It's a mystery to me!

One of my most favorite things in the world are old quilts. I love them even more than new ones or making them myself. I guess it's the feel of them and the history that they evoke.

This quilt rack is hanging in my bedroom. Enlarge the picture to see what it says! These quilts are not my family heirloom quilts. Those I have displayed in a glass quilt case in my guest room. These are found quilts that somehow got separated from the family they came from. That's the mystery to me. How could someone part with a family quilt! Shameful! But a bonus for me.

Last weekend my sister, Janice, called and wanted to meet and go antique shopping at The Green Pea here in town. I wasn't really looking for something, but I always keep my eyes open. Sandi had just put this quilt out for display the day or two before. She didn't think anyone would actually be interested in it and really hated to get rid of it herself. Well, girlfriends, Miss Jean spotted it. With heart racing, palms itching, sweat beading up on my forehead, I quickly checked the tag and grabbed it! It is in P-R-I-S-T-I-N-E condition. No tears, no stains, no nada. It goes back to the late 20's or early 30's from what Sandi and I can ascertain. Sandi had purchased it from a lady who said (correct me if I'm wrong, Sandi) it was made out of her mother's dresses by a great-grandmother. The stars are vintage feed sack fabric (re-purposed into clothes at the time) and 30's fabrics. The green fabric used for the sashing strips , binding and back is the popular shade of green for that time.

Now I quilt but I am no expert at it. I quilt to have fun, not to enter quilt shows. If my corners match up I'm a happy camper. I have all the latest gadgets, rulers and rotary cutters to make quilting so much easier than our ancestors had. They had cardboard templates and scissors and did everything by hand. This quilt is all hand stitched and hand quilted. The squares are spot on even, the points are perfect. This person was a true craftsman.

The colors will go just perfect in my bedroom. I use vintage china and glass for dinners and I use old quilts to cover up with, I don't just use them for display. There is nothing, nothing, better than napping under a vintage quilt. The softness of the well loved and well worn fabric is intoxicating.

Guess who else thinks so? The first day I had the quilt, I put it on the bed and thought I would take an afternoon nap. Maggie immediately jumped up on the bed and cuddled herself down.

Pure puppy nap heaven!

Thank you for selling me the quilt, Sandi. I know if was difficult for you to part with. It has a good home and you can come visit it anytime you want. Just don't try to make Maggie move. She thinks it belongs to her!



***Now I don't want any of you to worry. You may remember this story that involves a fabric emergency I had last year. I needed the fabric because Maggie had eaten chewed a good size piece off of a quilt I had made. She has been rehabilitated and does not chew household items any more. Whew!