A Tribute to Mother

I would like to introduce everyone to my mother, Melba Merritt. She was there for me threw thick or thin. A day did not go by that she did not let me know how much she loved me. The last few years of her life she suffered with diabetes, congestive heart problems and the list goes on. But she never complained.

After she passed away, the family had to go threw all the "stuff" she, Dad and 3 kids had collected over 50 years in our home. Mom was a pack-rat. She had report cards, pictures, magazines, dried flowers .....anything she thought she might need.

While going through her quilting things, my sister placed 12 of mothers' blocks she had made in the trash. I went behind her and put them out of the trash. Mother was a craftier, a flower show judge, a knitter, a hand quilter...the list goes on and on.

This is the quilt, I placed those blocks into. These blocks date back to the mid 80's. I believe they are the earliest form of what we know as a

"Stack and Wack".

Each of mother's hand stitches were evenly spaced and stitched. She took much pride in her hand work.

After completing the quilt top, a dear friend, Kay Preston, offered to quilt it for me. Mother loved birds and butterflies. As you look at Kay's beautiful quilting you will find them intertwined in the feathers, leaves and bubbles.

Mother would be so proud of this quilt. But not as proud as I am for being able to pass her blocks on to her grandchild.

I love and miss you Mom.