Quilts and a Very Big Surprise

You are all so sweet letting me blather on and on about family heirlooms.  Thanks so much for your lovely comments and for sharing your stories with me.  I thought you might like to see my quilts.  Before you decide to leave me with a quick click of your mouse, promise to stay awhile because I had a big surprise I'd like to share with you.

Okay, I said my quilts, meaning of course they are mine, but not made by me.  As I stated previously my Grandmother was an avid quilter and she passed these skills onto my sister Claudia. 

 Yes, I am the proud owner of one of Claudia's beautiful quilts.  This gorgeous piece of artwork is on a wall, high up in my family room.

 I would love to know how many quilts my Grandmother made in all.  I don't remember her making
them when I was younger, at least she did not make them when I was at her house.  I remember her crocheting in lovely 70's acrylic yarn, and watching The Young and the Restless, and Guiding Light during the afternoons.

This quilt was on my twin sized bed when I was growing up.  My room was upstairs and in the winter it was freezing, I used to feel the frost on the wall right next to my head.  It sounds like I grew up in the Arctic Circle, nope Dearborn, Michigan where apparently we did not have enough heat upstairs.

 I inherited this beauty also, but I don't remember where it was in my house, Claudia do you know?  It is a full size quilt so it certainly wasn't on my bed.

 And this is my wedding quilt.  My Grandmother made it for me when I was 1 years old.  I remember it in the back of my closet up on a high shelf, I was not to touch it.  I used to peek at it just slightly, but never, ever did I take it out of the bag it was stored in.  When I took it out for the photo shoot I realized I had never unfolded it and really looked at it.  It has always been stored in the same bag.  It is a full size quilt so does not meet the needs of my king sized bed.  I also have boys, so I will protect my treasures at all costs, because......... well they are boys. 

When unpacking the wedding quilt there was something in the bottom of the bag.  I kind of ignored it while taking photos then when I was ready to put the quilt back I reached in the bag and pulled this out. Oh my, what is this?  A gorgeous slip or night gown?  I was in total shock.  I had never, ever seen this piece before.

 This is old, very old.  I quickly called Claudia and sent her some pictures. 

We think this must have been my Grandmother's, possibly for her wedding night.  It looks more like a special nightgown that someone carefully made.  Did she make it, or her Mother?

The top has beautiful hand crocheted lace with a light green or blue ribbon woven through it.  The ribbon is faded and worn here or there but it is still in great condition. 

The fabric is satin and is hand stitched where the crochet is attached and by machine for the seams and hem, a Featherweight perhaps?  It is on the small side, and my Grandmother was tiny.  It looks like it might be too small for my Mother, but I have to remember my Mother was much thinner when she got married at the young age of 18.  Maybe my Grandmother made it for my Mom with lace that came from her family or that she crocheted.

I think I just received the most beautiful gift from the past.  I wish I knew the answers to all the questions I have.  Was it for my Grandmother's wedding night?  Who made it?  Did she wear it just once, and where did she store it that we never came across it before?  Did she make it for my Mom even though she was not happy at all my Mother was marrying my Father?  I am thinking of taking it to my Mom to see if it sparks a memory that she can voice, even if it is a few words.  My Dad might remember if it was for his wedding night, he was head over heels in love with my Mom and he still is, they are going on 67 years of marriage.

After a lot of discussion with Claudia,we decided that my Grandmother got married later in life.  She was a nurse and did not get married until she was in her early 30's.  That was very late in those days.  My sister thinks she was born in 1892,  she had my Mother when she was 34 or 35.  Maybe she was so thrilled to be getting married she made this for her trousseau.  Perhaps her Mother made it for her as a special gift?  I might not ever really know the answers, but I have this very special part of my Grandmother, if she wore it, made it for herself or for my Mother, a little gift from Heaven don't you think?