I think I've mentioned that my grandmother (my mom's mom) was a quilter. For years she worked in a textile mill and after she retired, she started quilting again. If I can get my hands on some of the quilts she did with my great-grandmother back when my mom was a little girl, I'll post some pictures of those. My aunt has most of them and I'm going to go begging one day soon! For now, I have a quilt she made me for graduation. I took it to Atlanta with me when I went off to school and for ages I used it on my bed. Now I keep it put away to protect it.
She primarily did applique quilts. Some of her favorite patterns were the dutch doll and dutch boy designs and this flower pot design that she did for me. Every little pot, stem, and flower were appliqued by hand. She then sewed the squares together using her old pedal sewing machine most of the time. I don't recall ever seeing her pull out an electric one even though I know she had one.

After she passed, I was able to go through some of her craft items and I came across another quilt top she had started. Once I get it finished, I'll post it. I'm hoping I can do her justice.
My dad's mom also quilted some, and one Christmas she gave her two oldest granddaughters, my cousin Lisa and myself, each a quilt top she had made back when her husband, Bob, was in India during WW2. She had them quilted for us by a lady who lives near her in time for Christmas. It's probably THE best gift I've ever received. Up until recently, I used it, but I've noticed some wear and tear that needs to be repaired so until I can do that, I keep it put away as well. I'm not sure of the design. I know I've asked her, but I need to ask again. Basically it is squares made up of scraps and then all sewn together. The colors are so pretty and some of the fabric came from dresses that she and my great-grandmother wore at one time.

The back of this quilt is made from sugar sacks. I'm sure you've heard how flour and sugar came in bags and women reused the fabric for whatever needs they had. It looks a little like muslin to me.

This quilt is super heavy and super warm and once I get it repaired, I'll continue to use it for sure!
And now for one that I made. I'm by no means a great quilter or even a good quilter in my opinion. In fact, I pieced this top and then tacked the squares at every corner instead of quilting it. A lot of people do this, but my reasoning was that I didn't think I could take on actually quilting such a large piece. Just call me chicken! I also had to get my mom to help put the back on since I'm not much of a seamstress either. This pattern is called Sunshine and Shadows because of how the squares go from dark to light and back again. It's a good summer quilt with light batting inside. The back, which I forgot to photograph before I put it away is a solid piece of the mid tone floral square you see in the fourth square from the left on the bottom row.

I really enjoy quilting or should I see piecing the tops together? There are so many beautiful fabrics available for quilting now and if you've never seen what people can do with fabric take a look at some of these
art quilts. I think they're awesome!
Thanks for looking!