Bird by Bird: St. Michael’s resident embroiders 50 state birds
If Iva Putz sees a button missing or a seam open, she just has to repair it. “I can’t stand holes,” said the seamstress, who is now in her ninth decade and has nearly that many years of sewing experience.
Iva’s room at St. Michael’s Assisted Living is stocked with fabric, needles and a rainbow of embroidery thread. On a simple wooden stand is a folded quilt encompassing all 50 state birds. Each was embroidered with a faithful eye to its natural coloring, from ruby red cardinals to the golden throats of western meadowlarks.
“You don’t realize how many feathers a bird has until you make a quilt with 50 birds on it,” Iva said.
Even though Iva stitched each one, the finished quilt was somewhat of a surprise. She was making it for her niece, who had picked out the pattern.
When Iva sent the squares to her niece to be sewn together, she asked for a photo of the completed project. Instead, her niece returned the entire quilt as a keepsake for all the hard work Iva did.
“It wasn’t hard work; it was relaxing,” said Iva, who embroiders every day from 1 to 3:30 in the afternoon.
There are many fun activities and chances to mingle at St. Michael’s, Iva said, but she’s “not a mixer,” preferring to spend her days sewing and reading in the quiet of her room.
Part of a big farm family, Iva learned to sew at age eight from her mother. Iva made all the clothes for her twins until they were in third grade and has embroidered countless pillow cases and dish 
towels, which she gives away with the following advice: “Don’t ever wipe your kettles with your dish towels. It makes black marks on them you can’t get out.”
Failing knees keep Iva from cooking and baking —her other loves — and make it hard to get around, but she doesn’t have to worry about sewing supplies. She has leftover fabric and thread from years past, as well as donations from others who know how much she enjoys handicrafts.
A lover of history and geography who appreciates time by herself, Iva has started another unique embroidery project; this time she’ll craft the 50 state flowers, beginning with sweet clover from Vermont.
“I’m going to give the quilt back to my niece,” Iva said.
Meanwhile, all of the colorful birds remain on display in her room at St. Michael’s for all to enjoy.