Something about this time of year makes me incredibly nostalgic. I was blessed to grow up in a family with their roots on the family farm. When the holidays came around, my grandparent’s home was filled with the sights, smells, and sounds of my ever-growing family. My grandparents had four kids, and they all married and had kids of their own. That group filled the house with love and laughter. As the grandchildren grew (I was the oldest) they added spouses, and great-grandchildren. Grandpa and Grandma’s home was bursting at the seams with family, and it was glorious.
As time went on, and each of Grandpa and Grandma’s kids became grandparent’s themselves, the family began to drift apart and establish traditions and holiday gatherings of their own. I miss those holidays of my youth surrounded by conversation, laughter, and great food.
Perhaps my love for the art of quilt-making is grounded in those days of my youth. I am an incredibly sentimental person, and quilts speak to that desire to create a tangible link between past and present. My grandma was not a quilter, but she made afghans. Those cozy afghans were draped across couches and chairs. When each of her grand-kids graduated high school, they were gifted an afghan designed with colors that Grandma knew they would love. Mine was shades varying from hot pink to light pink to white. It was cozy and warm, and I took it with me when I left home for college.
Those afghans were made with love, care, and affection. Love from my Grandma to each of her grand-kids went into every stitch. Does that sound familiar? The “blankets” are different, but the sentiment is the same.
This Christmas, I am making quilts for my three grandchildren. I am very busy, but I had to make it a priority to do these quilts for my sweet grands. They are 9, 8, and 3 years old. I will blink, and they will be graduating high school. I hope these quilts will keep them warm and covered in love. I want to carry forward the family tradition of making a gift from the heart to provide them with a sense of love and care that will literally wrap them in the work of my hands, just as my Grandma did for me.
