I was always obsessed with how-to books when I was young. Etiquette
books, home keeping manuals, knitting projects’ books, make-up books…I even had
one for a while on how to make your own whiskey. I devoured it but my father
made it known that it would be frowned upon in his eyes if his 11-year-old
daughter made a still. “But I don’t want to drink it daddy, I just want to KNOW
HOW to make it.”
One of my favorites though, and a book that has actually
influenced me quite a bit on my views of wealth, was a book on the history and
making of Swedish quilts. I was fascinated. It talked about how people were so
poor and they wore all their clothes to bed and then if they had any extras
they would drape them over their bodies while they were sleeping to stay warm.
As the clothes became worn out and fell to pieces, the rags were sewn together
to make patchwork quilts. And then it discussed how quilts became a status
symbol. If you had a visitor over to spend the night, you would stack all of
your folded quilts in their room, and the more quilts you had, the wealthier
you were.
That book unconsciously influenced my beliefs and thinking
towards my own thoughts on what wealth is, including my mum’s free spirited
outlook on life. I have a friend whose mother is an amazing artist when it
comes to making quilts. I have memories of being in high school and there was
this huge wooden hutch thing in their living room and it was just stacked with
Suzie’s heavy, beautiful quilts. That was just bliss, being in their home and
it always seemed slightly cold and you would just curl up on the couch and pull
one of those deliciously thick quilts over yourself and fall asleep. I thought
that was part of being wealthy.
When I realized that
this book, this long forgotten library book of Swedish culture and quilts
influenced my beliefs into what riches and happiness and material wealth was, I
started examining my poetry and writings in my journals. And it’s filtered down
into them; by reading my writing I realized that wealth is found in the family
you surround yourself with, the books you read that are as comfortable as an
old sweater, good food and drink, firelight, notebooks of creamy paper and a
good pen where the ink really flows out of it so you can write fast, fresh
flowers, dogs, leather anything, music all the time of all different sorts,
horses and last, but not least, stacks of quilts.
Right now I’m a little obsessed with the how-to series of
the Foxfire books. Have you heard of them? A high school teacher from the
Appalachian Mountains was trying to garner some enthusiasm in his students and
they started researching old traditions and crafts of their area. You can learn
all sorts of useful things, like how to dress a hog, make a broom, cure snake
bite, weave, make a quilt and ta-ra, ta-ra, make a still. Sorry daddy….
So far in my lifetime I’ve only made one quilt and it was
for someone else. But in my future, I’ve made a whole stack of quilts, and
they’re waiting there for my friends and family to wrap themselves in forgotten
Swedish dreams and a young girl’s beliefs.
xo xo Liz
Awesome Liz. My grandmother, who is gone now, made beautiful quilts and they are on all of our beds. Yes, indeed, they are wealth because they are crafted with love and that love becomes warmth. And, isn't it amazing, too, how a quilt is just right, always just right for summer or winter. I feel wealthy having her quilts because she created something beautiful for her family, something I get to experience that many do not ... the richness of a handmade quilt and the remembrance of her love. Great writing, and yes, I've heard of the Firefox books but have never read. Your post is a reminder of what could become a good winter reading series.
ReplyDeleteThat is a neat story about the Sweedish quilts! It does feel good to b e able to offer guests a large stack of quilts. I will have to tell my mom to read this post. I think she would enjoy that story too.
ReplyDeleteI always say, "You can NEVER have too many quilts!" Wow, that's probably the only time I can confidently use 'always' and 'never' in the same sentence. Haha!
There is nothing better than grabbing a heavy quilt off the back of the couch and curling up. Taking a nap on the porch swing wrapped in a quilt.
I have so many quilts, afghans, pillows, knitted and needlepoint items from my family. My great grandma, grandma, mom, aunts, even myself. They are among my most treasured items.
My great grandma saved an old quilt when her trailer burnt down on the ranch. She salvaged the pieces that weren't burnt and made little pillows. I always think of what to grab in a fire, because we have had to evacuate before and quilts are at the top of the list.
In a college course the professor went around the room asking us to name and descibe our most treasured posessions. I said the Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt my mom took over a year to complete, and my saddle.
I think of each person who made them when I am wrapped up in them. Quilts feel like love, and you can never have too much of that either!
You girls are so lucky to have hand-me-downs from your family of quilts!! And Becks, it was you and Suzy that I was talking about in this post! I have the best memories of us curling up on the couch with one of your mom's amazing quilts! I didn't know the story about your grandma's salvaged quilt...what a neat story! HUGS! :)
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