Forget-me-not: Mothers and Sons

An installation by Marie Watt commemorating Northwest servicemen and -women killed in Afghanistan and Iraq.

My paternal grandmother—Lora Mildred Marie Stevenson Whisenhunt Thomas—made this quilt for me when I was a child featuring my favorite color: green. To my knowledge, she never visited New York State - but now the quilt has! She was an Oklahoma farm girl who moved to the city (Tulsa, OK) during WWII with her family to build planes for the war effort with J. Paul Getty. She embraced the conveniences of urban life, but maintained many of the rural traditions she had been raised with like gardening, thrift, preserving, baking, quilting, sewing and other home arts. She became one of the most beloved first grade teachers in Tulsa. She taught me to read and inspired my love of cooking, junk shopping and collecting. She would be VERY proud to have her quilt in a museum.

84.
Jennifer Fais
Cameron Mills, NY
Tags
Generations, In memoriam, Sickness and health

My father was slowly dying. He was in his own bed at home and I had been at his side for a number of long days. As time passed, he became more withdrawn—I hoped my presence was helping him. One day, his caregiver had put an old dog blanket on him without thinking. I could not bear to see him covered in a tattered blanket so I found this pretty newer blanket for him. I am crying now thinking about his compromised dignity which I tried to recover in a small way.

My father served 2 times in the Marine Corps—WWII and Korea—and is now approaching 90. Once a Marine, always a Marine 😊 So growing up for years and years and years the Marine Corps blanket was part of our family (military green in color with USMC on it). At picnics and mostly when visiting the beach, our family would sit on the Marine Corps blanket. When we were done for the day, my Dad and I would lift the blanket up and shake off all the sand. Then we would fold the blanket up. But here’s the catch, my Dad is a lefty - so we would fold the blanket lefty. Still to this day when ever I go to fold a blanket in a sheet, we fold lefty. And now the tradition has been passed along as well and my husband folds blankets lefty with me 😊

P.S. The Marine Corps blanket still lives on and comes out mostly for summer outdoor picnic music concerts my parents attend at West Point 😊

82.
Jennifer Fais
Cameron Mills, NY
Tags
Generations, Grandmothers, Handmade

During my senior year in high school (1969) my grandmother crocheted this blanket for me to take with me to college. I am so glad she did! I had not been away from home for so long before and I was lonesome. However, every day I made my bed and spread this blanket neatly on top, I felt more secure and loved in that anxious time away from home.

81.
Jennifer Fais
Cameron Mills, NY
Tags
Childhood

Back in 1963 when I was twelve, my Girl Scout troop went on an overnight camping trip. This was my first time on such a campout. At the time, my family did not own any sleeping bags. I’m not sure they were even invented. Instead, I took this blanket and overlapped it with several others until it made a ‘bed roll.’ I put this cocoon of blankets on a canvas cot and spent a sleepless night tossing and turning! That experience did not dampen my enthusiasm for camping, thankfully!

80.
Tim Decker
Corning, NY
Tags
Arts, Siblings

I have been Registrar of The Rockwell Museum for over five years now. I was born and raised in Lock Haven, PA. I originally moved to the Elmira-Corning/Finger Lakes region in the late 1980s, and I really enjoyed the area - its natural beauty and cultural activities. I was away from this area fro 20 years and moved back in 2011 when I got the Registrar job at The Rockwell.

This blanket is from my sister, who lives in Lock Haven, PA, and it is a reminder of where I grew up.

79.
Kirsty Buchanan
Corning, NY and Dallas, TX
Tags
Childhood, Generations, Quilts

When my mother was a little girl, her godmother made this pink and white quilt for her. It was used on her bed while she was growing up. When I was a child, this quilt was used on my bed as a heavier layer in winter. Whenever I was sick, this would be what I pulled onto the sofa to cuddle up with. This family quilt reminds me of comfort, and childhood, and home!

Seneca people who follow the Longhouse way of life hold a ten day feast for the deceased. At the feast, items that belonged to the deceased are distributed to those who are family or part of the community. One of my important teachers left to me a blanket- she was a mainstay of our Newtown Longhouse. At her feast many of us had to sit outside because she lived in a small house and her feast was big. The temperature dropped as the evening wore on and I became grateful for the blanket which I draped over my shoulders to ward off the cold. I still treasure that modest blanket.

One of my favorite memories is spending time with my Grandma at Six Nations Reserve in Ontario, Canada. She and I would sit at the breakfast table talking until we’d notice it was almost time for lunch. She told me her personal stories and those about the Six Nations. She was a very strong woman who was very connected to the spirit world. One of the gifts she made and gave to me was a quilt. It is very worn but I will always keep it. I loved her very much and miss her.

As a result of drinking bootlegged alcohol during Prohibition my father, at age 19, became totally blind. Two of his buddies died. He was sent to and graduated from Batavia School for the Blind where he learned a variety of skills—reading braille, typing, playing guitar, piano-tuning, dialing a rotary phone—even though we didn’t get telephone service on the Cattaraugus Reservation until the mid-1950s. My Mom was skeptical of modern conveniences, so my Dad always dialed the rotary phone for her.

My Dad worked at the Buffalo Goodwill Industries. One skill he learned at BSB that kept food on the table for nine mouths to feed was caning. People from all over Western New York brought beautiful, one-of-a-kind, antique chairs to our home for him to work on. This was in addition to his full time job at Goodwill. Five days a week he boarded the Greyhound bus to make the 80 mile roundtrip between Gowanda and Buffalo.

My parents were exceptionally resourceful, hard-working, and creative. The blankets in our home were nondescript-utilitarian, rather than fine or decorative. I suspect that they were purchased at the Goodwill, brought home, washed and hung to dry on the clothesline.

I recall one blanket in particular. It was wool and well worn. My Mom loved the deep vibrant maroon color so they brought it home. After washing the blanket, my Mom tore it into 1” wide strips and constructed a most beautiful oval braided rug. My sisters—Marjorie and Joanne—and I enjoyed many hours sitting on that wool braided rug and making and playing paper dolls cut from Sears and Roebuck catalogues. My sister Joanne even took the paper dolls swimming in an 8” cake pan at which time the paper dolls disintegrated into mush!!

Good times. Good laughs. Good memories!

75.
Maryanna Goris
New York, NY
Tags
Generations, Grandmothers, Travel

My Grandmother gave me a Mexican blanket as a child and I’ve always appreciated its colors and bold vibe that it gave off. It makes my room feel a bit more “comfy.” It’s also amazing during the summer nights when its too hot to lay in bed with thickly made blankets.

74.
Fatima Rodriguez Johnson
Buffalo, NY
Tags
Childhood, Sickness and health

Robe of Love and Healing—Around 1983, my mom received a burgundy robe for the holidays. It was big and fluffy and warm. For many years, she used her robe to heal with her children. I remember in 1988, I contracted the Chicken Pox. My fever was very high, my mother went to her closet and grabbed her robe. “No worries baby, I’m going to get you better.” She wrapped me in the robe and laid her body on top of it. Her heart beating on my back and the sound of her breath in my ear was so soothing. She stayed with me until I was asleep. Some days later my fever broke. “Mommy your blanket worked,” I said. She said, “Yes with all my love too.” This “blanket” became well known in my home. For years, we all benefitted from mommy’s robe when we were sick. Although not a traditional blanket, it served a purpose.

73.
Alison Gramy
Geneseo, NY
Tags
Handmade, Immigrant, Siblings, Travel

While in Quito, Ecuador, I managed to buy a blanket made out of llama wool from an Indigenous market by La Loch. At first I didn’t know what to do with it, I had it in my room for some time, until I started traveling to Columbia, I realized what a blessing it was to have a blanket on cold bus rides, as a cover up in my abuela’s home. When I returned to the US, a blanket that I thought would be used as decoration was used for so much more. I ended up giving this blanket to my brother when he moved to his apartment in Boston. Although he didn’t know the extent of how much I used it in South America, he appreciated that I gave him such a well thought gift. His girlfriend especially enjoyed it as well.

72.
Caroline Woidat
Rochester, NY
Tags
In memoriam, New, Pets

This blanket is not wool or natural fiber—maybe because the person who made it could not afford such yarn? One part of its story is a mystery: who stitched this? For what occasion? And how did it end up at the Goodwill store on Clinton Ave in Rochester, NY, for sale for a few dollars? The poignancy of these questions felt as heavy as the sorrow of having to find a blanket to keep our 13 year-old dog Mocha warm during the last weeks of her life. She wore it like a horse blanket, wrapped in our love until the very end. We are grateful for her faithful companionship and for the unknown hands that helped give comfort to Mocha—and in turn to us—as we prepared for our parting.

I was working in New York in 1964 when some co-workers heard that the Savoy Plaza was closing and everything was for sale. We walked over to see what mementos we might find. I bought a blanket with the Savoy Plaza logo. The hotel was built around 1928 at the southeast corner of Central Park. It was torn down in 1964.

70.
Anonymous
Seattle, WA
Tags
Travel

This blanket moved with me from my childhood home in Indiana—to college—to New York City—and here and there across the country to Seattle. In all the years since New York it has not been used much, but somehow I couldn’t let it go—until now when it might have a creative second life.

69.
Steven &William Ladd
New York, NY
Tags
Arts, Handmade, Selected stories

Ralph Lauren donated all of these cashmere swatches to William and I. So many would have discarded them at the end of the season. I sewed little pockets out of them and stuffed them with organic cotton from a dear friend. I sewed them closed to make little pillows, and connected all of them to make this blanket. I slept on the floor of my studio for years and this blanket kept me warm and comfortable.

It was never the same after a tragic encounter with a washing machine!

68.
Anonymous donor
67.
Anonymous donor

This quilt comes from Betty Tillman who created a wonderful home. She is now in Eleore with advanced Parkinson’s Disease. She would love to be part of this creative project.

65.
Chris Congdon
Hammondsport, NY
Tags
Handmade, Quilts

My friend Judy and I each made quilts in 1988. We used the strip-quilting method—I am not a quilter. This was just tied, not stitch quilted. It was king-sized and took a long time. It was on our bed when our daughter was conceived. It is now falling apart from 30 years of use. Now others can enjoy it.

64.
Willa R. Vogel &Abraham Smith
Hornby, NY

Mehoopany and Meshoppen



A couple of Pennsylvania towns
Where the boys wear denim and the
Girls wear gingham gowns
Up in the mountain country
All the year round
Your head is in the clouds
While your feet are on the ground

Old General Sullivan, as the story’s told
Blazed himself a trail through here
With men both brave and bold
The Indians and the White Man
Couldn’t get along
So the Indians danced a war dance
And sang this little song

Many years later
The song can still be heard
It might sound wacky
And a little bit absurd
But just you let a maiden
Show her dimpled knee
And watch all the fellas
As they take a look to see

Sing ya-ho dilly ho-ho
Ya-ho diddly oh-ho-oh

—Song by a blanket owner
Charles Reis Smith
Written c. 1960

63.
Paul Dressen
Corning, NY
Tags
Selected stories

This blanket belonged to my ex-girlfriend. She left it at our house after she moved away. It is tired, old, ugly, and blue.

62.
Pamela &David Sonnefeld
Corning, NY
Tags
Arts, Travel

This multi-colored quilt was purchased in Oct 1985 at a “Gate” in Seoul, South Korea by us. It is a Korean king size. We purchased two, one has stayed with us and one was given to Dorothy Winiesdorffer (Pam’s mother). We were living and working in Seoul, David for Corning Inc./Samsung and Pam for the Seoul Foreign School. My mother returned it to us in August 2016. Since our family has enjoyed 31 years of The Rockwell Museum we felt it was another way to give back to it.

Our three children love to return to The Rockwell Museum: Caroline Cullen Sonnefeld Coy, Colleen Olivia Sonnefeld and Colin David Sonnefeld.

61.
Joyce C. Gillis Dunbar
Corning, NY
Tags
Baby blanket, Generations, Handmade

In 1946, Alice Rose Gillis was expecting her first child! Oh, what excitement, after moving to Spencer, NY from Wilkes-Barre, PA with her husband, John, after WWII! Baby sex unknown in those days, she wanted a boy. Her friend, Edna Alve (also from Spencer, NY) was also expecting her first. Using what was a Craft Kit loom called Weave-It, Alice chose to weave 4” squares called Sunken Diamond design in blue and white! Her mother, Petronella finished (crocheted) the trim and to Alice’s luck, dreams, wishes, her first baby was born. 12/1/46 a boy named John Matthew Gillis. Edna never finished hers. Her baby is Susan. Both children now in their 70’s. Everybody is still alive and well on this date 11/29/2016.

60.
Anonymous donor
Horseheads, NY
Tags
Generations, Grandmothers, Handmade, New york

Earthtone wool afghan—knitted by my great-grandmother Minnie Abel—early 20th century—probably in Townsend, NY. Passed to me by my great aunt Estella Haring.

This was my first blanket when I started preschool at Ready Set Grow. I love Paw Patrol. I used it for nap time. Made me feel nice and warm.

58.
Anne &Tamriko Walters
Corning, NY
Tags
Baby blanket, Daughters

This is a blanket that I wrapped my newborn, Tamriko, in. I fed her, cuddled her, and fell asleep with her in my arms while she was wrapped in this blanket. It is filled with beautiful memories.

57.
Melissa Murray
Corning, NY
Tags
Arts, Generations, In memoriam

This blanket was given to me by a dear friend, Janene Cooper, when her mother passed away. The blanket belonged to her mother, Bobbie Cooper, and Janene wanted me to have it. Since Janene was a docent at The Rockwell and her family all are patrons of the arts, I think this is a perfect place for the blanket to end up!

My mother was born and raised in Corning, New York. On June 3, 2009, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer. Her dear friend made her this blanket to take during chemotherapy treatments and as a reminder of how much she was loved. It was used lovingly and heavily during my mom’s seven year battle. She was finally at peace June 14, 2016. She is and always will be missed by all who knew her.

Janice Margaret Golden Gross 1951–2016.

55.
Beth Hylen
Painted Post, NY
Tags
Arts, Handmade, Quilts

Jacobs ladder variation; light colors faded, worn patches. My mom, Ruth Hylen, collected well-worn antique quilts, reducing a wide variety of patterns and fabrics created in the 19th and early 20th centuries. She also sewed her own quilts, often inspired by the historical ones one treasured.

My dad photographed and researched Ruth’s collection, and created a scrapbook documenting them. They were early Rockwell Museum members and Ruth was a docent there.

My father, Albert Elkin, was a World War II veteran who helped liberate the Philippines in 1945, leading a mortar platoon up the Caraballo Mountains to rout out Japanese troops. The mountains, unlike the jungle below, were cold, so the Army air-dropped blankets of Australian wool to the soldiers. Dad kept his blanket, and I remember using it as a child in the even colder upstate New York winters.

Dad passed away last August at the age of 97. In cleaning out his house, I found the blankets, now full of moth holes but with “Lt. Albert Elkin” still clearly written on its label. I think it is a fitting tribute to my dad to make this blanket and its story part of this exhibition.

53.
Betsy Gornan
Big Flats, NY
Tags
Generations, Quilts

This blanket was given to my mother by my great aunt in the 1980’s. She told me that it was a “farmhand’s quilt” — used by farmhands that slept in unheated rooms or the barn. A friend who is knowledgeable about quilts said that the material in the quilt dates from the late 19th or early 20th century.

52.
Debra R. Naylor
Painted Post, NY
Tags
Baby blanket, Childhood, Handmade

This blanket (made in 1985) evokes special memories for me. It was made by a family friend for my son, Ryan Hackett. When he was an infant, we used it as our play area after bath time. As he grew into a toddler, it became our “special area” to convene for picnics, reading books, and for simply sitting and spending time together. Eventually, as he continued to grow, it became too small for use or sit on and was packed away with fond memories. It has withstood thousands of washings and several moves over the past 32 years!

51.
Jan &Floyd Metzger
Elmira, NY
Tags
Arts, Quilts

This old quilt was purchased by us many, many years ago at a local auction. We brought it home and since we decorate with country and primitives, used it for many years as our Christmas tree skirt. It has seen many wonderful Christmases in our home. Now it will be lovely as part of a local art sculpture.

50.
Marie Coffey
Corning, NY
Tags
Generations, Grandmothers, Handmade

My grandmother, Nellie McCoy, made this afghan in 1970 when she was in her 90s. She made one for each of her ten grand children. The older I get, the more I appreciate this remarkable, multi-talented woman! Love you, Grandma.

49.
J. Ruth Peters
Corning, NY
Tags
Handmade, In memoriam, Quilts

In memory of Wilfred L. Peters, Sr. We worked on this and many other quilts.

48.
Roberta Hirliman
Horseheads, NY
Tags
Generations, Siblings

This blanket has been mine for many years- probably 55 or more. I had it in middle school and used it in college. After moving away, the blanket covered the beds in my parent’s home. Upon their passing, I brought the blanket to my house as I could not give it away—until now. My twin sister had a similar blanket only in a different color. I can part with my treasured blanket as I know it will have a good home, and the colors remind me of Native Americans.

47.
The Levy Family
Gurnee, IL
Tags
Childhood

This has been a special blanket. When our oldest son started Boy Scouts, this became a camping blanket to keep warm in the cold winter nights - camping outside. Our oldest is now an Eagle Scout. Our youngest just crossed over to Boy Scouts this weekend. We will be finding a new special blanket for him to use camping.

In 1987 when my son was 4, he had a medical crisis that resulted in us being taken by ambulance to a children’s hospital 90 minutes from home. We found ourselves in a pediatric intensive care unit with none of the familiar items we relied on to help my son, who has autism and Down Syndrome, feel comfortable in a strange environment.

A nurse asked what might help him and I told her, “We didn’t even have time to grab his favorite blanket.” She left and came back 5 minutes later later with this quilt, handmade by Project Linus (an organization that makes blankets for critically ill children).

Ten years later, my son is fine, this crib blanket would barely cover his feet, and I have found it impossible to pass on or get rid of it, remembering the kind nurse who gave it to him and the generous stranger who handmade a blanket for a child she would never see.

Adding this quilt to your sculpture is my way of honoring and thanking those kind people.

45.
Gigi Alvare
Corning, NY
Tags
Generations, In memoriam

There were six of us in my family of origin and this blanket depicts six horses running. I gifted it to my Dad after my Mom passed away. This blanket covered the chair in my Dad’s bedroom where he sat and read. Just days before he died he asked me a couple of times to straighten his blanket so he could “see his horses running.” When I look at this blanket now I think these horses are carrying my Dad’s spirit across the sky.

My mamaw passed away 3 years ago and this was one of her many throws. We are from KY (Appalachia) and didn’t have much money to have the heat high so we always have many blankets around. I got this one when she died.

43.
Janet Ackerman
Elmira, NY
Tags
Arts, Handmade, New york, Quilts

A lap quilt hand-sewn by my aunt, born in Western NY and given to my uncle when he was moved to a nursing facility. The quilt had many fans at the facility, and he passed away this year. He would be honored that the blanket is being used in such a creative way.

42.
Roger McIlwain
Campbell, NY
41.
Veronica Lepkowski
Pine Valley, NY
Tags
In memoriam, Military & veteran

Jim, my husband-to-be, brought the Navy blanket home after being stationed overseas for one year in 1960.

It’s a reminder of him and the year we were apart. We were engaged when he left, and that year seemed like forever.

He is now deceased, but we had 44 wonderful years together.

This blanket is a symbol of love as part of your blanket sculpture.

40.
Melissa Murray
Corning, NY
Tags
Childhood, Daughters, In memoriam, Quilts

This quilt is one of two matching ones that were on my daughters’ beds when they were young. It will forever make me think of that magical time of blanket forts, tea parties, and bedtime stories.

One of our daughters passed away, so those memories are especially treasured and dear.

This proxy blanket represents an old quilt from my great-grandmother and namesake, Jane Nichols. She was born in Pittsburgh in 1845 and at age 17 she worked as a cartridge maker in the Allegheny Arsenal for the Union Army. On September 17, 1862, the same day as the Battle of Antietam, the arsenal exploded, killing 78 young co-workers, mostly women. Luckily, for my family, Jane chose to take the day off to go shopping in Pittsburgh.

38.
Delanie B. Sickler
Horseheads, NY
Tags
Church, Generations, Grandfathers, Grandmothers

I remember this quilt as a girl covering the bed in my grandparent’s old metal “Scotty” trailer. They used to take me camping every summer all over Western PA and Erie.

My grandparents, John and Lyda Nichols raised two sons and my wonderful mother. They were hard working, church-going Presbyterians who lived through the Great Depression. They had a soft spot for their grandchildren and vanilla ice cream was always in their freezer. Lyda used to sing to me on their massive outdoor swing and gently encouraged my curiosity and confidence as a woman.

37.
Amelia Fais Harnas
Corning, NY
Tags
Generations, Travel

A very sacred blanket (that I cannot give up) is a pale pea green and cream blanket with a beautiful native pattern. The funny thing is, I thought it came from Kuwait, where my aunt lived for awhile in the ‘80s—I was double-checking this with my mother (her sister) who said the blanket is not from Kuwait, but was my aunt’s favorite blanket when they were growing up. Needless to say, now I have to check the story even more! But, at this time, it has a hole worn in the middle of it and I sometimes wear it like a poncho.

36.
Amelia Fais Harnas
Corning, NY
Tags
Grandmothers, New york

This blanket was given to me by my grandmother (father’s side) for my first apartment in 2003. I’m pretty sure it moved around with me for the next several years and eventually became the “guest blanket” for any visitors staying with me. It finally ended up in the extra blankets closet in my childhood home, here in Corning, which was turned into an Airbnb hosting hundreds of visitors from all over the world over the past year and a half. I figured this would be a glorious way for it to be “put to pasture.”

35.
Jeanette Crouse
Corning, NY
Tags
Handmade, New york, Quilts

While living in Rochester, NY, I took a class on traditional quilt making at the Rochester Museum and Science Center.

This quilt is one of my first projects. It is sewn and quilted completely by hand.

34.
Janet Mae Perdue
Corning, NY
Tags
Daughters, Handmade, Quilts

This quilt was a gift to Janet Perdue, age 10, from her mother, Helen Perdue in 1960. It was skillfully hand-sewn and hand-quilted by the Women’s Quilt Guild of Center United Presbyterian Church of New Castle, Pennsylvania.

The quilt design is on a white background with twelve Dresden plates with green centers and colorful fabric petals in greens, pinks, reds and blues and two green stripe borders.

The quilt was my prized possession and was on my bed through junior high and high school. Now 56 years later it is tattered and torn and it is my pleasure to include it in the quilt art project.

33.
Roger McIlwain
Campbell, NY
32.
Melissa Murray
Corning, NY
Tags
Church, Handmade, Sickness and health

This prayer shawl was given to me by my church, Christ Episcopal. We have a wonderful group of women who knit these shawls for anyone going through a difficult time. The shawl was given to me when I was getting ready to have heart surgery. I used it as a shawl and a blanket and felt wrapped in love and prayers and support the whole time I was in the hospital and when I got home.

31.
Nancy Doutt
Big Flats, NY
Tags
New york, Steuben county

This cape/blanket was worn at the Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, NY in 1980. It has also kept me warm at Penn State football games and while ringing the red kettle bell for the Corning Salvation Army.

30.
Stephanie Spry
Corning, NY
Tags
New york

I was stowed away in a closet and rediscovered during an estate sale in the summer of 2016. Alexis and Stephanie Spry found me in upstate New York. The stenciled names ‘AF Clarke’ and ‘Gary Clarke’ show that I was valued at one time and now I am ready to be relevant again!

29.
Janet Ackerman
Elmira, NY
Tags
Arts, New york

My beloved uncle’s “car” blanket—he passed away this year and he loved visiting Corning and was a great supporter of the arts—he would be thrilled that his wool blanket was in such a unique art piece. Many thanks 😊

28.
Susanne Brown
Painted Post, NY
Tags
Generations, Handmade, Quilts

This is a tulip quilt that was hand sewn by my aunt, who lived in Eastern Potter County, PA, sometime in the 1930s-1950s. When my aunt downsized to a smaller home, she gave it to my mother. After my mother died, I inherited it. I donated it because I am downsizing my home.

27.
Rita &Jim Reed
Corning, NY
Tags
Generations, Grandmothers, In memoriam

This blanket was handed down from Jim’s grandmother, Elise Lawson Reed (1889–1982). Grandmother Reed was raised on the coast of Maine and lived there for most of the first half of the 20th Century.

I remember the sound of my grandmother, Teresa, knitting and crocheting and that sound brings such fond memories. She passed away several years ago and this is one of the last blankets she made.

25.
Jill Palmer
Corning, NY
Tags
Arts, Handmade, Quilts

This quilt was made by someone in my family and I wish I knew who it was! It was made either in New York, Connecticut, or New Jersey, probably in the ‘30s. As a quilter myself, I have learned how important it is to sign and date your quilts.

I can’t think of a better final reseting place for this quilt than in The Rockwell Museum.

24.
Beth &Pete Hylen
Painted Post, NY, and Lexington, KY
Tags
Pets, Selected stories

This blue-and-white checked blanket was a favorite of our 20-year-old calico “Kitty.” When she died, we wrapped her body in the blanket until we could bury her. Later on, Jay-dog, our beloved basset hound, picked up Kitty’s scent on the comfy blanket and ecstatically wagged her tail thinking Kitty (her pal) had returned. From then on, Jay-dog claimed the blanket as her own.

23.
Pamela K. &Michael W. Piecuch
Elmira, NY
Tags
Church, Generations, Handmade, In memoriam, New york, Quilts

This quilt was presented to Mary Ann Piecuch (1941–2009) upon her retirement in 1999 from the USPS as the Postmaster of Lowman, NY. It was made by mother/daughter Virgiline Jilson and Mary Jilson Daniels then personalized by many of those Mary Ann loved and/or served. Notable sketches by Delores Jilson Morgan depict the Lowman Post Office, the Newtown Battlefield Marker (1907) and the Lowman Methodist Church. The Newtown Battle (1779) occurred in Lowman on land owned by the Jilson family. Other notable references include infamous eatery Anne’s Pancakes, Elmira Correctional Facility, Watkins Glen Grand Prix, and the symbolic Polish White Eagle.

While Mary Ann was first employed by The Elmira Theater (now the Clemens Center) she became one of Elmira’s first female postal carriers in 1966. Proud of her faith, her community, her Polish heritage and its music, she served on numerous committees of Elmira, NY, including St. Casimir’s Church, Blessed Sacrament Parish and The White Eagles Club. She willingly assisted local politicians when duty called. She traveled often to enjoy her favorite polka bands and organized bus trips so that others had an opportunity to enjoy recording polka artists. As former President of the Soaring Polka Association, Mary Ann was instrumental in bringing Chemung County its first Polka Holiday.

Made as a tribute to Mary Ann, this quilt is actually a wonderful piece of Americana. Each square transforms into a symbolic window pane allowing a view of the culture and values that made up our community at the turn of the twentieth century.

Mary Ann will be remembered most for her outgoing personality, her love of polka music, and her service to God and the community she loved. Her quilt now has the unique opportunity to take on a new life at The Rockwell Museum.

22.
Helen A. Sawyer
Canisteo, NY
Tags
Handmade, New york, Selected stories

Made by Cecelia (Markowicz) Van Gorder in 1920 from salt bags from the Tecumsen Salt Co. Silver Springs, NY. When times were tough flour sacks, feed sacks and salt sacks were used to such things as clothes and blankets.

My blanket is a quilt, lovingly hand sewn by my grandmother (in Pennsylvania), probably in the 1950s. Her beautiful quilts came with my family to New York state and kept my young children warm when we lived in Albany and Rochester. This one is cut up because it became so worn from use that I framed squares of it for each of my children to preserve her memory.

20.
Mary &Simon St. Laurent
Corning, NY
Tags
Handmade, Selected stories, Travel

Embroidered bed cover made by Andean Natives. Purchased in Peru c. 1969 while serving in the Peace Corps.

This quilt has been part of my life for 60 years. I remember it on my bed as a child. I loved putting my knees up and looking at the pattern from the underside as the light passed through.

The quilt was with me in college, my first apartment and 40 years of married life. It has lived in PA, TN, WI, and now in Corning. My three daughters used it to build nests for Saturday morning cartoons. We used it to pad furniture moves in and out of dorms and apartments. I was about ready to turn it into a ___ cloth.

Being part of The Rockwell blanket project seemed a much better fate.

I’m not sure who made it, but even without a pedigree, it has led a noble life. I will be happy to have it go to a new life in art.

I received this warm fuzzy blanket in 1974 when I moved to Corning. It has covered me for many happy times and some sad times. My children, grandchildren, and dogs snuggled with me under it. And it comforted me on some sad days. I am happy to have it continue in a wonderful, joyous, memorial.

Etta Normand (1900–1984), born Etta Cromwell, lived in Manitoba, Canada. After she married Guy Long she moved her family to Caton, New York and became naturalized.

During her years of mothering and grand mothering she worked as an L.P.N. in the first Corning Hospital. One of her loves of life was quilting. Her most beautiful quilts and clothes were made from men’s ties. Good repurposing?!

I was born 12 miles from Seneca land and while I feel connected to his land because it is my home, my blanket story originates in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia. My story is about a very special woman to me. The matriarch of our family. Dora Leap, my grandmother. She was a devoted church woman. A wife. A sister.  A grandmother. A great grandmother. And now a great great grandmother. She was an artist and a quilter. She quilted continually with other women of the Presbyterian Church. She boasted such pride for her intricate designs and beautiful artistry. Her work supported the church and its many ministries - from feeding the hungry to providing a warm blanket for the warmth of others. And with the scraps she’d make “domestic” quilts - patchwork created with pieces from her house dresses and aprons. She would call them ‘the scraps’. But to us, they are the true treasures. In every in of these blankets is Grandma Leap- her smell, touch, and warmth. She is the matriarch and I will be forever touched by her. She is the tread that runs through the fabric of our family.

My grandmother, Agnes Sivec, made this quilt using fabric from her daughter’s failed home economics project. As a young girl, my mother remembers watching her mother hand quilting the blanket on an ironing board in the kitchen, without using a frame or hoop.

14.
Michelle Padilla
Painted Post, NY
Tags
Generations, Grandfathers, Grandmothers, Handmade

After my grandmother died, my grandfather gave me her sewing machine and quilting supplies. It wasn’t until about 8 years later that I actually learned to quilt—and I love it! This is just one of many that I’ve made.

13.
Roger McIlwain
Campbell, NY

This is a blanket of mothers’ love. Given by a birth-grandmother to her daughter, the birth-mother. This brave birthmother wrapped her newborn girl in this blanket of love and gave her to her adoptive mother. So honored was this new mother with the miracle of life and love, she shared this girl, wrapped in love, with her new grandmother. She was christened in this blanket under the eyes of her godmother. This is a blanket tying together mothers of Western New York.

My First Guatemalan Blanket, 1977—I purchased this in the marketplace in Chichicastenango to help stay warm at night while sleeping on the dirt floor of an adobe house in the highlands. I was part of a team of architecture students from U.C. Berkeley participating in the reconstruction process after the devastating 1976 earthquake. Using indigenous materials and methods that withstood earthquake conditions in other parts of the country, we rebuilt the school and several homes with the participation of all the able bodied men in the community. The men had never seen women working on a construction site before, let alone wearing pants!!

This was the beginning of my love affair with Mayan textiles and I have continued to collect, wear and share these beautiful, colorful works, crafted on back strap and treadle looms.

Martin’s Baby Blanket, 1989 — I was given this lovely baby blanket as a shower gift by Vicki, the eccentric mother of a friend. Soft pink and lavender, I think she thought I was pregnant with a girl. I gave birth to a son, but used the blanket anyway. It was soft and warm and I dressed my baby in every color of the rainbow from birth. Growing up, Martin picked out his own colorful wardrobe, without any regard to gender. Costumes were also very popular… he could be Peter Pan one day and Belle the next and his school was very accommodating.

Last year Martine began transitioning. I now have a daughter after all!

9.
Pat Pinkston
Corning, NY
Tags
Handmade, Travel

Dutch’s Blanket, 1987—My family usually planted or gave a tree to honor a special occasion: a birth, marriage, or significant milestone. Many of the women in my family have been excellent knitters, celebrating births and birthdays with blankets, sweaters, and hats and mittens. My mother knit socks for my father. I learned to sew, weave, knit and crochet. But no one expected my older brother to take up handicrafts…

His first project was 4 large needlepoint pillows, made while he was trying to quit smoking. He later took up blanket weaving, using a very large 200 year old Scottish loom. Using soft, muted, earthy colors, he made a blanket for my parents and then one for each sibling as wedding gifts. Warm and beautiful, it feels like a big hug each time I wrap it around me!

Love is the story of our blanket. It was used by all 7 in our family. Dad was William Gustav Nelson, Swedish heritage who worked locally for Corning Glass Works, at Steuben Glass as Supervisor of melting. His wife, Helen Dunleavy, of Irish heritage was a loving, beautiful, thoughtful lady who was the mother of their 5 daughters. They provided all the necessities of life to us with love, direction and happiness. Bill contributed to our local community in so many ways. He promoted the Boy Scout way of life, being an Eagle Scout and a Council Commissioner. He served as local alderman, Steuben County supervisor, Red Cross—he was always giving, teaching and hoping to improve community life. He loved gardening and flowers.

All 5 daughters graduated from local schools and were afforded the opportunity for further education—a gift.

This blanket would tell the true story of our happy family life.

A satin rose shiny border was an original part of this blanket—only visible now in our memory.

7.
Lydia McCarthy Storey
Dalmatia, PA
Tags
Pets, Wedding

This wool blanket was a wedding gift from my Aunt Esther when Bill and I married in 1981. It kept us warm for over 20 years. In 2003, our 7th rescue dog and 3rd Airedale, Shadow, chewed his way down through the blanket, top sheet, etc. to retrieve a rawhide chew one of the smaller dogs had left under the covers.

6.
Patricia Hobbs Bennett
Corning, NY
Tags
Childhood, Grandfathers, Siblings

Grandfather’s Sleigh Blanket. Horsehair. My siblings and I used to have horse-drawn sleigh rides through a cemetery in Bath when young.

5.
Lynette &James Estep
Painted Post, NY
Tags
Generations, In memoriam, New york, Travel

I can see Dad’s smile when I gave him this blanket as a souvenir from my trip to New Mexico in the late 1980s. Dad used it to keep warm while watching television and when a quilt made by my sister replaced it on the back of his chair, he found another use for it. This blanket traveled with Dad and his tools in the trunk of his car to and from Keuka Lake until he died on December 12, 2015. Dad was very conscious of the human and natural resources it takes to make material goods so he always found a way to reuse his valuables.

In memory of James Arden Estep (1936-2015)

This blanket came from my grandparents home in Elmira, NY. My grandfather’s family emigrated from England and settled to farm in Yates Co. in the 1830s, the next generation moved on, including to Elmira. My grandmother grew up in Lycoming Co. PA, the daughter of Swedish immigrants, she was the first in her family to attend college—Elmira (Women’s) College.

They met, married and raised their family in Elmira. They also spent summers in Hector, NY, over looking Seneca Lake—where they farmed and gave their kids a place to sail.

My grandmother may have made this blanket (honestly, I don’t know, although she had a college degree, she—as most women of her generation - was supposed to be well versed in the “domestic arts”  and she was a skilled seamstress).

They loved this part of the world and imbued that love to future generations.

P.S. My maternal grandparents, their name was Wright.

My Great Grandmother Dorothy Nelson made this blanket for my parents’ wedding in 1979. It was used primarily as a cuddle blanket on the couch until the disparate fibers shrunk at different rates in the wash, after which we ceased to use it, but it came with us when we moved from Long Island to Upstate NY when I was 4 years old.

My sister, Mary Fadale Phillips, was a cigarette smoker for over 40 years. The only time she achieved success in quilting was during her pregnancies. In 2008, she made a monumental effort to quit. She realized that she would have to find a way to keep her hands busy so she decided to make this afghan for me. She is convinced that this blanket and the many hours of knitting it, contributed to her success in becoming a non-smoker.

I honor her by submitting this as a lasting remembrance of her determination and my love and respect for her.

1.
Sarah Creath
Corning, NY
Tags
Generations, Handmade, Wedding

My husband and I received this as a wedding gift from our dear friend Colleen Zirk. Colleen asked for our color and pattern preferences- and made this accordingly. We’d used it continuously until now (over 18 years) until its current state of deterioration. We feel like we’ve raised our 4 kids in the midst of this quilt. It was on our bed through their childhoods…

Glad to have it go to some use in its retirement!

260.
Timothy J. Hutton
Dillon, MT
1987–2008
Army Pvt., 54th Eng. Bn., 18th Eng. Bde.

Loved fishing and the river; dreamt of building cabin after service. Trained carpenter; enlisted to see more of the world.

259.
Aaron N. Holleyman
Glasgow, MT
1977–2004
Army S. Sgt., 1st Bd., 5th Spec. Forces Group

Mississippan by birth, graduated Glasgow HS. Intelligent, hard-working, respected by peers; served in over 100 combat missions in Iraq. Survived by two daughters and a son.

258.
Yance T. Gray
Ismay, MT
1981–2007
Army S. Sgt., 1st Sq., 73d Cav. Rgt., 2d Bde. Combat Team, 82d Airborne Div.

Strong, friendly leader who dreamed of being a soldier his whole life. Co-author of NY Times op-ed critical of the Iraq war. Graduate of Plevna HS. Avid hunter, angler. Survived by wife and daughter.

257.
Scott D. Dykman
Harrison, MT
1979–2006
Army Sgt., 1st Bn, 501st Parachute Inf. Rgt., 4th Bde. Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Inf. Div.

Worked as logger before enlisting; amateur boxer: placed 3rd in national Golden Gloves competition. Remembered as quiet, comforting presence. Survived by wife, son and daughter, and an extended family.

256.
Garnet R. Derby
Missoula, MT
1965–2009
Army Lt. Col., 3d Bn., 8th Cav. Rgt., 3d Bde. Combat Team, 1st Cav. Div.

Decorated career soldier, remembered as a superb “dirty-boots” officer. Devoted to wife and children: 90 days before the end of each tour, would commence daily letter-writing campaign to family, counting down the time until his return.

255.
Chris Dana
Helena, MT
1984–2007
Army Spc., 163d Inf. Bn., Montana Nat’l Guard

Helena native and an avid reader. His PTSD problems prompted a new nationwide military screening program for deploying troops.

254.
Andrew S. Charpentier
Great Flass, MT
1988–2009
Navy Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class, Navy Exp. Guard Bn.

Self-taught guitarist, member of HS debate team, played basketball, football, wrestling, track. Remembered as deep, quiet, insightful, devout. Survived by his wife.

253.
Kyle G. Bohrnsen
Phillipsburg, MT
1985–2007
Army PFC, 2d Bn., 12th Inf. Rgt., 2d Bde. Combat Team, 2d Inf. Div.

Avid hunter, remembered as hard worker and role model. Loved snowmobiling, bow-hunting, outdoors; worked as hunting guide in his free time. Awarded Bronze Star.

252.
Nicholas W. B. Bloem
Belgrade, MT
1985–2005
Marine Lance Cpl., 4th Recon. Bn., 4th Marine Div., Marine Forces Reserve

Marine Corps was his calling; dreamed of rise through command chain as officer. Wanted to attend MSU in Bozeman. Married high-school sweetheart; survived by her, and his mother and father.

251.
Andrew D. Bedard
Missoula, MT
1986–2005
Marine PFC, 3d Bn, 7th Marine Rgt., 1st Marine Div., I Marine Exp. Force

Graduate of Hellgate HS, Missoula; Personable, cheerful, devoted to family and friends: during basic training, would drive to Missoula from San Diego just to spend one day with them.

250.
Shane R. Becker
Helena, MT
1972–2007
Army S. Sgt., 1st Sq., 40th Cav. Rgt., 4th Bde. Combat Team, 25th Inf. Div.

Patriot, devoted husband and father of two daughters; native of Helena, grew up in Greeley, CO. Awarded Silver Star and Purple Heart.

249.
Phillip E. Baucus
1978–2006
Marine Cpl., 3d Lt. Armored Recon. Bn., 1st Marine Div., I Marine Exp. Force.

Nephew of Montana Senator Max Baucus. Son of prominent ranchers and conservationists from Wolf Creek area. Musician; married high school sweetheart. Remembered as friendly, fun to be around

248.
Travis W. Atkins
Bozeman, MT
1976–2007
Army S.Sgt., 2d Bn., 14th Inf. Rgt., 2d Bde. Combat Team, 10th Mtn. Div.

Bozeman native found his niche in the Army. Served in Iraq in 2003, left Army after tour, worked building trades. Re-enlisted in 2005. Remembered as a caring leader. Survived by 11-year-old son.

247.
Travis M. Arndt
Bozeman, MT
1982–2005
Army Sgt., 163d Cav., 116th Bde. Combat Team, 42d Inf. Div., MT Army Nat’l Guard

Happy-go-lucky amateur boxer, weightlifter. Student at MSU; hoped to become football coach or police officer. Loved hiking and snowshoeing in the Rocky Mountain Front.

246.
Lucas White
White Swan, WA
1978–2006
Army Sgt., 1st Bn., 23rd Inf. Rgt., 3rd Bde. Combat Team, 2nd Inf. Div.

Member of Umatilla Tribe. Hunting, fishing, camping were his passions, and kept him connected to the traditions of his people. Graduated White Swan HS, Yakama Indian Reservation. Survived by wife.