Hi everyone,
I just got back from Varadero, Cuba on Sunday morning - had a wonderful 2 weeks vacation - but I just had to share this great gift...
A friend, Romalia, gave me this when she came to visit at a friends home in Mantanzas City, Cuba 2 weeks ago...and I am thrilled...she made this quilt with MIL about 15 years ago - it's made with recycled fabrics...backed with Genuine Cuban Sugar Sacks....
Materials are not that plentiful in Cuba so you use what you have or what you can find.....
The quilt needs some repairs but I have to decide do I leave it as is or do I repair it..
It is such a special gift - and I love it - I will share some photos to show you all......
The photos were taken on the terrace at the home of friends in Mantanzas City.....
Enjoy!
Let me know what you would do - leave as is or repair!!!!!
Thanks!
Bill

What an incredible gift. You are so lucky to have been given it. You can see the love that went into making it. I would leave it as it is without the repairs, but make a label telling the story of how you got it.

Fabulous gift. How lucky you are to receive such a beautiful quilt. I am sure you will treasure it always.

WOW :mrgreen: What a neat story , wonderful friend and great pics :thumbup:

I don't know what I would do with them , to repair or not , sorry

such a wonderful find!!! and so pretty!!!

I would make the repairs so it could be used as it was meant to be. I'm sure your friend wouldn't take insult that you wanted to use it. IMHO
Carol B

Make the repairs that way you can use it, and it will also stay off additional damage.

It's a beautiful quilt, I like the way they did the ruffles.

Acually, she thinks that I am going to repair it anyways......she really wanted me to have it and I was so thrilled....
My goal this visit was to try to find something that was quilted or some kind of patchwork - but I didn't dream to come back with something like this.....it really was the highlight of my vacation - and there were many.....I had a wonderful time!!!!!!!
I can't post a video here but I do have a video on my FB page of a friend, Amarilis, who is from Mantanzas City, Cuba who is a textile artist...if you have facebook, look me up and take a look at her video of her at work...it is amazing...I have 2 shirts that she made - I need to take photos of these - WOW!!!!!
There's a lot of talent in Cuba as well :-).....

How beautiful! I would repair it and enjoy it. :thumbup:

What a grand experience.

Cuba is such a rich culture. And that quilt is amazing! I would repair it, keeping as much to the original or at least in keeping with the original as you can. It's truly lovely. And your friend is beautiful!

That's lovely, but I would have to repair it. :-)

It is just amazing. I say repair it, because from what I can make out from the pic, it may rip even more.

Yep, I am sure that I going to repair it....I want to have the chance to actually use it - it does have a great story - and I want to be able to have that story around me..... :-)

That is really cool! I love how they ruffled the fabric to give the quilt so many dimensions. :-)

Love it!!!

I lovethis quilt, I would repair it. great gift you will always treasure it.

What a beautiful quilt and memory to keep.

What a wonderful gift, a treasure for sure.

Woo! LOVELY!!!

That quilt is fabulous. I know you will enjoy it for years to come.

Make the repairs, that way the quilt will be loved for generations. Do not make the mistake of saying it is for me, it really is for the future.

Bill, that is an amazing quilt you have there. You are so lucky to have such a piece of history. I love all the detail that went into it.....what a treasure!

Just gorgeous! If the repairs would curtail any further damage from happening, then I would repair it and of course it appears that it would have to be done by hand. Judging by the photos, the repairs seem simple and there's enough fabric remaining. It's just a stunning quilt with a rich history, I'd make a label or at least write down the history while it's fresh in your mind.
Great gift! Great pics of memorable adventures! Post more!
Kind Regards,
MaryAnna

What a stunningly, fabulous, gorgeous gift! Bill, repair it, love it and use it....for these are the reasons it was created. Thanks so much for sharing your joy....

PS. I am collecting rice bags to back one of my next quilts...I love the concept of using found and recycled material.

oh that is so nice and to be able to discuss it with her, :)

You will have to tell us all about their customs too.

What a neat quilt--very unique--love the sugar bag Cuban back!

Bill, thanks for sharing photos of your quilt & your friend. She looks very lovely & sitting outside there is beautiful.

Bill, you have the luck of angels! What a treasure. congratulations and many years of enjoyment to you.

Lovely gift, and I would leave it as is, thanks for sharing

Wow!

Bill that is an awesome gift from your friend! I really like the scrappy bright colors in the quilt!

If I had this beautiful treasure I would repair it and use it!

DeeDee

What a wonderful quilt, and a wonderful friend!

What a beautiful, special quilt! I too think you should repair it. Glad you had a great vacation, Bill.

Thanks Everyone for checking in....it was such a beauiful vacation - especially because we were able to visit such special friend.....it was wonderful!!!! But 2 weeks wasn't enough :-)

Me too, I would leave it as it is. Such a special gift, you won't be putting it to hard use so it should last forever or so. Great pictures. So far away, hard to imagine being there. It is a small world. I am glad you had a good time and returned safely.

wow. Such a neat story and quilt

What an incredible gift. :thumbup:
I would leave it as is.

Thanks for sharing this with us! It is an amazing work . :thumbup: to your friend

Ditter

That is beautiful. I would leave it as is.