Fortunately I still have my mother with me. She is a joy. she's 88 years old and still goes fishing. She never did sew very much when we were growing up. She didn't have time. She had five kids and a husband who lost his leg when he was in the prime of his life. They were famers and her days were spent tending to chickens and gathering eggs from 2 large poulty houses. Plus gathering, washing and separating eggs. she made her first quilt just a couple of years ago and was so proud of herself. She always encourages me in everything I do and tells me to always do my best at what I do. Here's to all the MOM's everywhere. SALUTE!!!!

Luckily as the years go by my Mother's voice in my ear is fading. She never said any thing to me that wasn't critical. To her I never made the right choices, especially when my choices were not according to her advice. My mother was a wonderful seamstress, but she did not teach me to sew. I learned from Home Economics in school. As the years went by and I had daughters of my own, I promised myself that I would NOT do the things, say the things that my Mother did. My daughters are my best friends. We have a very close relationship which I am extremely grateful for. My husband always tells me that I learned by horrible example. I have done everything the opposite of my mother. She passed away several years ago. I pray that she is happy now, because she was never happy when she was alive.

I remember her being my partner in crime in buying yet more fabric. We would see a piece of fabric we loved, but had no immediate project to use it in, so she'd say, "Why don't we get three yards?" We lived near Mary Jo's (the cloth mecca in the Carolinas), and she'd make my father take us out to eat fish on Friday nights, then take us by Mary Jo's to shop. My sister and he would stay in the car, rolling their eyes while my mother and I shopped for fabric for a new dress, draperies or the like. She taught me to sew on an old Kenmore with a knee pedal, and gave me a small child's Singer for Christmas to sew doll clothes. Then, she gave me my grandmother's vintage portable Singer in a wood base and cover that I still have today. Oh, and her special saying was, "Measure twice, cut once." My grandfather, a carpenter, used to say that, and she picked it up to apply to sewing.

"You can only play the hand you are dealt."

My mother is missed every day. I can feel her presence every time i am in my sewing room. She loved to sew and was the driving force for my learning to sew. She would always tell me that anything i made, be proud of it, not ashamed of it.
i remember her singlehandedly making the choir robes for the church we went to.They were beautiful!
i sometimes think i am too critical of my own work,but, maybe, this is a good thing??

My Mom past away 2005 at the age of 71. I miss her so much. We did so many things together and we did a lot of quilting and also shopping for fabric. She always said keep your cupboards full and have plenty of fabric on hand. She grew up during the depression.

Idle hands are the devil's work shop I hear that almost every day , keep busy, love to mom

Are we related?

My mom died in 1976,I wanted my kids to know a little about her ,so I put some of her saying on a quilt,It is at the LA now so I can't post a picture,but i here my self saying more as time goes on

That's precious! Thank you for sharing with us!

I can relate to the things you are saying because my mom became the single mother of 3 in the late 30's. She had no child support from the man she was married to and there was no government support at that time. Until she met my dad and married him going was very tough. She rose above all the things people said and was also very successful in the things she did. I am so grateful to her for being a perfectionist and teaching me the right way to do things. I would not have the skills I have if it hadn't been for her. Thanks Mom!!

I sure can relate to this. The only thing I haven't done the opposite of my mother is keep a clean house. My house is a mess, but I am trying to clean it up. I have a daughter now and I love her to pieces. I've helped her make a few things and hope to do more with her as she grows up. She's eleven now. My mother left my Dad and married another man when I was nine. This was in the 1960's and was still somewhat scandalous. To this day, the only things I hear my mother saying are critical. She lives in assisted living now and suffers from dementia. I am her closest living relative. She claims that the home she is in is "the absolute worst place she has ever been." But she said that about the two previous homes she lived in as well. On a happier note, my Dad remarried and I have a wonderful relationship with my Mom there. She and my Dad will celebrate their 36th wedding anniversary on May 31. She helped me with my wedding and came and helped me when my babies were born. She's been a wonderful grandmother to my kids too.

my mom never like to sew but she always said i had my aunt Elsie talent to sew and craft that she name me right

[quote=pattypurple]Mom always said "Every stitch you take on Sunday you'll have to take out with your nose". Don't know where that came from. I don't obey that rule, but still hear her in my head when I do sew on Sunday.

My mother and Grandmother said the same thing and usually everything was taken out on Monday because it wasn't done correctly.

[quote=JannieGrace]My grandmother used to tell me that! She was the woman who had the greatest influence in my life. She didn't teach me to sew, but she taught me right from wrong and how to live my life. She was one fine lady and her name suited her very well, Grace.

By the way, I've been reading the board for several months now, but haven't posted anything yet. I appreciate all I am learning from you ladies, as well. You have inspired me to get busy sewing again. I've been on quite a hiatis. I've spent the last two months getting my sewing room organized so I could. Thank you for all the information you provide and quilts I have seen on here are beautiful. I've only made a few myself, but I am ready to go, thanks to your inspiration![/ ////////////////// i don't have a lots of quits done but i do have a lot of ufo but we all glad that we do help other in some way to get them on their way to quilt and crafting that what we are all about here so glad to hear you are inspire and hope to see some of your work and other new quilter work enjoy your quilting we are all friend here

Can't never did anything. You can do anything you put your mind to.

My mom would say, "If it worth doing, it's worth doing right."

My Mother was so supportive. When I finished my first novel, I was terrified of rejection, but she told me, "You have nothing to be ashamed of, it's a great story" When I finished my first quilt, a slightly off-kiltered Dresden Plate, she said, "It's beautiful, is it mine?" and every one I made after that she always said the same thing. The one I made for her I repo-ed from my step dad after Momma died. I still have it and I'll always have it. Momma always told me: "You're as good as the best and better than the rest, so don't let anybody tell you you can't do something." I miss my Mother.

I can't remember any glowing praise from my Mom for my sewing skills-- I developed them on my own, as she didn't sew. One thing she really did love, tho, was a fabric doll I made for her once I was an adult. She loved it and had it sitting in her bedroom until she died. She wasn't big on praise but it was satisfying to be able to make something for her that she loved.

When I was sewing, my mother would tell me a story about 2 brothers whose wives made all their clothes by hand. One wife was lazy and made her husband's shirts with long stitches; she would hurry through her work. The other wife was very industrious and made her husband's shirts with tiny stitches; it took longer but the shirts wore much longer. The two men went out hunting one day and came upon a bear. The bear chased the men until they were exhausted. The man with the shirt of tiny stitches got away. The man with the shirt of long stitches got caught on a tree branch because his shirt was ripping away and was eaten by the bear. Guess you know that my stitches are tiny!

Sorry to be a day behind but I didn't get on yesterday. My mother was the most talented person I ever knew. She too was a wonderful seamstress. She taught me to hem dresses by the time I was about 8 yrs old. She didn't have one special thing to say but I would sit for hours beside her as she sewed inour home for people. I do not have the patience to have someone sitting beside me when I sew much less talk non-stop while sitting there. She would make 5 dresses a day including cutting them out. She has been gone for 17 yrs. She was 60 when she died and I still miss her. She was always proud of me and I was always proud of her. Suzette

Mine says, "That's the prettiest quilt you've made yet!"

She has 8 now...

maryanna, you avatar quilt is beautiful.....does the pattern have a name or is it original?

My Mother was a devout follower of Jesus Christ and she lived was she talked. When unfair things happened in life, she used to say, "Just remember WHO is the Keeper of the Books"--meaning all our actions are judged by God as to good or evil.

Whenever I was carrying an overflowing laundry basket or way too many of anything, my mother would say: "You know that's the way the lazy man broke his back."

You can do whatever you set your mind too.

This was my mom's mantra: You can do whatever you set your mind to do.

My Mom and I were shopping buddies. Her motto was "When in doubt, don't buy".

Mom didn't quilt, but she could follow a pattern and make clothing. That's what she taught me to do on her Singer 66. I learned to make my own clothing, because there wasn't money to buy them and I didn't want to wear the neighbor girl's hand-me-downs to school. When I think about what she would say to me now, it would be something like: "You're making WHAT??" "And how did those poor children turn out?" "I'm surprised your still married to that boy!" (45 years and counting!) Wish she were around today, I might just make her a lap quilt! My dad took his last breath under a quilt I made for him and he was always proud of me!

MY mom used to say. "Why Do I Have To Tell You To Be Good?
"Why Don't You Be Good For Nothing Like Your Father"


Just kidding. Pickle

My mother stopped speaking when I was very young. She lived another 20 years after that with little communication coming out of her. I knew that she sewed and crocheted, but didn't fathom the extent of her talent until she was gone. I didn't even know she went to college for fashion design or anything.

She was still alive as a newbie quilter, but didn't really see any of my work. I made her a no sew fleece throw so the nursing home to boil it to their hearts content. I didn't want to see a quilt I made ruined, or stolen, by them.

She died the day after Christmas 2007. I was very close to my dmil, and she passed away that same year, suddenly, in July. She was the one who got the quilt bug to bite me.

I hear Judy, my dmil, all the time. What she would say about my kids, I think of her when I'm quilting. On Mother's Day and my mother's birthday in February, I always do something that I think mom would like if we did together or some little trinket for her. This year, I made a few lacy coasters on her birthday, and for Mother's Day, I made a home-made pin cushion. Just trying to keep some kind of connection to the woman I didn't really know very well. I was 27 when she died, but she'd been sick for 29 years. Neither my younger brother nor myself, knew what she was like when she was healthy.

My Grand mother used to say that too, I hope that's not right because I'll never get it all picked out. LOL :-D

Ditto

My mother really disliked me and wasn't afraid to say so. My sisters however, could do no wrong. She was a talented seamstress but never taught me to sew anything. She has been gone for ten years and sad to say I have never missed her or her acid tongue. I hope my own kids (boys) never think this way about me.

How come I can remember all those weird things Mom said except when I'm trying to remember them....like now!? One goofy thing she said when we were getting on her nerves while we were out somewhere, "Next time I bring you I'm going to leave you home!".
Mom passed away 15 months ago. I'm the only girl so I got her sweing machine, fabric and all other craft stuff. That's why I took up quilting less than a year ago. Mom didn't quilt but had lots of 100% cotton material she used to make doll clothes. I wish I had had the foresite to learn from her while she was here...but I didn't realize I'd want to took over her machine & material. Makes me feel closer to her when I'm in my newly created sewing room surrounded with her things and touching the same material she cut from. I think it's making her happy!

I'm with a few of the others here; I could never please my mother, never measure up to her expectations. It took me years to stop trying, but the saying that stays in my head today is "Always behave as if I'm looking over your shoulder." Didn't always keep me out of trouble! LOL

My Mom, who didn't sew at all, just always told me that she loved me. She bought me sewing lessons when I asked for them,and she and my Dad bought me my first sewing machine (which they most likely could ill affod} for Christmas when I was about 13. She was always very proud of my sewing (no quilting until she had been gone for over 30 years)and she was actually buried in a suit I had made for her before she died. She and my Dad were my Heroes. So many years later I still miss them both every day of my life.

Beautiful stories and memories. So sorry that many of us have bitter memories as well but those memories make us who we are.

The last memory I truly have of my mom was the encouragement she gave me on a my first quit. She was a quilter and I tried one year to make one and messed it up terribly. I out it away for a year and when I finally showed her-- she encouraged me to finish it-telling me that it would become my favorite- because of all the work I had done with it. She died unexpectedly 3 weeks later.

I cherish that quilt- because of this story. AND I am happy to say that I have taken her place with her 3 sisters and their monthly quilting bee. God knows every moment and I am blessed to have Him guiding my path.

Where clean underware when you leave the house,,,,

When I was a little girl, my mom sewed everything for us. When I got into junior high school she encouraged me to take a class they were offering. She said she would help me along the way. And that she did. She even wore the first shirt I ever made. I have spent a good portion of my adult life living in a different star / country. Even with that, mom has been there to cheer me on. When I started learning to quilt I was really scared of it. Mom was there saying, "You can do it.". And I did. I am working on my second quilt which is for my daughter. I hope I get the chance to make quilt for my mom to say, "Thank you." I am pretty lucky to have a special mom.

Mom said so many times..."Life is full of lumps, if you don't like them, then mash them out"