DONNA KEATING

ANNA LEE HOWARD of LaPlace shows off a collection of quilts which she made especially for her grandchildren. Each quilt depicts a different theme, depending upon each grandchild’s interests. At right, is a close-up of her granddaughter Abby’s quilt which features a recreation of the old St. Isadore Church in Montz. The church was destroyed during Hurricane Betsy. (Staff photos by Donna Keating) In the days before River Parish residents had electricity, people would sew clothing by hand or with a peddle-operated sewing machine. They would often move their sewing machines in front of the doorway and sit on the front porch, just to have enough light to be able to see their work. Anna Lee Howard’s grandmother was among them. Her grandmother, the late Victoria Donaldson Duhon, would sew baby clothes to sell to Maison Rue, a children’s clothing store in New Orleans. Howard said, “Back in those days they didn’t have factories, and a lot of people along the river would make clothes and bring them to Maison Rue to sell. I still have a baby bonnet that my grandmother was making. She didn’t get to finish it, though; she died of breast cancer before it was done.” Other items from the past that she treasures are a wooden shaving box and a wooden handkerchief box, carved by her grandfather, Louis Duhon, who was a woodcarver. Howard, of LaPlace, was fortunate to have inherited her grandparents’ artistic talent. One day while going through her collection of scraps from her previous sewing projects, she decided to make her first quilt. Until that day the closest thing she had ever made to a quilt was an afghan for her grandson John. But her first quilt turned out to be a success, and since then she has made six quilts, all for her grandchildren. Each of the quilts Howard has made depicts a different theme especially designed for their interests. Granddaughter Allison’s quilt is made from scraps of Allison’s costumes she wore at St. Charles Catholic High School. Jonathan’s quilt has a fishing theme, and Chris’ quilt has a football theme. Amanda’s has a sweetheart theme, and Courtney’s is designed with an at-home theme. For granddaughter Abby, who was voted outstanding CYO member at St. Joan of Arc, she decided to do something with a church theme. Howard thought of the old St. Isadore Church she loved so much as a girl growing up in Montz. For Abby’s quilt Howard decided to recreate the image of the old church, which was destroyed during Hurricane Betsy. This was a special church to Howard, where she was among eight girls, the Jones girls and the Dufresne girls, who would help clean the church. Howard needed a model to work from. Fortunately, she was able to use a painting of the church done by local artist Mae Mayeux as a guide while making her quilt. Abby’s quilt was made from material from her carnival ball dresses, linens from aprons and her eighth-grade graduation dress. The back of the quilt was made from fabric from Abby’s great-great aunt, Esther Gaile, whom Abby Gaile Howard was named after. Howard said she still has four quilts left to go for her other grandchildren, Katie, John, Brittney and Jason. She plans to use a New York theme for Katie’s quilt and camouflage for John’s quilt, but she hasn’t defined Brittney’s theme yet. John, who she made an afghan for and says that doesn’t count, reminded her that he is also on her waiting list for quilts. Quilting is a family project Howard only does for her grandchildren, with each quilt taking about a year to complete. Most of the work in done during the colder months of the year since she enjoys being outdoors during the spring and summer months. Howard, a retired teacher at St. Joan of Arc, said she has to keep busy and has to have something in her hands to work on. She hopes to make baby quilts for her future great-grandchildren one day.