Thursday, October 15, 2015

Janet's Circle- "Will the Circle Be Unbroken"

Janet's Circle – “Will the Circle Be Unbroken”



When I saw this quilt assignment the first thing I thought of was a much beloved hymn we sang growing up called “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” by Ada Ruth Habershon, 1905.  That started me thinking about my grandmother and her circle.  She did not have a quilt guild or a bee, what she had was a sewing circle.  It was the only time I ever saw her take personal time because she rarely sat down and her day started in the dark and ended that way.  But the Tuesday sewing circle was never missed.  It was a group of women who lived on surrounding farms and whose lives were interwoven on every level.  My mother and father's families came to the Oklahoma territory for the land run.  Since German was the first language for some of the families they ended up with pieces of land all close to each other.  When you drive through the area even now it is the Beck place, the Stein place, the Sisler place, the Wile place  on and on even though no one but my grandmother had lived out there for decades.  She was one of those rare people who lived in three centuries and it boggles the mind when you think what was invented in the 105 years she lived.  She was fortunate in that she had a treadle sewing machine as a lot of them could not afford one.  That is how I learned to sew when I was seven and if you have never sewn on one it is an experiment in terror especially at the age of seven.  So the circle met every week and worked on whatever they needed to attend to or to quilt if someone had one ready to go.  The picture is of a quilt that I have seen on both sides of my family.  Six of the  squares are my mother's  mom and grandmother and my father's mother, aunt, and two sisters.  They each had to make thirty of the same square by hand and I have trouble generating one 12 x 12 quilt in three months with a sewing machine.  What was so special about this circle was that they  were there for each other  to deliver babies, cook meals when there was sickness, take over chores when there was a death in the family, band together when the crops needed to be harvested and canning days when the temperature in the house had to be way over 100 (my grandmother canned well into her 100's).  They did all of this with no modern conveniences, no electricity, no indoor plumbing, no running water and no complaining.  Since my  grandmother raised me she is the voice in my head.  Laying in the hospital feeling sorry for myself  I could almost hear her say “you are in a nice air conditioned room with drugs and nurses and a color tv so straighten up”.   Due to some set backs with my health and some upcoming surgeries I will not be sewing for a while.  My husband generously offered to sew the quilt for me but I don't feel well enough to design one so I hope you will enjoy the picture of a quilt that is beyond priceless to me, made by a generation of women we can only hope to live up to.  Thanks grandma, I will try to straighten up.





14 comments:

  1. Janet, all of us in the MM group understand the challenges you are facing with your health. Just to write a piece this length must have taxed what little strength you have. Thanks for making the effort. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it; you are really a good writer and ought to dictate your memoirs to someone! Don't worry about not having a Circle Quilt. This is a good substitute! A lovely quilt and a heartfelt essay!

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  2. I posted this for Janet and I was surprised to see that it posted the story in black. I'll see what I can do about that. It truly is a great story and a great quilt!

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  3. Oh Janet, What a beautiful quilt and quite a story of your grandmother. It was another world our grand parents grew up in. I'm sure your grand mother is giving you strength.

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  4. The quilt is beautiful. Meaning of circles well represented!!

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  5. The quilt is beautiful. Meaning of circles well represented!!

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  6. What a beautiful quilt and beautiful story. Unbroken circles of life. Thank you for sharing.

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  7. Janet😀 thanks for sharing your story and your quilt!

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  8. Your quilt, and your story made me take a deep breath, and sigh. My Texas Grandmother dealt with a lot of the situations you described, and the one quilt of hers that I have is a treasure to me. Thanks for sharing your story and your quilt with us. May God's love and peace be with you always.

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  9. I enjoyed seeing the quilt and reading about your family - times have changed so dramatically. All the best wishes for improvement in your health Janet.

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  10. Janet - I am so impressed that you were able to get a post together. Thank you for sharing your grandmother with us.The idea of having one quilt made by both sides of your family is remarkable - this quilt is certainly a treasure and I hope you gain in strength and comfort

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  11. What a beautiful testimony to the circle of life. Thank you so much for sharing this story with us and a photo of a very special quilt. You are always on my mind and in my heart as you continue on this journey. Hugs!!

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  12. Janet, thanks for sharing your story and the photo of this quilt. We appreciate you being a part of our group and you are in our thoughts and prayers. What a precious heirloom this quilt is!

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  13. What a wonderful narrative and a very special, priceless quilt. Thank you so much for sharing both.
    You are in my thoughts...

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