Family Threads

My Grandmother Rea lived into her 90's and I rarely remember a time when she wasn't making something. Never did she just sit without something in her hands; quilt square and needle, crochet hook and fine thread.

My aunt was the same way, so is my mother and so am I. My sister loves to bead but is not as obsessed with fiber as the rest of the women in our family.

This just in from my sister. "I LOVE fiber arts…in fact with Moms’ help, I made a beautiful quilt top a couple of summers ago… I just don’t have time to work on it…. xxxooo" I have a feeling that when she retires there are hundreds of projects waiting to get out of her too. She once made me a beautiful slip -- all by hand--with French seams and embroidery. Sorry I slighted you in this post, Seester.

Granny Rea's fiber arts were practical for her era and necessary for income as a widow with three small children. But, I know she enjoyed the creative process and making most anything. When I began knitting socks a few years ago my mother told me that Granny had a sock knitting machine. Every evening she would crank out a pair and add the heels and toes to them.

Ever thrifty, in her later years she used fabric samples from my uncles sales kit to make quilts. The Dresden plate square in this photo does not contain those samples but I have a very bright red and yellow quilt and an apron that do. She was also never far from a snuff tin (the lady was a contradiction). I proudly display one of them and a small oil can that was hers in the bedroom that houses the familial fiber arts.

During one visit, she pulled out a beautifully crocheted doily. When I told her I was going to have it framed, she pulled out a velvet skirt she had saved and another doily for my sister. She was in her late 80's or early 90's when she made this -- without a pattern! She would just begin. It was amazing to watch.


My mother is a very talented woman as well. She taught me to sew at an early age and loves to tell that at 4 I was using the sewing machine much to the horror of my father. I sometimes think that I should be a better seamstress than I am since I have been at it for so long. Anyway -- mom made all of our clothes. A trip to the Cloth Shop was almost a weekly event. We would peruse the patterns, touch all the fabric, select notions and couldn't wait to get started on the latest project. As I age, I have great admiration for mom's energy then. She worked full time, always had a hot dinner for us and almost always sewed in the evenings.


She didn't start quilting until she retired. I do believe that years worth of quilts had just been waiting to get out of her. She was veracious. I am still awed at her tiny, perfectly spaced stitches all made with such a small needle. I have tried, but do not share her love of hand-quilting! In recent years, the quilts have become smaller (she is in her 80's) and she prefers to do wall hangings. Pineapples are such a wonderful southern tradition and I love this small wall hanging.

I have tried almost all forms of needle arts. I crocheted a scarf in 7th grade (I still have it) and did this bag when in high school.

Until my figure changed to the point that without alterations patterns fit, I sewed most of my clothes. I learned to weave 20 years ago and was obsessed with that until my back gave out. I now machine quilt, knit and have started dyeing yarns again -- something I did for my weaving. I do believe that this fiber art gene runs in the family. My mother is proud that it continues. I doubt, however that I will ever be able to match her skill with a needle but am forever grateful for the lessons and encouragement she gave and still gives.

After years without a pet, Mom and dad are the proud parents of a kitten, Thomas. He does look wonderful showing off one of mom's lap quilts and a little less angelic checking out the contents of my purse.

(Caution: shameless promotion. I made the bag Thomas is checking out. See www.milosez.etsy.com for my original purses. This photo was not staged and Thomas received no monetary consideration for sticking his head in my purse when I had the camera in my hand.)

I visited them this past weekend. First time I've seen them and Thomas since Christmas. He was a small, somewhat smelly kitten at Christmas. We were all concerned for his health then but he has made a complete recovery and is very full of himself. Like his counterpart in our house, Milo, he is psycho...

...or asleep

Mom says she has not been able to knit since he joined them. I tried while I was there and finally had to put down my needles and untangle Thomas from the yarn.

It has taken a cat to get the women of our house to just sit, hands free.