Posted on by agilejack

A Long Weekend and Shot Cotton Planning

I took a quick weekend trip up to Seattle to see my 95-year-old aunt with my brother and sister in law. My brother and SIL arrived at my place on Friday afternoon. We got up Saturday morning and were on the road to Seattle by 9:30. If traffic is good, it’s about a three hour trip. We made good time and were there early in the afternoon.

My aunt is 95. She is the only remaining sibling of my mom’s. She is in amazing shape. Sharp as a tack and in great physical shape. She still lives alone in the house that she raised her kids in. She goes up and down her stairs five or six times a day!

It was so much fun to get to see her. She was always very light hearted and fun, and it’s no different now. And she’s teeny tiny! She’s going to be 96 in a couple weeks!

After my brother and SIL went to bed Friday night I sat in the living room and asked my aunt all kinds of questions about my mom. One that I’ve wanted answered for a long time is why my. mom didn’t wear a white wedding dress. She wore a beautiful teal suit instead.

She told me it was because my dad hadn’t committed to converting to Catholicism until it was too late to plan a white dress and wedding mass. My aunt was married a week later. She said they would have had a double wedding if my dad had committed sooner.

I was pretty sure I still had my mom’s wedding suit So when we got home on. Sunday I dug into my cedar chest, and I was right. There it was, and I was horrified to see that is was moth eaten.

My SIL modeled the suit. It’s such a beautiful color, and my mom’s waist was tiny! She’s not actually IN that skirt. She’s holding it up at her waist.

While I was digging around in my cedar chest I found my dad’s army dress coat from WWII.

I took the granny photos with me to deliver to my cousin and my aunt gazed at them all weekend long. My nephew was even going to leave them at her house for a few days because she was enjoying having them.

On Sunday evening three of my cousins and their spouses came for dinner. My SIL, my brother and I made some traditional family food — polenta and beef with brown gravy, served with some tasty pecorino cheese and a gorgeous green salad. It was accompanied by wine from my cousin’s winery. It was really fun to see everyone. It’s been a long time since we were all together.

We hit the road for home Monday morning and were on the road by 10 am. We made really good time and were back at my house in time for lunch and a nice walk with my boys. Oh, and Ernie came with us!

I took some pictures of photos my aunt had displayed in her house. They brought back such strong memories from my childhood.

This is my grandfather… my mom’s and aunt’s father. He immigrated to the US from Northern Italy around 1918 (my grand mother traveled alone and joined him in Wyoming ten years later). The second image of him as an older man was blown up from a photo of him on the sofa with me and my siblings. I was a baby at the time. I have a photo that was taken at the same time somewhere.

Haha! I found it!!! that’s me on my sister’s lap at the far left. My brother that lives in Oregon is the one sitting at my grandpa’s left.

Here’s photos of my grandfather and grandmother. My grandfather died when I was five. He was the only grandparent I ever knew. My grandmother died when my mom was pregnant with me.

And this last photo is of my mom and her siblings. That’s my mom in the dark dress in the center on the chair. My aunt that I visited is the baby on the far right. Her twin is the big boy on the far left.

My mom was the middle of five children. I just love this photo. It was probably taken around 1927 or 1928.

While I was gone my shot cottons arrived in my mail box. I pulled them out tonight and refolded them. Amazingly, the cuts are really generous. I bought half yards and most of these measured a full 21 inches! I can cut a 2.5 inch strip and still have a half yard of each piece.

That pictures shows why these shot cottons are so special! Look at all that color and texture. You can see the depth of color in each piece. GAH! Their so amazing!

So I had to see what they look like with my woven stripes…

They’re so rich and earthy. I can’t wait to see this all come together!

Here’s a little more eye candy…

And a little closer view…

Gorgeous! I think I’m going to make a 16 patch from these fabrics first. Then I’ll think about other ideas for these gorgeous stripes!

It’s clear and cold out there tonight. It’s the first night this season that required a parka on our walk!

I love walking in cool weather! So do my boys. But I have to say, I’m already a little tired of the darkness. Today it was pitch dark before 5 pm. By December 21 when the days start getting longer, it will be completely dark at 4 pm. I can’t wait until the days start getting longer.

We have a few cool and sunny days coming up, and then the rain comes back on Monday. I will enjoy the sun while we have it. I’m happy to take cold weather if it means we get some sun!

61 Replies to “A Long Weekend and Shot Cotton Planning”

  1. Good morning, I loved this post, Ann. Thank you for sharing such precious family moments and memories, beautiful.
    As for those shot cottons with your stripes! Yummy yummy yummy. That’s one quilt I’m really looking forward to seeing come together.

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  2. Love your post today…old photos are to be treasured…they are memories to pass on …they are your roots. Fabrics so colourful and blend beautifully can’t wait to see new project. ❤️

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  3. Thank you for sharing your family history and pics it’s good to ask those questions now while one can, you never know what the future holds! Also I feel the same about the darkness ,I’m in Florida and by 6 it’s dark ,it’s hard to get motivated when I get home from work,I feel like it’s jammy time ! Have a great rest of your week
    Kelly

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  5. What a fun trip. Great family stories too. Thanks for sharing. Moth eaten not fun! Been dealing with moths myself. Finally figured out they were getting into the house through the weep holes on the windows. But were your moths in the cedar chest?
    Then to come home to all those gorgeous shot cottons. Excited to see the next quilt made from these. Think of the Frankenbag with the leftovers. Ooohhh.

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    1. I know I had moth issues when I lived in Salt Lake. But haven’t seen any evidence of them since I moved to Portland. So I’m guessing it’s old damage. But I was surprised to see that inside the cedar chest.

      I recently saw some crumb piecing made from woven stripes and I really got my juices flowing. I hope I have some scraps left over at some point!

      Anne

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  6. Love getting to meet your family. I love looking at old photos: the faces, the clothes,and the settings. Boy. those stripes and the shot cottons are beautiful. Yummy as someone else stated! Can’t wait to see the projects you will make with those!

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    1. They really used to dress up a lot more than people do these days… at least a lot more than I do!! I have’t had a dress or skirt on for around 15 years!

      I’m looking forward to seeing how those shots and stripes work up! So exciting!

      Anne

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  7. This is such a lovely and heartwarming post! Thank you for sharing both the old and new photographs. They are real treasures!

    As for the stripes and shot cottons…. I know you will make something fabulous! 🥰

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      1. Don’t know about stripes, but I would assume so since they are the same type of weave. I had to pull all pieces of shot cottons from a BOM due to shrinkage. Beautiful fabrics, but shrink a LOT, hence probably extra large cuts. Better safe than sorry. M

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      1. All woven cottons will shrink. If you prewash in hot water and dry in hot dryer, they will shrink a lot. Also, test to see if the colors run. And do an edge finish to prevent extreme unraveling. Or you could not prewash, make the quilt and never wash it. Ha! But if you do, treat the quilt like it was wool. Wash by hand in cool water, line dry, etc.

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  11. What a great post! Love the pictures of everyone. You look cute in the Army jacket! Early Happy Birthday to your Aunt! Sounds like a great trip and 🤩 fun. Love the new fabric ❤️. I bet the boys were so happy to have you back home!

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    1. I think the boys had fun while I was gone. They got to hang out with Ernie and Bogart, And they got their daily walks. Even slept on the bed with my friend. But they were a little happy to see me come home. And they have been pretty exhausted. So I think they were busy and occupied while I was gone.

      Anne

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  13. Love the family photos (old and new) and so happy for you to have seen your cousins as well as your aunt!
    Wow to the shot cottons/stripes! I would love to have those, but don’t know what I’d do with them besides fondle and gaze on them. 😀 It’s much better they’re in your fabric collection -looking forward to seeing what you make from them.

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  14. The shot cottons are outstanding! I look forward to your newsy emails and all you’re up to! I live on the Olympic Peninsula! Have a great day! Marla

    Sent from my iPhone

    >

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  15. I’m glad you were able to still connect with your aunt and ask questions. A lot of people have regrets that they didn’t ask about the family history in time.
    I will need to pair my shot cottons with my stripes now too and make “the other 16 patch” with them.

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    1. Interesting too, my mom might not have answered that question! My aunt is much more open and willing to share. It’s a curiosity I’ve had for years. the answer was interesting.

      I emailed you about how concerned I should be about shrinkage with the shot cottons… and if they will behave similarly to the stripes. I figured you have experience working with these fabrics.

      Anne

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  16. Loved your post, photos and learning about your family, Anne. We have a lot in common. My grandfather immigrated from northern Italy too. I’m really interested in your beef with gravy over polenta. My husband and I love polenta and have it with chicken & cream, or salami or cudaghi in tomato sauce with peas. I’m always looking for something else to put on polenta.

    Your shot cottons and stripes are absolutely fabulous. I cannot wait to see what you make with them. You are inspiring me!

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    1. Our beef with brown gravy is just beef cut up and browned in oil. then you make a gravy using flour. It’s flavored with onions, some lemon wedges and a few whole cloves. We start it on the stove and then put it in the oven to cook for a few hours. Put it over the polenta and then sprinkle it with some grated pecorino cheese. Yummy!

      I’m pretty excited to see the stripes and shots in a block!

      Anne

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  17. Happy for you that you were able to visit with your aunt. Sounds like a lovely visit with family.
    Love, love, love those woven stripes and shot cottons! I have some also. Just waiting to decide what to make with them. Have so many ides but not enough fabrics! Can’t wait to see your ideas.

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  18. Good Morning, Anne. Great heart warming post with pictures of your family. Your latest quilts from the last post just amaze me. Your long armer has done a fabulous job. I just love those wavy lines. Can’t wait to see your blocks done in the shot cotton. I am drooling already. I am almost done with my third Franken Bag!! Have a happy thanks giving. Love to Bender and Rico.

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    1. I’m lucky to have a long armer that I’m so pleased with! She does a great job and has good taste in thread colors and designs.

      I’m looking forward to seeing those shots and stripes at work!

      Anne

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  19. How nice that you and your brother and SIL could visit your amazing aunt. She is lovely and you can tell just by looking at her photo that she doesn’t seem almost 96. She looks full of life. I think you take after her! Your shot cottons, solids and stripes, are gorgeous. Can’t wait to see them made up!

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    1. It was nice to see my aunt in such good shape.

      I’m looking forward to getting going on those stripes and shots. I just have to decide what I’m going to do with them.

      Anne

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  22. LOVED the family pictures, eye candy fabric & winery pictures! My pseudo brother & wife grow grapes in Mosier. Their daughter & husband make the wine in McMinnville! Thank you for sharing.

    P,.S. Didn’t know you couldn’t wear a white wedding dress if you married a non-catholic. I did!

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  24. Such treasures you were able to photograph and have them with you, lovely memories aren’t they! Kaffe has always produced an amazing selection of shot cottons, I love them and also his stripes, I’m looking forward to seeing you work your magic with them.

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  28. Happy Thanksgiving Anne💕🦃 I love following your posts. Your activity and self discipline levels are off the chart! My chart anyhow lol. You have many blessings and are a very thankful person. Blessings!

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