Monday, March 28, 2016

Grandma's Peaches

"Grandma's Peaches" 46" x 62"

It started with a peach print blouse and thoughts about 
my grandmother, a Texas farm girl.  
One day she ate a peach while sitting on her front porch.
It was so delicious, she wondered if she could grow a tree of them. 
So she planted the pit in the ground.
A tree did grow, and then another and another.
One was planted in our backyard, 
but it was unhealthy and 
had to be taken down.  



I started the top in 2011 with Stella Pettway in Sisters, Oregon,




And finished it in 2013 with Loretta Bennett in Arlington, Washington.  
They both liked the story about my grandmother.




I finally got around to hand quilting it this year.  
I used Perle 8 cotton and Barb's Baptist fan stencil.  




I had fun working around the shirt pieces that I left in the quilt. 




For binding, I folded the backing fabric around and stitched it,
like the Gee's Bend gals do.  




Maybe the pocket will hold the next delicious peach pit
until it can be planted in the ground.








44 comments:

Quiltdivajulie said...

I do so love your work! I need a transporter so I could vidit you and hang out in your studio ...

Phazereyes said...

I love this quilt! Very inspiring and love your hand quilting. Just beautiful. So glad you shared it here and thanks for the eye candy!

Bruce said...

Lee Ann, your story reminds me of sitting on my grandmother's back porch in Roanoke Va. as a child. She would be wearing her house dress and old apron and she would sit on the back steps and peel peaches for me and my siblings as long as we wanted to eat them. She, alas, was not a quilter, that I am aware of, but thank you for the lovely walk down memory lane. And the quilt is wonderful. Patty - Rebels.

Sujata Shah said...

I love that print and the story that goes with it. Your hand stitching looks beautiful. How nice to have a quilt that has so many memories stitched into it.

Helen said...

Your quilt has great spirit! The grandmother memory stirs up thoughts of my own lovely grandmother and her fragrant apple orchard. Thanks for sharing. I love Barb's Baptist fans, the backing for binding, and the shirt placket, too!

Mystic Quilter said...

A wonderful story and quilt, beautifully colourful.

Ann said...

Charming print and story. Congratulations on another beautiful finish, LeeAnn.

Connie said...

It is beautiful!!!

Quilteuse Forever said...

What a wonderful memory quilt! All the details remaining from former clothes are fun for us, but reminds us of quilts made out of necessity : no waste, but however a care for beauty! Bravo LeeAnn! And your tiny stitches are amazing!

The story of the peach tree reminds me of the book I have just read, about tree lovers in the wild, wild America in 1850 - and quilts! This is At the edge of the Orchard, Tracy Chevalier.

Béa said...

Love the story and the quilt, wonderful. XXX

Terry said...

A wonderful story and so nice you got to work with a quilter who clearly appreciates the inspiration. Nice quilting.

Terry said...

A wonderful story and so nice you got to work with a quilter who clearly appreciates the inspiration. Nice quilting.

Jan said...

The peach print is a stunner and the story so sweet! My favorite kind of quilt in so many ways ~ graphic, quirky, connected to a family story and hand-quilted. Just about perfect! Barb's fan pattern works beautifully on it, too.

Monica said...

Another beauty! And, like the quilt you made in Gwen's workshop, this one has wonderful depth too. It must be the mix of large prints and solids. Very inspirational! Thanks, LeeAnn. :D

Julierose said...

What a lovely finish--I really like how the peach fabric pulls the eye around so well. Your quilting is perfect for this, too...
nice memory piece hugs, Julierose

the girlfriend gap said...

As usual...... LOVE it! Really love your peaches want to shake your tree : _) and go to the nearest thrift store!!! Janita

Mcm said...

Another beauty! Now you have me anxiously awaiting summer and fresh, juicy peaches!

audrey said...

Your quilt is wonderful. Love the way you put your quilts together, the colors, prints and casual, yet precise placement! That peach fabric and your story about your grandmother-what a sweet memory to have all wrapped up in something your can snuggle with!

Sharon said...

I LOVE every word about this quilt and I LOVE everything about it. The quilting is excellent and today I'm going to finally purchase Barb's fan. I have a top that I was going to machine quilt, but now, I think I will mark it with fans and slowly stitch the top into a quilt. Thanks for sharing!!!!

Maryse said...

I love everything about your quilt, it's fun and so inspiring!

Rachaeldaisy said...

Another amazing quilt!! A beautiful way to remember your grandmother and her love for peaches, and you've added your own stories by working on it in classes with Stella Pettway and Loretta Bennett.

Kyle said...

What a wonderful story sewn into an amazing quilt. The peach fabric is a one of a kind. I love Barb's B. Fan. It adds to the vintage/modern feel of the quilt.

janequiltsslowly said...

I love everything about this quilt! The peach fabric, the story, the pocket and the quilting. When I hand quilt, I almost always use a baptist fan, but I just free-hand it. Yours looks so lovely and even. Maybe I should invest in a stencil?

apiecefullife said...

I am in Texas tonight! Too late to eat a peach though. We are making our own memories this week.

Julie Fukuda said...

The best kind of quilt is one with a story. Great job!

Hilacha (loose strand) said...

Beautiful quilt and beautiful story.
My grandpa used to love peaches and passed on to me that enjoyment for the juicy fruit. It is present in your qult through the simplicity of everyday things; and I like the winks to utility through remaining pieces of old clothes.

Marit said...

This quilt is just gorgeous, so fun and vibrant with lots of beautiful detail. Love the story! Congratulations on a beautiful finish.

; )

m. said...

Happy Day! A Nifty Quilts post! And a wonderful story. It reminds me of Poppy's white peach tree. Every place we lived my mama planted a peach pit or stone, and started another tree.

And when are you going to publish a picture book of your beautiful quilts? Everyone I have seen is an inspiration! (Also, I love that shirt pocket! I made a tee shirt quilt this year using my daughters discarded shirts. One has a tiny pocket. Doesn't it just make you want to put a tiny treasure unit?). Thanks for sharing! Keep inspiring us!!

Judy said...

That is such a neat story and it shows one of the aspects that is neat about quilting-how a quilt can tell a story and keep a family thread alive that might have been otherwise forgotten!

Tonya Ricucci said...

fantastic quilt!!!!!! I love that pocket in particular. fun fabric as always.

Barb said...

wow what vibrant quilt and what an amazing back story. I love the peach print.
Your composition and color balance is fabulous!
yay the fan quilting is great

Kaja said...

This just makes me happy!

Ruth said...

The combination of colors, fabrics, solids and floral makes me a little blissed out. Or a lot.

Annemieke said...

Great quilt and story! Your use of fabric is so much fun to look at.I am appreciating using old cloths for quilts more and more! Especially now I have been into many of the American thrift stores;)
Groetjes
Annemieke

Robin said...

This is a wonderful quilt. I have a piece of fabric from the 50's and I've never know what to do with it. Seeing your quilt has given me some new direction in planning a quilt using this fabric. It makes me smile just thinking about it.

Quilting Stories said...

Dear LeeAnn, all your quilts have a soul, and the story of this one is so touching! I will try to do like your grandmother, your are my inspiration not only for quilting! Anyway I really love this quilt of yours!

Kim said...

Where did you find that great peach fabric? What a sweet quilt....did you ever finish the one with your baby/childhood clothes you started in Alabama with the Gee's Bends gals?
You continue to inspire me, I always enjoy a visit to your blog :0)
Happy Sewing

Kim said...

Oh yes now I read that it was a peach print blouse....love this creation and your inventive imagination!

bricolos du lundi said...

It is fantastic ! I love it ! I wish I could be able to do such a quilt ..

Anonymous said...

Just love this quilt and the story too
Will you come to France one day ? pleeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaase !
Marine

Nat Palaskas said...

So scrumptious! Love everything about this quilt. I met up with Victoria FW in Melbourne on Saturday. It was lovely!

Andrea said...

Oooh! Really like this quilt. Shirts, signatures and fun peach fabric! It's so cheerful. And reading someone else's comment earlier inspired me to check out the Orchard book mentioned. Fun!

Anonymous said...

Your quilts just get better and better - I love this, and the beautiful hand quilting on it, and the story behind it.

fiberchick said...

Don't know how I missed this beauty?! You are so soulful in the best possible way. Love everything you make!