It was very rewarding writing the book, Quilts from the American Homefront. Part of the reason was because my dad served in World War II, I remembered his stories of the war and fighting in the European theater. For me, personally I guess it seemed so much easier to relate to than the Civil War Books.
Another reason that made it so rewarding was a very special lady, her name is Mary Elizabeth Tucker. I used the World War II letters of her and her husband Everett in the book. I shared the first part of Mary’s story with you all before, Her son went to visit her because I had contacted His family about using His wifes uncle’s letters in my book. Knowing that his mother had been a lifetime quilter for over 50 years, he thought she would be so interested in the fact that they were going to be used in a quilt book. Mary Elizabeth Tucker is now 93 years old, when her son told her the story how I had contacted him, she said wait a minute, went to the back room of her home and came out with my Civil War quilt book In one hand and her husband’s World War II letters in the other. She gave them to her son and said if I would like to, I could use them in the book.
Mary Elizabeth Tucker is the only surviving person featured in the book, I even had a chance to talk with her over the telephone about her life and her Memories of the war. What a delightful woman. The only thing better would’ve been to sit down in a room with her and talk with her in person.
Recently Mary’s son, Chris, went to take her the Quilts from the American Homefront Quilt book Her son said that he has never seen her react to anything the way she reacted to the book. She spent the remainder of the day calling all of her friends to tell them how beautifully each letter was memorialized with a special quilt block.
Her son , Chris, said “you have made her so very happy and I want to thank you for the opportunity to share my mother and father’s correspondence during World War II. Those are tears of joy you see and I can tell you that my wife and I were crying along with her. It meant so much to all of us. Thank you so much for helping her share her life well lived. She has purchased the fabric for the quilt and is bound and determined to piece one more lasting legacy of her quilting talent.”
I sat there looking at the photographs and the tears just flowed. I cried uncontrollably, I was so blessed by this special lady. It was such an honor for me to share Mary and Everett Tucker’s story.
As you know this week I started on book 6, this is what makes writing such an amazing journey. Wishing you all a wonderful evening full of peace and love.
Rosemary
Such a warm and beautiful story!!
Thank you, she is such a special lady. I wish I could’ve met her in person.
Have a wonderful day stitching,
Rosemary Youngs
http://rosemaryyoungs.com/ https://rosemaryyoungs.wordpress.com/ Sent from my iPad
Wow, how special for you. What a great story!
Thanks for sharing Rosemary. It brought tears to my eyes as well. I look forward to your next book. Good luck.
What a wonderful story! Elin Torvik Grov
Sendt fra min iPad
Den 6. mars 2013 kl. 03:40 skrev “Rosemary Youngs Quilt books and Patterns” :
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Thanks for sharing such a beautiful story. What a special gift: to share ones letters and memories and to handle them with such care and respect and share with the rest of us. You two are gems!
That is a special story and so wonderful that she could see her stories as part of your quilt book and the blocks. My maiden name was tucker, but doubt it is the same family, was trying to find the first half of the story of where she is from?
Debbie
Such a wonderful story – I shed a few tears too. Thanks for sharing all that you do!