My Quilt of Family Babies

Since I’m working on my ongoing project, a photograph quilt of babies in the family, I thought I would share it.  Maybe that will help me to continue quilting and finally finish it.  I started about three years ago.  I have made many baby quilts over the years, crib size quilts, but I never completed a full sized one.  I can design and put them together but finish, no.  So when I saw the class listed at the local arts center for photo quilting I decided to do it.  It is double bed size.  I have added the outer edging which is the same brown print you see.  I have two rows left to quilt before I finish the outer edge.  I am hand quilting because using a machine on this one didn’t seem right.  Here are the people on my quilt from top left corner across, row by row.  I will give parents names and dates of birth and death for the children only.  Maiden names only.  Mostly.
 Row 1
1.  Annie Lee Pope – daughter of Beulah Allen and Robert Pope.  Born 1903 Montgomery, AL.  Died 1971 Milwaukee, WI
2.  Alice Wright – daughter of Jennie Allen and unknown Wright.  Born 1908 Montgomery, AL Died 1994 Detroit, MI.
3.  Charles Gilmer – son of Annie Lee Pope and Ludie Gilmer.  Born 1922 Milwaukee WI. Died 1992 Los Angeles, Ca.
4.  Stella holding Roscoe McCall Jr.- son of Stella Brown and Roscoe McCall Born 1918, Montgomery, AL. Death date unknown.
Row 2
1.  Margaret McCall – Daughter of James McCall and Margaret Walker. Born 1919 Montgomery AL.  Died 2007 Detroit, MI.
2.  Jennie holding Daisy, Fanny beside her.  Daughters of Jennie Allen and Howard Turner.  Daisy born 1890.  Died 1961.  Fannie born 1888.  Died 1974. Both were born in Lowndes County, AL and both died in Detroit.
3.  Celia Rice Cleage Sherman holding her  granddaughter Gladys Cleage – daughter of Pearl Reed and Albert Cleage Sr.  Born in 1922 in Detroit.  Still living!
4.  Hubert Vincent – son of Naomi Tulane and Hubert Vincent.  Born 1923.  Died 1994.  Both in New York, NY.
Row 3   
1.  Theodore Kennedy – son of Alberta Cleage and Theodore Kennedy.  Born 1928 in Chattanooga, TN.  Still living!
2.  Albert B. Cleage Sr. and Jr. – son of Albert B. Cleage Sr. and Pearl Reed.  Born 1911 in Indianapolis, IN.  Died 2000 Calhoun Falls, SC.
3.  Annie Willie holding Vennie Jean Williams – daughter of Annie Butler and Arthur Williams.  Born 1921 Arkansas.  Died 2008 Arkansas.  My husband’s grandmother and Aunt.
4.   Sadye and Virgil Harris.  Sadye born 1917 in Birmingham, AL.  Died 2008 in Maryland.  Virgil born 1913 in Birmingham, AL.  Died 1988 in AL.  They are cousins of cousins.  Sadye helped me greatly with my research.
 Row 4
1.  Howard with big sisters Mary V. and Doris Graham – children of Mershell Graham and Fannie Turner.  Howard 1928 – 1932.  Doris 1923 – 1982.  Mary V. born 1921 – 2009.  All born in Detroit and died in Detroit.
2.  Alberta, Ola and Helen Cleage – daughters of Mattie Dodson and Edward Cleage.  Alberta born 1910 Athens, TN.  Died Ohio 1956.  Ola born 1916 Athens, TN.  Died 1988 Athens TN.  Born 1910 and died 1990 both in Athens TN.
3.  Barbara Cleage – born 1920 Detroit, MI.  Still living!
4.  Pearl holding Albert B. Cleage Jr.  – son of Pearl Reed and Albert Cleage.  Born 1911 Indianapolis, IN.  Died 2000 Calhoun, SC.
Row 5
1.  Pearl with Henry Cleage – son of Pearl Reed and Albert Cleage.  Born 1916 in Detroit, MI.  Died 1996 in Anderson, SC.
2.  Theresa Reed – daughter of Hugh Reed and Blanch Young.  Born 1914 Indianapolis, IN.  Death information unknown.
3.  Charles Gilmer son of Annie Lee Pope and Ludie Gilmer.  Born 1922 Milwaukee WI. Died 1992 Los Angeles, Ca.   
4.  Naomi with Hubert Vincent – son of Naomi Tulane and Hubert Vincent.  Born 1923.  Died 1994.  Both in New York, NY. 

8 thoughts on “My Quilt of Family Babies

  1. after i got halfway through stitching all layers together and even some quilting, the teacher mentioned I could have stretched it like a canvas since i think i will hang it instead of it being a bed quilt. next time…

    Linda, I will do that.

  2. This is wonderful! I'd love to do the same, though I only have 3 quilts under my belt. You've inspired me!

  3. There is no fancy quilting. You just have to make a plan, make sure you know what you want to do and how to do it and take your time sewing it all together. It doesn't have to take three years either! If you haven't done photos before you'll want to read up or have someone show you how to do that part. Good luck!

  4. I did a pillow that used one photo first before I started the quilt. I should post a photo of the pillow.

  5. Kristin,

    Your quilt is really beautiful! What a great idea, and an amazingly beautiful keepsake. You did a great job!

    Sandra

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