I
know there is a story lovingly stitched into every quilt. I know
there is love and tears and joy and sorrow in ever single one. This
is my story of my first quilt, “Ms. Frances' Quilt”. Several
years back, the boys and I started delivering Meals on Wheels here in
Waxahachie. What a blessing, right from the very first day we
connected, we bonded, we laughed, we smiled and felt love at each
door we knocked upon. Blessings many times over poured out from
those deliveries we made. We loved and we lost throughout our time.
Then Ms. Frances came along. From the very first day I knew this
sweet lady was precious, spunky and topped the list of favorite
people. Ms. Frances had fire in her soul, she told great stories,
she loved me from the first time she met me, no conditions, no angst,
no thought – just come in, have a seat, talk to me and let me love
on you. The second week I delivered to her, I changed around my
route. I delivered to her last because I knew I was going to get to
sit and chat with her for a while and I didn't want to make anyone
else wait for their meal. A few weeks in, she told me we needed to
go to lunch. So, we did, the boys and I sat at Churches Chicken
munching and laughing our way through the first of many meals with
this precious friend. We began going out to lunch at least once a
month, the cafe on the hill was a favorite and of course fried
chicken. That lady loved her fried chicken and the boys played right
into her hand. I would say, lets pick something else today, but when
Ms. Frances said Churches - “Yes ma'am” always came out of my
mouth. How could I tell her no! Ms. Frances loved unconditionally
and completely. When she loved you, she loved you with every fiber
of her being, and you felt it from the top of your head to the tips
of your toes. Every week I looked forward to chatting with her. We
talked about everything under the sun and I mean everything. One of
my favorite stories was “One day I turned 18 and the next I became
a Momma.” She was certainly a wealth of wisdom. One day we got to
chatting about quilting. I mentioned that my grandparents quilted
and that all my most loved baby blankets and quilts were made by
their hands. The very next week she took me to her hope chest and my
quilting journey began. We chatted and chatted about quilting and
scraps and material. She handed me the very stars you see in the
middle of this quilt. She had loving pieced, with her very hands,
these stars some 60 years ago. (61 years ago as I write this.) Then
she had gone to work and set her quilting aside and here they were
all these years later just waiting to be finished. She handed them
to me and said, I want you to finish this quilt. I was floored,
scared and honored by her simple request. I gently took the stars
into my hands and thought, what an endeavor....can I do this...I
don't know how... Ms. Frances told me, “You can do this, I know
you can. You need something for you...not for your boys, not your
husband, for you.” So, my quilting journey began, right there on
the floor in front of her hope chest with some 60 year old stars.
From then on I hurled myself into the world of quilting, I researched
cutting, piecing, what thread to use, how to stitch, what the best
tools where and on and on. Each week when I delivered to Ms. Frances
she would ask me about my quilt, share her knowledge, encourage me
and ooh and aah over the bit I had done. She wore her heart on her
sleeve for those she loved. She touched my life in so many ways.
She also told me on that day and several days there after that I
might not finish the quilt within her lifetime, but she was so glad
that I was making it. At the time I felt compelled to finish it, to
make it happen so I could show it to her. Sadly, I did not, as I
lost Ms. Frances earlier this year. Her decline was swift and
heartbreaking and she is greatly missed. But, I didn't give up, I
know she sees and she knows that I have completed her quilt. Sixty
years in the making, it's not perfect by any means...it's no where
close...but I will say there is a lot of love, laughter and memories
tied up in those pieces. It took me 9 months from start to finish to
complete Ms. Frances Quilt and I will say that I was blessed with
every stitch. I will miss her forever, but each time I hold her
quilt I will be reminded of the love she gave and the joy she brought
into my life and the life of my family. I have acquired much more
than a new skill or hobby, I got a friend, I received unconditional
love, and many happy memories. Though our time was short, it was not
in vain.
#msfrancesquilt
#9monthsoflove #october2015toJune2016
Piecer
of the middle stars: Frances W. Maddren. Honored to finish the rest:
Wendy L. Johnson.
