The Alberta Quilt
This moment’s picture is brought to you by a moment that occurred last March. At this moment, my computer that I use for my photography is sitting at Best Buy, spending time with the Geek Squad.
At this moment, I am sitting in my dark livingroom. There is a fire going in the wood pellet stove and I can see my pretty cat sitting on the porch railing in front of my big picture window. He is gazing at me with longing on his face, “Please. Please let me in.” Beyond the cat, I see soft and gentle snow falling thickly from the sky.
At this moment, I am sitting with my legs under, and my computer on top of, my beautiful flannel quilt that I finished, finally, last night at 9:15 pm. I started this quilt over 20 years ago. I cut the first squares of flannel when I was 12 years old and when I look at it I see memories. I see the material my mom used to make me a beautiful twirly nightgown. I see pieces that she used to make pajamas for my brother. I see all the pieces she let me have from her scrap box. I see pieces that I chose and purchased myself, from fabric stores in my home state. I see myself, growing up, as I washed, ironed, cut, stitched and stitched….as a young teen, older teen, new bride, young mother. A lot of time went into this blanket, it’s a quilt that is personally something that I love…the colors, the soft feel, the warmth, the memories. My great Grandma, Alberta, helped me. If it wasn’t for her, my sloppy first-cut squares would have never been cleaned up and made “square” so I could sew them. She is also the one who taught me to sew a dark piece and then a light, so there was a pleasing look to the finished quilt. I started sewing it at her machine, in her quiet house, in the corner. She got me set up and then DID NOT HOVER…she did her own thing and let me be. I think, maybe, that I am now wise enough to know the feeling she must have had in her heart, of happiness, to see her Great Granddaughter doing something that she also loved to do. At this moment, I am thankful for family love.
At this moment, the sky is white with snow and I can hear my baby girl starting to wake up.
In a few more moments, I will have let the cat in, and Sarah Joy will be snuggling with me in my arms, under the Alberta quilt.
Good to be Home 
It is a beautiful quilt. I have one that an older lady in our church made me from material I brought her from Africa. It brings back good memories.
The quilt is Beautiful!!! I think I remember you posting abou it a while ago….right? What a good feeling to finally finish, that’s a lot of work. Congratulations.How special to have lots of memories sewn into one big quilt!What a cozy description you gave of “this moment”.Enjoy your Friday. =)
Such a beautiful quilt that I’m sure will be treasured for years to come. You are truly a blessing to many, Shanda!
What an amazing quilt, a chronicle of your life.
What a heartwarming story of your quilt and your moment. Thank you for sharing it with us!
What a beautiful life. Thanks for sharing your beauty. (I know, it’s not always pretty.)
What a beautiful treasure!
I’m SO happy you finally finished it! What a beautiful piece of work, what wonderful memories you can cherish every time you curl up under it, what stories you can tell your children … something special about every square. This is why I love quilts: they are not just warm blankets, but chronicles of our lives.
Love the quilt and the story behind it. I think that that is a huge part of what makes homemade quilts so special!!!
I need more pictures and larger!!!! This is such an accomplishment! It turned out beautiful!!
what a priceless treasure!!
What a beautiful quilt and amazing memories!! Congratulations on finishing it!!!
Talk about tenacious! Nice job, Shanda!
What a touching stpry behind this quilt! And its so pretty too!
What a special beautiful quilt hun! A quilt with a ton of memories behind each square. Enjoy your snuggling times under it.
Under the cuckoo clock. I have the one she made me, it is in serious need of repair. I am saving it so I can fix it one day. A perfect name for the quilt, it looks familiar,like all the ones she made,but different.
I’m so happy that you finished the quilt! It is a beautiful treasure- full of memories. Enjoy snuggling with your baby and your quilt!
Beautiful quilt with beautiful memories.
So very lovely. Congratulations on finishing it. You inspire me with the things you do… I remembered this quilt when I said, “OK”, to David about the two of us making a quilt for his room. It will just have big pieces,a more modern surfer quilt, but we are going to do it! We have two fabrics so far…need to pick out the rest.Oh, and hoping your camera is well and able to be fixed?! Gotta love those “Geek squad” guys, since my eldest is one
Congratulations Shanda! The quilt is beautiful, even more so with the background story. I would love to see more pictures!
Oh how I loved this post! The warm memories this precious quilt gives you is so dear. Flannels are so warm and just make you want to snuggle down deep. You stay warm with your little brood way up North in the winter wonderland. Love, ~Polly~
I love it and I think I want to start Mikayla on a quilt of her own, maybe have her pick one new fabric a month to cut out and save for sewing 🙂
shanda–so pretty–it brings back memories of grandma helping and teaching me to sew and knit–and the love passed on in all her crafts that are in all our homes–and all the craftiness we are passing down to our kids–love aunt carol
Shanda~your quilt is BeAuTiFuL!!! And I love the story that goes with it. That will be a great heirloom to pass down over the years. Can you believe how fast these months and years are flying by?? We will be old ladies teaching our great granddaughters how to make quilts before we know it!! Hang in there…spring is coming….I think..!!!
I love the entire description of your *moment* ~ so cozy.What an incredible memory lane quilt. How special that will be to hand down, along with your story, someday.~Cinnamon
Looks so lovely!
Its a beautiful quilt you must feel very happy and I bet your kids are gonna fight over it =). A family friend made us one when my 6th and last sibling was born, my mom sister and I always talk about how we want to make a big quilt for when my fiance and I start our family, something that will grow with our children as they do.