2007 Journal Quilt Project and January's Grace Under Fire

From my journal notes:  "This will be a grand and brave adventure ~ the goal is to make one quilt a month with the background for each being a small section of this tattered quilt top (shown before being dis-assembled) that was on my mother's bed at her house, in assisted living and, later, at the nursing home until it became just too fragile for use.  Originally pieced by my paternal grandmother, Elsie Lucretia Race Walton (1894-1976), her flimsy was never made into a quilt.  Instead, after her death, my mother added polyester fiberfill batting and a muslin back to create a yarn-tied comforter."

After being deemed "too fragile for use" my sister sent the comforter to me to see if I could "fix it."  Sadly, it was too far gone (as in threadbare). After gently removing the yarn ties, the backing, and a gentle laundering, I made my sister a table runner from one section of the flimsy and have cut fourteen 9" x 12" sections for this 2007 monthly journal quilt project.

Grace Under Fire 

The focal point for this first journal quilt is a circle of black wool embellished during my November 2005 fiber arts class at John C. Campbell Folk School (taught by Nancy Claiborne).  The wool was edged with hand-crocheted lace made by my other grandmother (Mabel Anna Howell Ash, 1894-1953) and features a bit of painted-in-class pillowcase edging (also crocheted by Mabel) along with a lot of individual beads.  This was my first use of alphabet beads (inspired by Nancy's work).

Now, two years later, the medallion has a home.  I used metallic thread to quilt the background, then appliqued the wool piece in place.