Wednesday, September 16, 2009

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!

15 comments:

Rocky Creek Scotties and Rocky Creek Ramblings said...

I can not believe that woman would get rid of her grandmothers quilt. It amazes me when I go to auctions and see a family's history on the auction block, complete with pictures.

Like you, I love old handmade items - I can feel the love that went into their creation by their original owners. And I don't mind cuddling a Scottie or two.

Lynn

Thimbleanna said...

Yay Maggie -- good, good girl! I'll bet she was just learning how to love a quilt -- she was so young...she knew she loved them...it makes sense that tasting a quilt might be the best way to show your affection! LOVE that quilt Miss Jean -- a great find!

Anonymous said...

Miss Jean, You are SO lucky. That quilt is to die for. Hey the Green Pea Boutique has a blog and the place looks amazing. Escalon is only 1 hour and 20 minutes from Angels camp. We should meet up and have iced tea some time! (Remy says that Maggie is a babe and wonders if she'd like to chew a rawhide with him sometime.) Anyway, the colors on that quilt are amazing and the condition is the best I have ever seen for a quilt of that age. Good for you for using i and not letting it go to waste due to age. Love that you both are snuggling under it.

ChaChaneen said...

You lucky gal! It is beautiful!

Michele McLaughlin said...

Miss Jean, that is a beautiful quilt! Great purchase! I agree about old quilts, it's like getting a hug from long ago. Enjoy :)

Sweet Cottage Dreams said...

How sweet!! Sweet quilt, sweet story and SWEET Maggie Dear! You found the perfect piece to add to your already amazing collection.

xo
becky

bj said...

Hello, Miss Jean...so glad you came by to see me and I hope you'll come back soon.
I love your pretty quilt. It looks so soft and cuddly...and, wouldn't we love to hear the stories it could tell if it could talk!!
You little dog...so so cute!

My favorite and most watched movie in the whole wide world...DIRTY DANCING. I lost count of how many times I've watched it...even at 71 (dang near 72) yrs old, it is still so much fun to watch. Now, I want to watch it again tonight!! L)
Oh, and my name is Betty JEAN..hence the bj....

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful quilt! Maggie has good taste. Funny, my cats always pick the afghans & quilts that I made as their favorites. My babies always did, too.
Susan

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Such lovely heirloom quilts!
I love the sweet saying on your quilt rack!
It is a puzzle why someone would part with their great gramdmother's quilt, but I'm glad you found it and will treasure it!

Dawn said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dawn said...

oops, the perils of cut and paste.

Hi Jean!

I have an award for you at my blog if you'd like to accept it.

When I started blogging I saw all these beautiful awards and thought the creativity behind them and the thoughtfulness of them was very special. I didn't realize they came with strings and was curious why some bloggers were "Award Free". Well, rules sometimes must give way to practicality so if you can only pass it on to a few people that is fine with me. Even if you can't play along please accept this award and my sincere belief that you deserve it.

Hugs
Dawn

The Green Pea said...

Well Miss Jean, I know you and Miss Maggie are really enjoying this great quilt. I have a feeling it was in storage all these years. At least now it is being used and loves you and Maggie getting all cozy on it! After all that is what it was made for. It is so beautiful and I am happy that YOU own it. It takes me a few days but I do get over it. It truly happens all the time, because I always have things in my store that I love. I makes it hard to see them go sometimes. You and Maggie enjoy many naps on the quilt. ps. The love of my life BARNEY never even had the chance to take a nap on it, not that I would let him! Blessings, sandi

The Green Pea said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Sandy said...

I just love old quilts so much too. Old quilts washed &I washed are so soft, faded & cuddly.

Lydia said...

One of my favorite memories is of a quilt my mother hand stitched. I remember what seemed like a lifetime of painstaking effort to my toddler mind.
My mother was not a homebody by any stretch of the imagination- but the love she put into that quilt instilled in me a love for all things handmade.