My son and DIL decided to have a garage sale this weekend, and I was helping my son carry some tables into their garage when I spotted a rolled up quilt sitting in a box. I asked about it, and mentioned it was a scrappy bowtie, and from the looks of it, it was hand quilted. Then the light bulb went on and I realized it was a quilt given to them by my DH's aunt for their wedding five years ago. This would make her my son's great aunt who passed away a couple of years ago. She was in her 80's when she made this, and the poor dear was almost bent in half from osteoporosis. This is not an old quilt. This is not an exquisitely finished or fancy quilt. But this is a quilt made with love from a wonderful woman. And it is a handmade quilt. To say I was speechless to see that my DIL was getting rid of it because she "didn't like the colors" (for crying out loud, it's a scrappy quilt!!!!!) is just a gross understatement. I was very upset. And, she had a $10.00 price tag on it. :shock: I immediately handed my granddaughter back to my son and snatched up that treasure and said, "Well, I'm going now and taking this with me". It's funny, isn't it, how one person's trash is a true treasure to someone else? So, my new family treasure has been washed and is now laying out to dry. I have studied it from one end to the other, totally amazed that this frail little lady hand quilted this large quilt. To me, it's very touching and I feel so very lucky that I saw it before it left our family.

I'm finished with my crazed ranting. I knew you all would understand.

Oh for Heaven's Sake!! I am so glad that you saw it in the garage sale things! I am speechless!

If I were you I wouldn't be gifting them any quilts for a few decades at least...
One thing I can say about my kids, grandkids and most likely great-grands coming up - they ALL know to treasure their quilts (or else 8) :roll:

Ditto :?

and that's really, really sad - you should have a serious talk with that boy

makes me weep for that old lady

Kudos to you ducky for rescuing the quilt. We won't say what we think of the DIL :roll: :roll: :?
The quilt is great and the stitching is precious. She did a wonderful job and with so much love.
You won't be sorry you rescued it.

You know, JJ, my first thought when I got home was, "Is she getting rid of stuff I've made them?" I spent months cross stitching a baby blanket for my granddaughter and made a snuggle blanket, plus did two other quilts for them. Oh, believe me, any future quilty gifts are out of the question.

One f these days she will realize wha she did and be sorry. Just don't give it back to her.lol

live2quilt

What a very special treasure. I'm so glad you saved it.

was this DIL raised in a 'throw-away' family? She may actually have no concept of family heirlooms - you might mention - in as nice a way as possible - that this, that or the other thing was made with love etc and if she doesn't want to keep whatever it is, that you'll keep it at your house until such time as grandchild is old enough to treasure it ....

I've noticed that this latest generation (teens/early 20s) are so used to walmart mentality - "get tired of it - pitch it, buy something else"..

it applies to linens, dishes, clothes, just everything - people no longer treasure anything - it's cheaper to pitch/replace than repair...

whew, crawled on my soapbox there for a minute...