Grandmothers and Quilts

My grandmother Clara Ford was born December 12, 1892 and died May 20, 1966. She was a quilter. The most memorable thing about her small home in Crossett, Arkansas was the huge quilt frame that took up the entire living room. She always had some scraps around. My sisters and I called her Big Mama.

Big Mama taught me how to sew. I had lots of feed sack skirts that we made on her Singer peddle sewing machine. I was glad she taught me to sew. When I got to high school I skipped the required home economics class and took French instead. No need to learn what you already know. I didn’t see the value in quilting at the time.

When my mother died in 2000, I inherited some of Big Mama’s quilts. They had been locked away in a trunk stored in the back of the closet. By then, I had become a quilter. I understood the value of my inheritance and knew I would forever be rich.

I plan to create the Clara Ford Foundation so that my grandmother’s quilts can be preserved for future generations. I hope they live forever – just like the Declaration of Independence – just like Michaelangelo’s paintings.

I hope you enjoy Clara’s quilts and her legacy.

Clara's Big Red Squares, circa 1955.

Clara’s Big Red Squares Quilt

Circa 1955
50 x 73 inches


My grandmother really liked red. So do I. Red dominates in many of her quilts. Clara’s Big Red Squares has 12 big red squares that alternate with 12 pieced blocks. The pieced blocks contain many of the floral feedsack prints of her era. The quilt has a bright yellow border that fold over to make the binding.

The quilt has a muslin back and is hand quilted in a fan pattern.

Clara's Big Red Squares has been appraised by American Quilters Society Certified Appraiser Holly Anderson. It was appraised at $625.00

Clara's Trip Around the World. circa 1960. 

Clara’s Trip Around the World Quilt

Circa 1960
69 x 75 inches


Flowered fabrics paired with plain muslin form the blocks for Clara’s Trip Around the World. Some of the fabrics appear to be feed sack prints. Over 11 different flower prints are used.

The quilt has a plain muslin back and is hand quilted in a grid pattern.

This quilt appears to be the oldest of Clara’s quilts as it is quite worn with some holes and exposed batting.

Clara's Big Pin Wheel. circa 1960

Clara’s One Big Pin Wheel Quilt

circa 1960
51 x 84 inches


A giant rose colored pin wheel forms the center of Clara's One Big Pin Wheel, although it is off center. A blue flowered print provides the backdrop for the pin wheel blades.

The large pin wheel is framed by various large pieced borders with lavender and pink being the dominant colors.

Of all of Clara’s quilts, this one is the less structured and seems to have been constructed in free form.

The quilt has a muslin back and is hand quilted in a grid pattern.

Clara's Diamond Star, circa 1960

Clara’s Diamond Star Quilt

67 x 75 inches

circa 1960


Clara’s Diamond Star has 16 blocks -- 7 Lavender, yellow and red diamond star blocks, 5 lavender, white and red star blocks. Orange and lavender sashing divide the blocks. The quilt has a lavender inner border and a red outer border that forms fold-over binding. The red border is pieced with different fabric in one corner as if she ran out of the red border fabric. The quilt is hand quilted with white thread in a grid pattern.

Clara's Waves of the Sea, circa 1960 

Clara’s Waves of the Sea Quilt

75 x 75 inches
Circa 1960


64 Waves of the Sea blocks form Clara’s Waves of the Sea. The theme is carried out with a turquoise and cream stripe color scheme. The turquoise flower fabric is used on the border and also used on the back of the quilt. The back folds over to the front of the quilt to form the binding, and it is machine stitched. The quilt is hand quilted with white thread in a grid pattern. Some staining

Clara's Half Square Triangles, circa 1960 

Clara’s Half Square Triangles Quilt

69 x 75 inches

circa 1960


20 scrappy half square triangle blocks form Clara’s Half Square Triangles. The blocks are set off by orange sashing and an orange inner border. The red outer border forms the fold-over binding. The quilt is hand quilted with white thread in grid pattern. It has a plain white muslin back. The quilt is very frayed around the edges.

Clara's Shoo Fly, circa 1960 

Clara’s Shoo Fly Quilt

61 x 72 inches
circa 1960


Clara’s Shoo Fly consists of 15 shoo fly blocks bordered by sashing strips; Red, yellow and blue are dominant colors. There are alternating solid red squares. The quilt has a plain white muslin back. A yellow outer border forms a fold-over binding. It is hand quilted with white thread in grid pattern.

Clara's Sunbonnet Sue, circa 1960 

Clara’s Sunbonnet Sue Quilt

67 x 75 inches

circa 1960


Clara’s Sunbonnet Sue has 12 Sunbonnet Sue blocks with alternating solid red and white blocks. A red border frames the sides. The green outer border forms a fold-over binding. The quilt has a plain muslin back. It is hand quilted with white thread in a grid pattern. A buttonhole stitch used on Sue’s arm and hat.