Block #26 November
06 2014
This is a treasure
block. Here we have Emily's Great Grandmother's very own work. Emily
was named after this wonderful woman. Mina Emily (Rowe) Markle.
Mina was known all around the Meaford area for the many years of hand
work she did for others, her family, and herself. Here I am
fortunate to have several of her very own hand work to sew into this
Panda Memory quilt for Emily Arlene Lyons.
You will notice
tucked in the center of the block is a little wide skirted Lady in
Blue. This Grandma crocheted right into the edging of the
handkerchief. Notice the little pink rosettes along the bottom
section of the skirt. I have tried to copy this colour idea when
making a blanket stitch around one of the flower motifs which came
from Emily's wedding dress and reapplied here to join the Memory
Motif with the Memory Handkerchief.
I have outlined both
M.E.M. (Grandma initials) in blue because when I look at her crochet
work I see blue everywhere. E.A.L. (Emily's initials) have been done
in a chain stitch same as Grandma to again carry forth the 'sameness'
of the two generations.
Along one corner
section you will find a butterfly in lace, beads and sequins. This
also came right from Emily's wedding dress and landed here atop some
really pretty blue lace. I have found a supply of beautiful antique
thread which Grandma Markle used in many of her embroidery projects,
and knitting edging for many, many baby layettes for her
grandchildren over the years. This is now a valuable antique called
Beldings Four Strand Artsyl Floss. The blue lace the butterfly rests
on was found in a selection of lace came which came from Emily's
Grandmother's collection. Emily's Grandmother's name was Della Marie
(Markle) Boyle.
When you look
closely at the block you will see three hand crocheted mini
doilies....The top of the three has a blue flower center with a small
ring of leaves and outlined with diamond points. Can you imagine
working with such fine thread? Grandma would sit by lantern light
(in the early years) and crochet way into the wee hours of the night.
Along side this mini doily are two others done in pure white cotton.
Each is designed with intricate patterns.
A treasure I found
when Grandma Marie passed away were three broaches belonging to
Grandma Markle, and I would even like to believe the ivory (aged in
colour for years of loving touching) maybe even belonged to Grandma
Rowe (that would be Emily's Great Great Grandmother). There is
another coloured broach which has a larger pink rose surrounded by
tiny little flowers. I believe this broach was actually one of
Grandmother Marie's treasurers. Marie is gone now, but I'm sure if
she was still with us she might tell us of this being a gift from her
Loving Charles (Emily's Grandfather).
Looking a little
closer by the bottom of the Lady In Blue on the handkerchief is found
a very small broach. This I remember seeing Grandma Markle wear when
I was just a little girl. Imagine, as I write this description of
this block, I am now 67 years old myself. I wonder if this broach
with the soft pink stone in the centre could talk, just how old would
it be, and how many scenes could it tell us about in Grandma's
lifetime.
Other little
decorations in this block have come from my own supplies. They are
not valuable in worth, but I chose each one with love and care so
that each in its own way would set off the beauty and antiquity of
the little treasures of three older generations.
The importance of
this block to me has been bringing together five members of one
family. The Eldest being Great Great Grandmother Rowe, Great
Grandmother Mina Emily Markle, Grandmother Della Marie Boyle, and
Mother Della Denise Boyle,and finally Granddaughter and Daughter
Emily Arlene Lyons......
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