A Quilt Is Not Just A Quilt

When I look back at old photos of my sister and me as children, I see a lot of the same things- those blue chairs in the upstairs living room, the peach colored curtains, the green and black afghan. I see the red felted wool blanket, the blue quilt, the New Kids on the Block sleeping bag I insisted on carrying with me to every room. So many memories tied up in all of these familiar things, from the comfortable furniture to the well-loved blankets we wrapped our family in year after year after year.

It's amazing to think that the items that I now choose to bring into my home will become part of the boys' memories later in life just as those things have for me. That black and white striped throw from IKEA I always seem to have draped over the couch, the soft gray baby blanket that Henry has had around from infancy, and the two plus-sign quilts that each boy uses every day of their lives- all of these things have a place in our home.

My friend Jen created the custom plus-sign quilts for each of the boys as a gift, and I can still remember opening the package and just staring at those beautiful blankets for some time. Right away I knew they were special, and I could plainly see the love and care that had been put into making each of those quilts. I was so delighted by their beautiful quality, stitching, and overall craftsmanship, and I was immediately excited because I knew that these would be two things we would keep forever.

Over the past few months the quilts have become a part of our everyday- we wrap ourselves up at night to read books together in bed, Henry grabs his and drags it out in the morning to stay warm before the heater really kicks on, they're included in cuddle sessions in the big chair, a photo backdrops on the ground with baby Charlie, long walks in the stroller when we need an extra layer of warmth- these quilts have become a part of it all, and in turn, have become a part of us.

I couldn't think of a better or more special keepsake, and just as the blue blanket was so important to my sister and me (we wore holes in it eventually, after 15 years of daily use), these quilts will be that for Henry and Charlie. It's a beautiful thing, really, to have a keepsake you're able to actually use, because with that use comes a story- a million stories. And just as the quilts are made from piece after piece of material, we add our own "material" to it every day with all of our family moments that are eventually woven right into the quilt itself. A keepsake indeed.

*To go along with this special post, my friend Jen is generously offering 10% off your order with code "SWEET10".