EngAGE Stories

Thanks to Site Leader and art teacher Alma Wright at The Magnolia at Highlands for sending these photos and the wonderful stories that were gathered in interviews conducted by Lauren Wright (see her bio below). Keep reading to learn about a group of talented quilters who went from this:

To this:

Click here to see a great series of photographs depicting the entire quilt-making process. The dots on the quilt represent where some of the residents were born. The quilt will be entered in the EngAGE Senior Olympics this fall.

The Making of a Quilt at The Magnolia

by Lauren Wright

Back in April, the Magnolia residents began a three month project in Site Leader Alma Wright’s art class: a USA map quilt. None of the involved students had any idea how this would turn out, or that it would take so long, since they had never made a quilt before. So, this was truly a team effort and a learning experience for everyone who participated. It was nice to see how pleased the seniors were with the finished product, and also how much they enjoyed accumulating new skills and interacting with each other. During this time together, the residents shared many excellent stories, some of which can be found below.

                      Cardell Stark

I grew up in Arkansas. One of the things my siblings and I used to do with my mother was get baskets of black eyed peas, clean and snap them, then learn to can and freeze them. One hobby of mine is reading historical, romance, and mystery books. Making the quilt reminded me of my great grandmother and auntie, who both loved to quilt. I found it interesting that we could even make the quilt without having done anything like it before, and I hope we get a prize in the Senior Olympics.

 Deborah Merriweather

I liked hearing everyone’s stories while making the quilt. My mother’s aunties used to crochet and knit quilts; that was their hobby. I learned to cook from my father and mother. My parents are from Louisiana and Mississippi, and I grew up in L.A. going to a Catholic school with five sisters and one brother. We had twins in my family, and they had a habit of eating plaster. When there was a hole in the wall, they used to get their little fingers in there and eat the plaster! My mother was concerned and took them to the doctor, who said, “If it hasn’t bothered them by now, it’s not going to.” They ate plaster. I’m serious!

 Dee Hayes

I was born in Dodd, Texas, but grew up in Kansas City. My mother died of TB when I was 18 months, so I went to live with my aunt and uncle. My uncle taught me to read Dick Tracy comics when I was four; I read quite a bit. I also liked to play house and make mud pies with the neighborhood kids. My auntie worked at an egg factory and would bring me home the tiny reject eggs. I would put them in my mud pies and tell the other kids, “They’re real! Didn’t you see me put the eggs in them?” I moved to California when I was 11, and I’ve been here ever since. I enjoyed the comradery in the group and hearing their childhood stories while making the quilt. I even learned to embroider with my left hand while recovering from surgery on my right.

 Margo Egan

I was born in Chicago, Illinois, and moved to New Mexico before I was six. I have one sister. When I was 12, I moved back to Illinois. I went to college for one year in Iowa, and another year in Illinois. I moved California when I was 21. I learned to sew when I was nine, and made all of my own clothes until I was through with high school. I could do zippers better than my mother, and she could do button holes better than me. So, I would do all her zippers and she would do all my button holes. I took an interest in braiding nine years ago. Before that I did many crafts, and also about 300 collages and 150 paintings. What I liked most about making the quilt was going to the computer and finding out the state flowers, birds, and flags. The states I worked on were Illinois, New Mexico, and Iowa. I came up with the idea to put Route 66 on the map, which the others embroidered.

 Robert Taylor

I grew up in Los Angeles and Fontana. I had three sisters and one brother. We enjoyed roller skating, going to the theater, and playing at the park. I have always liked art, woodwork, and sculpting. The quilt reminded me of my mother and the things she used to do. She was the second generation born in Los Angeles, and I am the third. My favorite part about making the quilt was my instructor and her daughter. I think our quilt is very unique and should get first prize in the Senior Olympics.

 Susan Coleman

I went to a small two-room school in New Jersey, where I was born and raised. I was drawing since I could hold a pencil. My mother was an artist as well, and encouraged me. She gave me my first set of water colors and so forth. I had two brothers and one sister. We liked to pack things up and run away from home a lot because my mother was a termagant (a shrew), but we never got too far. My mother made a lot of beautiful quilts; I’d like to have some of them, but I don’t know where they are now. What I liked the most about making our quilt was getting people together. Hearing what people had to say was nice.

Lauren Wright

An energetic 13 year old, Lauren plays the piano, trombone, violin and just started viola. In addition to music, she enjoys playing with her dog, Buffy “the Gorgeous,” reading, and going to school. Her favorite part of the school day is 6^th period: band. Other favorite subjects include science and math, and she is in the advanced math program at her school. During the summer, Lauren goes to work with her mom, Site Leader Alma Wright, and helps the seniors in the computer and art classes. She also plays the piano for them from time to time. She is very fond of this great experience, and loves to bond with the residents during their classes.

Congratulations to Alma for her creative art instruction, to all of our quilters for their beautiful work, and to Lauren for her fine interviews!