Sewing up a precious gift

Hamilton, OH – Gone, but never forgotten.

When Andrew and Grace Spite passed away last year in June and October, respectively, their granddaughter turned to art to help preserve their memory.

Emily Schlundt and her grandparents

Emily Schlundt, 24, enjoyed art classes at the Fitton Center, including watercolors, drawing and art journaling. Last spring she signed up for Beginning Sewing with instructor Sharon Theard, took it again in the fall and went straight into Intermediate Sewing for the Fall II session.

By then, her family suffered the loss of both her mother’s parents in a short span of time.

So, using shirts and ties left behind by her grandfather and shirts and pants that belonged to her grandmother, Schlundt cut and sewed more than 500 squares. Nine rows of seven square panels, each panel containing three rows of three smaller squares. All used to create a quilt to give her mother for Christmas.

“I started in November, which really didn’t give me a lot of time to finish it for Christmas,” Schlundt said. “I probably spent 50 hours outside of class just stitching them together. Not to mention just cutting all the squares.

 “Sharon met with me outside of class. Never once did she say, ‘There’s no way. This is too much.’ She was just the opposite. I really loved working with Sharon on this.

So did Sharon.

“When her grandfather passed, and then shortly after her grandmother, the family was deeply affected, of course,” Theard said. “Emily shared she was interested in making her quilt and we looked at different designs. I thought the nine block would be the best fit for a beginner. 

“The Fitton Center supplied the batting for the quilt and our whole class got in on the act. We helped line up squares and even tack some of the quilt to the batting. When she finished, I was so moved. We all were. I just burst into tears and so did Emily. 

“She texted me photos of her at Christmas giving her mother the quilt.  Can you imagine how moving and beautiful this was for her mother who so recently lost both of her parents?” 

The quilt

Schlundt said it was not an easy task, but well worth the effort.

“It was hard to work on at times,” she said. “My grandmother was like a second mother to me. I miss both of them and cutting their clothes like that, it was hard sometimes. But giving it to my mom, that may be the best Christmas present I’ve ever given.

“My dad told me I’d made a family heirloom.” After a beat, Schlundt said she agreed. “I think I did. I wish I could show my grandmother, because I think she would have liked it. I was able to find my own way to help honor their memory.”

Theard said that’s the power of art, no matter the medium.

“We started the sewing classes because we thought it would be fun, and it has been,” she said. “But I realized with Emily's project that sometimes we forget art is not just fun or relaxing or a simple hobby. 

“Art, at its core, is how we tell our story, how we connect with others, how we celebrate and even how we begin to heal. It was a poignant reminder to me that the work we do matters. I was beyond honored Emily shared this project with us.”

Schlundt is already registered for another round of Intermediate Sewing with Theard starting in March. Any particular project in mind this time?

“Something smaller, I think,” she said with a laugh. “Maybe something for myself. I’d maybe like to make a nice bag or some pajama pants or something I can use.”

The Fitton Center for Creative Arts is located at 101 S. Monument Avenue on the Riverfront in downtown Hamilton, Ohio.

Building Community Excellence through the Arts and Culture