In 1837, a young blacksmith saw his business in Vermont failing, leaving him unable to pay his creditors. In those days, debtors’ prison was a grim reality, a place where individuals were incarcerated simply for owing money they could not repay. Facing the bleak prospect of debtors’ prison, the young blacksmith made a bold decision. […]

My mother-in-law said my quilt looks like a thrift store threw up on my bed— and honestly, I’ve never been prouder of anything in my life. It took me two years to make this thing. Every single square is a different fabric, stitched together from scraps of the life we’ve lived. The orange floral in […]

“My husband has had hip pain for a few months which turned into a limp. He got an MRI yesterday and we found out he has bone cancer, two different kinds. There are a lot of unknowns until we can see an oncologist next week but my heart hurts. Our four little boys need their […]

My husband swore up and down that he wasn’t dressing up for Halloween this year. “We’re too old for that nonsense,” he said. “Costumes are for kids.” We’re forty-seven. I told him that was ridiculous. Our neighborhood goes all out—fog machines, lights, themed candy tables. I refused to be the boring house that handed out […]

Last week my daughter called and told me she doesn’t want any of my quilts when I’m gone. Just like that. Over the phone. I was folding one I’d spent months piecing together by hand when she said, “Mom, I just don’t have room for all that stuff. Maybe donate them or something.” Forty-three years […]