Street in Trinidad, Colorado. I was born with what some called a veil. Some believe that people born with a veil can see into the future.
(Side note: This phenomenon happens when the fetus is born with the amniotic sac intact. This allows for the delivery to be easier and causes less bruising for the baby and mother. A veiled birth occurs when a child is born and has a portion of the birth membrane remaining around its head and face. Also known as a "caul," this strange and rare occurrence appears in only 1 out of every 80,000 births. A newborn with a caul was (and still is) thought to have special talents and amazing powers, and is therefore held in high esteem among many cultures throughout history.
Caulbearers often have psychic and other supernatural abilities such as seeing ghosts and foretelling the future. Many can predict weather patterns and crop yields. They also make excellent dowsers and hands on healers. In some cultures, Caulbearers were considered "kings by right," because of their leadership and judgment abilities. Babies born with a caul are also considered to be extremely lucky. During medieval times, caul births were seen as good omens. In fact, the caul was often preserved as a good luck charm. Women used to sell them to sailors for huge sums of money, since they were believed to protect one from drowning.
I don't recall ever hearing that Grandma had any "amazing powers" or psychic abilities, but she did have a talent for china painting!)
Do you know why you were given the name you have?
I was named after two of my mother's sisters - Tressie and Edith, my aunts. Aunt Tressie's real name was Laura, but, as a young girl, she had long golden tresses and the family called her "Tressie". Even as an adult, she never used her given name.
What events happened the year you were born?
Pancho Villa signed a treaty with US General Scott, halting the border conflict; Germans sink the Armenian (20 Americans lost) and Ford produced the 1 millionth car.
A few other noteworthy happenings:
- Yellowstone National Park allows cars to tour the park for the first time
- Western art pioneers form the Taos Society of Artists
- San Francisco honors the construction of the Panama Canal by holding the Panama-Pacific International Exposition; 13 million visitors pour in over a two-week run
- Zane Grey publishes The Lone Ranger and The Rainbow Trail
- Lorne Green, who played patriarch Ben Cartwright in the "Bonanza" TV series, is born in Ottawa, Ontario
- The Dinosaur National Monument, spanning the Colorado-Utah border, is established
- Congress establishes Rocky Mountain National park in Colorado
- In San Francisco, Thomas Watson talks to fellow pioneer Alexander Graham Bell, who is in New York, via America's first transcontinental telephone line
Grandma, tell me about your parents and your siblings.
My mother's name was Myrtle Celia Deeter. She was born December 17, 1883 in Pleasant Hill, Ohio. My Dad was Ralph Daniel Werden. He was born May 26, 1881 in Winfield, Kansas. My dad came to Trinidad as a baby in 1881 or '82. Trinidad used to have a community herd of cattle and he was one of the herders. He went to Santa Fe School through 4th grade until he was put in a corner. After that he wouldn't go back. He would do all kinds of jobs. (Side note: As an adult he became an electrician and owned Werden Electric.)
Mom and Dad loved to dance. They met at a dance in Trinidad. She was walking home and Dad was following her . When she stopped and asked "Why are you following me?" He just said, "I wanted to see where you live." They won some prizes at a (dance) contest in Castle Rock (CO).
Mom was a poet. She was a part of a writer's club and had some poems published. Mom went to school near Cheraw (Colorado) at the Holbrook School through 8th grade.
 |
| Ralph & Myrtle Werden Velma, Marie & Ruth 1913 |
Ruth died when I was 6 years old. My bed was some cot springs between the fireplace and the front wall. The night she died they picked her up and took her to the front room. They tried to cover my eyes but I peeked anyway. We had a private funeral, of course, because she died of scarlet fever. We were quarantined for two or three weeks after that.
 |
| Back Row L-R: Ralph Werden, Tom Williams, Marie (Werden)Williams, Myrtle Werden Front: Roberta, Ralph Jr, Tressie circa 1927 |
I always gave Roberta a hard time. I guess because she was my little sister and she followed me everywhere. The only spanking I ever got was on account of her too.
One evening all the (neighborhood) kids were gathering on the corner under the arc light, but Mama had told me I couldn't go out, but I went anyway. Next thing I know, Roberta was trotting up the street. I guess Mom realized Roberta was missing and then realized I was gone too. Mom took me home. Well, I guess I figured I would go up to the bathroom and be safe. That was a mistake. She had a switch of some kind. She switched me a couple times.
I left Roberta up in a tree once too. She followed me just about anywhere! I guess I was kind of an ornery child.
I was sort of an only child after Ruthie died. That left a good-sized space between Marie and me and there were seven years between me and Bert.
Mama had a miscarriage when I was about 5 years old. She had to go to the hospital. I was told later that she had twins. I had to stay with the Browns. They lived just up around the corner on State Street. They had a nice big crib set up in the kitchen area and that is where I had to sleep while Mom was in the hospital. They were really nice to me. Mom or Dad never really said too much about the miscarriage though... it was all hush, hush.
Velma would take me lots of places. She took me to the West Theatre when they first put in sound for the Phantom of the Opera. I sat there scooched down in my seat and wouldn't look up. I was scared to death, especially when they played the organ and when the lady of the show took off the man's mask and his face was deformed.
When you were young, how did you celebrate Valentines Day?
We would trade Valentines with the kids in school. We didn't have parties with cookies or anything like that. I was always making Valentines and give them to all the kids in the neighborhood, neighbors, friends and family.
What about winter activities? Did you ever go sledding or ice skating?
I would go sledding and ice skating. We would go to Raton (New Mexico) or Hoehne (Colorado) or Central Park (in Trinidad). I didn't have shoe skates though so my ankles didn't have much support. (From Grandpa: We would sled down Pine Street all the way to the Santa Fe Depot. You could make only about two trips a night. We would build a fire in a barrel at the top of the hill and we would warm up by that fire. (Note: This is a distance of about 1/2 a mile)
Did you notice the bows that the girls wore in the family picture? Aren't they adorable??? The bow block pattern for the first row of our garden looks similar!
Now is the time... head over to my payhip store and get your pattern. The pattern will be free to download for four weeks. After that the cost will be $2.00.
Remember to use a SCANT 1/4" seam for these blocks. I found that I did a really good job remembering this when I first started, but became a little lax in it, resulting in a few blocks that didn't come together quite as I had hoped causing them to not lay flat. In the end, they will be fine, but when making 12 blocks of the same pattern at a small size that are 1/16" or 1/8" off can result in the loss of 3/4 inch up to 1-1/2 inches in one row.
With Valentines Day just around the corner... Dave and I don't wait for a certain day marked on the calendar to express our love and appreciation for each other. (Or our family or friends for that matter...) We view it as a "hallmark holiday" and feel it is more meaningful to make phone calls to say "thinking of you" or a quick email or even a text message to those that cross our minds. Though... What quilter wouldn't love a Valentines gift like this?!?
Before you leave to get your pattern, tell me... Do you celebrate Valentines Day?
Keep piecing,
Melva
Make sure you come back to link up your finished blocks for a chance to win a 1-ounce selection of tea from Corner Stone Tea Company! Follow along on facebook at Melva Loves Scraps or on instagram @MelvaLovesScraps
Use these hashtags so that everyone can see our gardens grow!
#PiecesInTheGarden #Piecesinthegardensewalong #Piecesinthegardenrowquilt #TeaTimeWithTT
 |
| The pin cushion was a cup and saucer from Tressie's every day dishes |
Linking with:
Put Your Foot Down at For the Love of Geese
Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation
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
Scrap Happy Saturday at Super Scrappy
BOMS Away at Katie Mae Quilts
Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework
Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate
Patchwork & Quilts at The Quilting Patch
