"February 6, 2002: Six cards today. Mary here for lunch while I showered. Tom here in evening -- he took care of laundry and we played Rummikub.
February 7, 2002: Three cards today. I called Myrtle. Joan N. broke her leg and is in a Lincoln hospital. Called Arlene B. for Vicki's address. Entered names of all I received birthday cards from in the guest book from my farewell party in Winside.
February 8, 2002: Finished organizing the cards. Two cards came today -- that makes 160 cards. Nice, newsy letter from Bonnie F."
I should have known Grandma would provide a card count -- I wouldn't have needed to tally them up in my earlier post. I wonder how she organized them. I also wonder if I get my need to sort and resort and re-categorize things from her. I definitely wouldn't call myself organized, but there is a seed of something there hiding. Quit laughing, Mom. On to quilting.
NO TIME ON MY HANDS as told by Grace Snyder to her daughter Nellie Snyder Yost.
1885 - 3 years old - moved form Missouri to Custer County, Nebraska.
As early as 6 years of age she wanted to make quilts. Watched mother -- mother said too small, must sew small stitches and not waste thread. Before she was 10 she pieced a 4-square doll quilt while sitting by a hay stack and herding cattle. From the time she was 10 her Aunt Bell gave her lovely scraps from her dressmaking to use for quilts.
First teaching job -- in the home -- two young boys -- bought $1.00 of material to make quilt top. She had been helping her mother make quilt tops.
She had three wishes: above clouds, marry a cowboy and make a really beautiful quilt. Married and moved to a ranch -- always had three quilts going -- cutting one, piecing another and quilting the third -- as hands became tired or sore she worked on another.
Took her work box along in the car when she went with Bert fishing, checking wells, etc.
Most of her big "show" collection were pieced during the long snowbound winters on the ranch. During the WWII years she pieced most of her finest quilts -- Mosaic Hexagon with over 50,000 dime-sized pieces and the Basket Petit Point with 87,789 pieces and 5,400 yards of thread. Eight triangle-shaped pieces sewed together made a block no larger than a two-cent stamp. The effect is more like needlepoint than patchwork quilting. Sixteen months to make. Copied the design from a plate. Wrote to company that made plates, etc. One year at Nebraska State Fair, 18 of her quilts hung in a long row -- the 19th, an original grapevine design was in a showcase under the purple sweepstakes ribbon. Called Nebraska First Lady of Quilting.
Daughter selected 12 outstanding quilts and exhibited all over the country -- didn't put them in the baggage -- paid for extra fare and kept them beside her on the plane.
Grandma doesn't say so in her notes, but the lady met at least two of her life goals. Her daughter flew above the clouds, but we don't know about the quilter herself. I would like to think she got to do that.
The notes also do not indicate what she wrote the plate company about and what their response was, if any. Bummer.
I can imagine not letting quilts loose in the baggage compartment. The daughter was a smart lady to keep them in sight, me thinks.
And here's a photo of a quilt comprised of hexagons.
