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...

It is beautiful Ducky. One day she will regret her decision.

DIL is from a fairly "disfunctional" family and really hasn't had a great life before marrying my son. She grew up with lots of fighting, people not talking to other family members, openly talking about their dislike for others, etc. I'm not sure she can attach herself to something because of sentimentality. (I thank God that my kids never heard fighting/shouting and knew in their hearts how much they were loved). So, I'm trying to understand that some people just don't "get it". Good idea about holding onto it and seeing if my granddaughter wants it when she's old enough.

It's a beautiful quilt. I'm glad you saved it.
One day when they are a little older, they'll realize what a treasure they had from someone who loved them & took the time to make such a special quilt.

ditto

WHAT IS WRONG WITH SOME PEOPLE THESE DAYS.

it is beautiful and full of love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :thumbup:

Like you, I'm just speechless. I just don't understand how anyone can not feel the family value of something like this, regardless of whether they "don't like the colors" or whatever. Glad you rescued it!

I love bow ties!!! How could you toss that out???

If someone gifted me a quilt like that I would use it until it fell apart!!!!! I am so glad you found it :mrgreen: I worry about the quilts I want to make and give away I hope they are loved

Every so often someone on here will post pictures of a garage sale treasure. While we all appreciate those, I have always thought of the joy in finding such a treasure and how lucky that person is to now have it with no thought at all about the loss to the family. You've just given me the other side. Thank you.

I am so glad that you found that quilt before it walked away. Maybe someday she will learn to treasure things that are hand made just for her!

I'm really glad you seen it!!! I'm surprised your son didn't think to ask if you wanted it first, before putting it in the sale! If he even knew it was out there.

It's truly a beautiful quilt, made with lots of love. All those hours of work with an aching body.... Putting it up for your granddaughter for when she's older, and telling her of her Great, Great Aunt (?) would be wonderful. :-)

What a meaningful and beautiful quilt. So glad you were there to take it to a loving home.

Yup, younger generation just doesn't get it. Made quilts for ea kid, gr kid and great gr kid. Wanted them to have something that was made especially for them. Don't ask how many thanks were given. Don't know how many of the quilts are still around and have to think that it shouldn't matter, but it does. Ea quilt is made for someone special, lots of love and prayers included. Now will only donate to charity. Sorry, not a good attitude and I do need to work on that. Is there an "Attitude" quilt pattern? :D

I know how you must feel hurt for your aunt. Did the kids know you were upset when you left? Diane had a point. Your son may not have even known it was put in the garage sale.
Because we put so much love and time into our quilts, needlepoint, cross stitch, etc., I always feel so sad when I'm at a resale shop or Goodwill type of place and there is anything homemade with a price tag of a couple dollars. I think of the woman or man who made it and feel so sad. Sometimes I buy things I can't use just because I feel sentimental for the person who made it. Nutso!

I've talked about my MIL before, and this DIL story reminds me of yet another story about her. DH was helping his Dad in his Dad's hangar, when he spotted an obviously old quilt lying rumpled in a corner. He asked about it, and was told that they used it to wrap airplane parts when they moved. DH asked who made it. 'Your Mom's mother.' 'Doesn't Mom want it it?' 'Nope.' 'Can I have it.' 'Yep.' So we have it. It's a utility quilt made of '30s clothing scraps, rather worn, but certainly deserved better care. I also have quilts made by each of my grandmothers, but they've ALWAYS had good care!

I thought the quilt was nicely done and the quilting stitches were nice and even.

As said before, one person's discard is another person's treasure.

It's a fantastic quilt, and I'm totally shocked about your DIL. I like the suggestion about talking to her, nicely, about family heirlooms and giving them to you to hold for the future. You might also want to put a label on the quilt so that future generations will know who it came from, its purpose and alll that jazz!

Auntie would be thrilled that you have it. Enjoy!!!!!!

Ducky,
I think it was meant to be, that you were there & found that lovely hand made quilt from your Aunt!! :D Maybe in the years to come, when they grow up, they will realize how wrong it was to get rid of such a precious heirloom.

The quilt I posted today, from my Mother, just makes me feel warm & fuzzy all over. She is 85 & still sewing quilts faster than I can!! :D Please pet your new treasure one time for me!!
:D :D :D :D :D :D

Ducky

As Eddie has stated above I feel exactly the same - to be honest it brought a tear to my eye reading your thread.
I can't understand how some people have no value whatsoever for all the love & thought that goes into making something so wonderful regardless of what the item is.
Makes me think now just who I am giving my quilts to - ummm.

Tisha

Good for you!!! I am so glad that you saved this beauty!!! I love the border on it, too!!! :D :D :D

I'm glad you saved it. It is so beautiful. Maybe when your GD is older She would like it for her own.

I"m glad you rescued it! I love it.

This story is exactly why I changed my mind about giving my DH's nephew a quilt as a wedding gift. It would have killed me to know that they had basically trashed it.

Keep it for your granddaughter. She will appreciate that you kept it.

Good for you and I love it.

Ducky, your aunt must have been looking out for the quilt. I am so glad you were there to rescue it. She made sure you were in the right place at the right time. :D :D

I am glad you rescued this wonderful quilt. You can tell it was done in love and in very good taste.

WOW - again those who do not quilt do not understand, do they?

Oh Ducky I'm so glad you spotted it! Some ppl!!!! :evil:

It's a lovely idea to put a label on it with it's history and then pass it on to your GD - hopefully she'll grow into the kind of person who'll appreciate such a thing - she must do if Granny has anything to do with it! :D

BTW I also think it's beautiful in its own right, even without the sentimental value - there really is no accounting for taste. :shock:

speechless? i'd have been spiting nails :x thank god you saw it before it was too late..

How sad is that, that she has no appreciation of this quilt. I'm so glad you rescued it. The stitching is wonderful, the border is amazing. It's really sad that they were just going to sell it for $10.

Another example of " people who don't do, don't understand". I'm glad that you resecued it. I can send my addie! I would appreciate it!