My mother did not make quilts, but I have her to thank for my love of fabric. She never attempted to dye cloth, but I have her to thank for my love of colour. She did not embroider, but she taught me to value the stitch.

" T H E  O R D I N A R Y  A R T S
W E  P R A C T I C E  E V E R Y D A Y
A T  H O M E  A R E  O F
M O R E  I M P O R T A N C E  T O
T H E  S O U L  T H A N
T H E I R  S I M P L I C I T Y
M I G H T  S U G G E S T "
Thomas Moore




" T O  B E  H A P P Y  I N  T H E
W O R L D ,  I T  I S
N E C E S S A R Y  T O  F E E L
O N E S E L F  P A R T  O F
T H E  S T R E A M  O F  L I F E
F L O W I N G  F R O M  T H E
F I R S T  G E R M  T O  T H E
R E M O T E  A N D
U N K N O W N  F U T U R E "
Bertrand Russell




" T H E R E  I S  N O
F R I E N D S H I P ,  N O  L O V E
L I K E  T H A T  O F  T H E
P A R E N T  F O R
T H E  C H I L D "
Henry Ward Beecher




" T H E  H A N D S  O F  T I M E
A R E  K I N D  T O  T H O S E
W H O  S E W  T H E I R  L O V E
W I T H  P A T I E N C E "
Heather Harpham Kopp





" G O D  B L E S S  T H E  R O O T S !
B O D Y  A N D  S O U L
A R E  O N E "
Theodore Roethke




" A L W A Y S  L E A V E
E N O U G H  T I M E  I N  Y O U R
L I F E  T O  D O  S O M E T H I N G
T H A T  M A K E S  Y O U  H A P P Y ,
S A T I S F I E D ,  E V E N
J O Y O U S "
Paul Hawken

My mother, Ruth Sullivan, was one of a long line of needlewomen. She was an expert seamstress. Out of necessity and with great pleasure she made her own clothes and mine. Sometimes she sewed for my dad and my brothers. She made curtains and upholstered furniture. Her hands were always busy.

She saw to it that I was among the best dressed in my high school. At the time I longed for a dyed to match outfit from Macy's. Instead I had beautifully tailored, totally unique garments. She also made all of the stunning formals I wore to my high school dances.

She could find a bargain if there was one to be had. She made marvellous outfits from remnants. I realize now that many of the interesting design elements in my clothes were the result of too little fabric.

Although my mother was shy and usually dressed in neutrals, she had an eye for colour. She loved to paint and garden. She savoured colour. Though it took years for me to develop the passion, I know that my love of vibrant colours began with her.

She taught me about the sensual pleasure of caressing fine silks, wools and velvets. A favourite Saturday afternoon activity was to go fabric shopping. Although she only bought sale fabrics, she always took time to fondle the finer yard goods. My brothers used to say, "Mama and Mary are going to pinch fabric again!" I'm sure that is how it looked to them, but it was much more than that to me.

When I announced that I wanted to study Home Economics at university she was so pleased. She encouraged my interest in design and sewing. She was delighted when I won a tailoring contest. I'm sure she quietly chuckled at me when I told her the "right way" to do the things she had done so well for so long.

I became interested in quilting when I was in graduate school at the University of Kansas. She ensured that the quilt tops made by my grandmother and great-great grandmother came to me. I am sure she had no idea just how precious that gift was.

My mother has been dead for many years now, but her legacy is ever present. Today my grand daughters were visiting. They were busy stitching "quilts" and making fabric "crowns" as only little girls can do. They asked me if I would teach them to make big quilts some day. I assured them I would and secretly thanked my mother once again.