so it's been nagging me that i wasn't going to enter the blog quilt festival. i mean i have nothing that you havn't seen already. and well everything that i'm working on...is just that, things i'm still working on.
nothing finished.
but it kept eating at me.
amy said it didn't need to be fancy or new.
so here it is.
three super duper plain quilts i made a long time ago.
for my three boys.
they aren't fancy or new...but they are special.
my husband's old shirts make up part of each quilt.
back when i made the quilts i knew that one day their dad would be their hero.
it wasn't till just recently when my oldest son had to write a paper on his hero, and he picked his dad, who "fought for freedom in afghanistan and had the courage to stay there for a year even when my mom was sad" that i knew i made the right choice in adding those pieces of clothing that represent his dad.
i plan for those quilts to go with them when they get married.
so amy thanks for hosting a great idea and i'm so glad i was able to join up even if it was almost at the last second!
come back monday there's going to be a sponsored giveaway
i'm taking off so i can continue on one of my many started quilts.
52 comments:
So glad you shared...because your son's words brought tears to my eyes...how cool is that for a son to have that kind of love and respect for his father! So yes, these quilts are very, very special!
I love the story behind you sharing these quilts for the festival :)
That´s so sweet!!!! Is awesome how meaningful are handmade toys and stuff
My grandmother made quilts like this for all her grandchildren when we were all really small. She passed away a few years later, but gave the quilts to our moms for our wedding gift. It was one of the most precious gifts I think I've ever received. I know your boys will think so too!
Knowing you and your family that made me cry! Thanks for sharing lovely lady.
Love it! Thanks for sharing - I don't think I had seen this before.
And yes, he is a hero. And so are you. And so is your little guy for recognizing it!
The quilt I posted was one I made for my little guy too. :)
I love the color scheme of the quilts. It's perfect for little boys and will be great as keepsakes later on. I have a couple my mom and her mother did a while back. BUT, I really wanted her to make a double wedding ring for my recent wedding so that I could pass it down one day.. still waiting on it!! ;)
Ok, you just brought a little tear to my eye, too! Those are wonderful and the quilts with a story behind them - those mean the most!
Blessings, Kimberly
Thank you for sharing these quilts! They are perfect for boys. I really like the colours you've used and they are so special for your boys with your husbands old shirts incorporated in them. What a great idea for them.
Very beautiful blankets
Beautiful quilts. And thank you for sharing the story about your son. That's wonderful.
What a great parent moment to hear your kids saying things like that.
Oh! What a story! Thanks for sharing. And thanks for making your quilts with memories!
It is beautiful:)
I love your quilts Vanessa and the story behind them! Great idea about putting your husband's shirts in. I also joined in on the Festival and showed my first two quilts (that's all there is so far, I'm working on number three).
I just wanted to say that I love your blog! I've been following you for awhile (occasionally leaving comments) an I find that every time I come here you give me something to smile about. I hope you're having a great day!
I love quilts with meaning and history! What great quilts to share, V! :)
Those quilts are beautiful!
Vanessa,
I'm so glad you're doing it! It's always fun to be part of some competition right?...like SYTYC? :)
Beautiful quilts and cute story behind them.
Your story matches the quilts. Beautiful!
I know those quilts will be treasured by your boys forever. =) Thank your husband for his service to our country!
Such a sweet story behind such wonderful quilts!
Those are awesome V. Can't believe you haven't shared them before now! I wish, wish, wish I had 3 quilts for my three boys, just like those. Very cool. Glad you joined in.
Thanks for sharing the story of the quilts and your wonderful husband while he was defending our country.
Oh those quilts are gorgeous. And the story behind them priceless. I love the simplicity and the colours. Well done to you and your husband. Sounds like you are bringing up fantastic kids.
Yay! Love your quilts - they are so special. and the hero behind them makes them even more so! Thanks for sharing.
They are pretty!
How wonderfully special! They're beautiful, and even more so knowing the meaning behind them:)
What a fabulous Idea..... very touching..your boys will remember you for your wonderful creativity too ( + other wonderful qualities). I have kept some of my girls dresses from when they were little for the same thing... great memories.
Big Hugs Dawn x x
they must be such precious quilts for your boys. Thanks for sharing - they really are lovely
Thank you for sharing about your quilts and the story behind them. I love that you made that for your boys out of their dad's shirts. Thank you to your whole family for the sacrifice for our freedom. I salute you all! Oh, and I joined that festival, too. Fun!
Your canning is awesome--I have to depend on my mom to do it with me. And I'm sick with envy at how pretty your apple pie is--now I know all my previous efforts were lame. ;)
Were these quilts pretty easy to make? Like, did you follow a pattern, or just sew squares together randomly (which is what it looks like)? I've never made a quilt, but I want something like this for my kids and don't like the prices at the Quilt Shoppe at Gardner Village, so may have to give in and make my own, and I'm a little clueless--and always want to know the fastest way to make anything before I try it.
Cute quilts and what a great story! Thanks for sharing!
love your story, thanks for sharing
they are great and hold such sentimental value!
I haven't read the other comments, so I am sure I am just repeating what others know. You are raising lovely young men, that comment proves it. Be sure that in the future they will know that they have two heroes for parents, it is just that at their ages they cannot see the hero that is always right in front of them just yet.
Can't wait to see what you are working on!
I love the additional story behind the quilts. Perfect. And your whole family are heroes. Thanks for sharing your Dad.
Very touching! Your boys will treasure those quilts forever! They are beautiful as well!!
Oh Vanessa, this is the very best kind of quilt! How much love and meaning went into them and your sons will have them for many years to come. :o) I have been clipping and cutting away (in the evenings) my son and my husband's older dress shirts (and saving all their buttons). I had intended to make a pinwheel quilt from them, but I would rather just stay with the squares, like yours!
I saved all of my Katie's dresses from when she was a little girl like your Katie. I always dreamed that one day I would know how to quilt and be able to use them as fabric for when she has a baby girl of her own. :o)
Those quilts are gorgeous! I love the simplicity, really. The story behind them is very touching as well. :)
Beautiful story and beautiful quilts.
I have been thinking of something similar for my three boys. Thanks for giving me another idea to toss around.
Don't feel bad V - you were only #559 - there were still more that entered after you! haha The quilts are beautiful. As was the story that went behind it. I'm sure Katie would like to have one of those "Daddy quilts" someday too. So special. Jenn
I'm so glad you decided to share your quilts and story. I love the idea of having their Dad's shirts mixed in. Awesome!
Great Story!
THanks for sharing,
Margaret
www.quiltsoflove.blogspot.com
Sweet, beautiful quilts. Love the colors. So meaningful.
First time reader/commenter here--*I love those quilts!*....especially because of the story. My husband retired in the spring of 08, after 25 yrs in the Army. He did two tours in Afghanistan, two in Iraq, a year in Korea, 6 mos in the Sinai...my children got used to daddy being gone (he was gone most of the time since we had our oldest dc in spring of 00). I can easily imagine my children saying/doing the same thing...they *love* their daddy...and I have to be honest--if they are going to look up to someone, I'd much rather it be my husband, a quiet, unassuming, gentle man, but unafraid to do what he must...than any flashy superstar, athlete, or singer....better a real man than a media produced facade.
Thank your DH for me--and thank YOU for being a fellow military wife. It isn't easy (I knew it wouldn't be when I signed onto the life with him), but it is worth it. I cannot imagine what life would have been like any other way, even though I wish we could have had that time together.
Love the quilts, regardless of how "simple" and "plain" they are...Maybe "simple love" ought to be what you call the "pattern" :-)
Thank you for sharing your touching story of your beautiful quilts! I love the idea of incorporating 'dad's shirts' into the quilts!
I love it when quilts have a story behind them! Thank your husband for serving our country and thank you for your sacrifice. I have been reading your blog for quite a while and I have been inspired so much. BTW---we have been using the token system and it is saving our daughter. Thank you!
Wow. Reading this and the comments has me crying! I may not know you in every day life, but since I have read your entire blog from the beginning (and feel like I know you), I agree with everyone else that you are both heros with a beautiful family.
The quilts are beautiful. I'm so glad you entered them into the festival.
I found your blog from mimi lee. I love all your great ideas!
those are the best quilts...made from bits and pieces of people we lvoe.
What a wonderful story! Your boys are lucky to have such wonderful parents who love them so. Your boys will always treasure there quilts that has pieces of their fathers' shirts quilted by their mothers' hands. Thanks for sharing!
Those quilts are wonderful and so special! What a fabulous way to put a bit of dad in them too. :) Thank you so much for sharing them!
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