Ep 001: Cora Lee
Welcome to the very first episode of Patchwork Revival!
Today we are going to be taking a trip back in time to meet my grandmother, Cora Lee Newman, also known as Mama Newman.
This is the woman who taught me how to quilt, and what it means to nurture and encourage creativity in those around you. Throughout my preparation for the episode, I have found myself feeling ALL the emotions I would imagine that I would feel - I miss her so much, I feel happy, I am amazed by her life, but also slightly shocked at some of the things she went through. Mostly, I am SO thankful to have all of these stories in one place. I will tell you right now that a lifetime of being with her would never have felt like enough time, but knowing that her story is documented here and will have a place in recorded history is pretty amazing, because that means I can share this little piece of her with you all.
Mama was born in March 1924.
She was from a rural agricultural background, so money for extra fabric, etc was not a thing. Quilting was something she did to keep warm, and to have shelter. I’m sure she learned to quilt from her mother, and likely this continued during the depression era from the 1930s-1940s. Even through the time that her husband, my Papa, was drafted into the service during World War II leaving her to mother two babies on her own, then eventually as the mother of four children, she was making quilts as part of her daily life and as a ritual of making and using her hands.
Quilting was her community.
After my Papa passed away in 1985, she continued being active as a volunteer in her community. In 1993, she and a group of ladies from her church started a quilting group. They met once a week and it was an ALLLLL day affair. They rotated month to month taking turns so that each member could have a quilt put up on the quilting frame each year, and they would sit and hand quilt the whole day. Some days, they wouldn’t quilt at all, but would meet at one of the ladies houses to have lunch, play cards or dominoes, just have a fun girls day retreat together. They put on quilt shows in the 2010s, showcasing their work, and even made a quilt together as a group, quilted it, and would then raffle it to raise money.
Mama’s story is about so much more than the quilts she made.
My Mama has inspired me to continually create, even in difficult times or busy times, because it makes our world bright. She has inspired me to share my work, and to build a community of quilters around me, because sharing is important. She’s transformed my sewing practice into a way that I can pray, meditate, process the things going on around me, because being still and quiet is important.
She was important, and I hope that hearing some of her story and hearing about what her quilting legacy means to me will show you how important YOU are. When we make quilts, or dedicate time to quilting, we are creating a legacy that will be here long after we are. I hope you’ll think a little bit on this next time you’re sewing, and remember how special quilting is and how it’s about so much more than just the quilt you’re making.
