A TREASURE FOUND – Around The Frame

Recently as I was moving larger items to my new home, I came across a treasure deep inside my cedar chest: My first quilt project, a pillow I made from the first quilt square I ever pieced, sandwiched and quilted.

It was back in 1981 that I took a beginner’s quilt class from Bette Schlictenmyer the owner of the Golden Thimble Quilt Emporium located on Wells Street in the “Caboose” shopping center which was removed for the Edy’s Ice Cream expansion. The classes consisted of six lessons where we learned the fundamentals of hand-piecing different types of quilt designs starting with a basic nine patch comprised of nine square and an appliquéd heart in the middle. From there we learned to piece 60 and 45 degree angle diamonds, drunkard’s path with its convex and concave curves and English paper-pieced hexagon grandmother’s flower garden blocks.

My 60 degree angle block was pieced to resemble tumbling blocks as opposed to a six-pointed star, the 45 degree block was done in Christmas green and red to resemble a star burst, the drunkard’s path was done in solid black, hot pink and yellow, and the flower garden was created with pink and blue pastel floral fabrics with a traditional yellow center.

As I look at my first project, I see stitches that are a bit long but fairly straight and even. The appliqué work was done with tiny stitches that barely show. Would I ever imagine 36+ years ago I’d be the owner of Born Again Quilts restoring quilts for people all over the country? No! But it just goes to show with the simplest of starts, passion takes hold and where it may lead you is to your heart’s desire.

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Lois Levihn is the owner of Born Again Quilts where quilts are restored and vintage textiles are sold. Located at 4005 South Wayne Avenue, you may contact Lois at 260-515-9446 or bornagainquilts@frontier.com.