"Forward" by Reba Mcentire

Have you ever made a quilt? I have. it's one of the most
therapeutic and calming things I've ever done. and I had a
huge sense of accomplishment when I finished.

Both of my grandmothers made quilts, my mama did, and my
aunt jeannie did. I loved to open that big box at
christmastime knowing it was a quilt that one of them had
made. I was so flattered that after all the time and energy
they had spent on that quilt, they had selected me to
receive it. even as a young girl, I knew a quilt was a gift
I would cherish always.

Back when I was living at home, I remember during the winter
months mama would set up her sewing machine in the living
room over by the window. at night when we'd all be in there
watching tv after supper, mama would be over at her sewing
machine, making another quilt from the scraps left over
From a dress or blouse she had made for one of us earlier.

Then, when she had sewn all the squares sewn together, she'd
lay the batting on the living room floor, lay the quilted
piece on top of that, and then start tacking it down. when
that was completed, she'd sew the border around it. then it
was finished. all that remained was for mama to decide who
would be the proud recipient of her precious handiwork which
represented so many hours of love.

I feel very blessed to have received one of mama's quilts. I
sleep under it every night I'm home. it doesn't match the
fancy comforter we bought in los angelos, but it feels
better than anything you can imagine. just because I know my
mama made it just for me.

When daddy's mother died in 1950, one year before my sister
alice was born, mama got the trunk that held all of the
quilts, china, crystal, silverware, and knickknacks that
grandma had collected during her lifetime. mama discovered
that grandma's trunk also included a few quilt pieces that
she had started but had never finished. my sister susie
eventually wound up with those quilt pieces and we all
figured she would finish them out and keep them for herself.

But as only susie would do, she cut the makings of the quilt
into four squares, had them quilted, put a picture of
grandma mcentire and a descripion of the quilt ogether, and
had them framed for alice's, my brother pake's, and my
christmas present.

That's how thoughtful susie is. she could have kept the
quilt for herself, but, instead, she shared with her brother
and sisters something so special, which had belonged to a
woman none of us had ever met. that's part of susie's charm.

That's also the charm of a quilt. like a mother, it wraps
it's arms around you-sosoft, yet so sturdy, and so
comforting. in my grandma's time the sewing of a quilt would
bring friends and neighbors together, and in quilting
circles today that lovely tradition continues. now we live
in a time when so many women do not even have a sewing
machine in their home and when country quilts hang in the
fanciest boutiques and galleries selling as decorative art.
that would sure give my grandma and her circle a good laugh
and more than a few shakes of the head.

Can you just imagine the visiting, the stories, and the
fellowship that have gone on during the making of all the
wonderful quilts through the years? and can you imagine all
the children who have been tucked in securely underneath
them in their beds night after night? and us adults too? 

That's what you call comfort from a country quilt. I hope
this book is as comforting to you as my mama's quilt has
always been to me. like a quilt, this book is made up of
small pieces of material-some of my favorite stories,
memorable experiences, and more than a few opinions-written,
rather than sewn, from the stuff of my life. I have stitched
these pieces together with my sincere hope that you will
find the quilt of a book friendly, warm, and enjoyable,
something you can turn to for comfort and entertainment and
for sharing with friends and family.

So grab your favorite quilt, wra up, get comfortable, and
enjoy.
From me to you.
Love,
Reba