So sorry. I know it sounds icky but could you manage find some parts of those hankies to use. Even a corner would add sentimental value to your quilt. I also have some old handkerchiefs I would be glad to send you.

You have a right to shed some tears. Some things just can't
be replaced. I am sure tho that whaterver you decide to make
for her will be pleasing to her. That sort of thing, just seems to
a part of life.

So sorry to hear you nasty mouse story. I hope you can salvage some of the hankies for your niece.

well we've been thru every single other bin of fabrics, mom's stuff, gram's stuff (I still have paperwork that I pick at when I'm in the mood for shredding and reminiscing)... we found one poor lonely solitary pink sheer hanky. It has no embroidery like all the other ones that were lost, but that poor little orphan got stared at, then I tucked it into my bra (hey, it was a sentimental thing!) and it gave me an idea!

That poor little solitary hanky is going to be my centerpiece. It has sheer scalloping around the edges, with a pretty simple scallop edge. I am going to embroider the bride/groom name and wedding date with a single red rose on it (my mom's favorite color, my gram's favorite flower) ... and it will be the centerpiece, with the two small corners I have WITH embroidery (the only salvageable pieces of the fluff box, I searched it all with latex gloves on, ewwwwwww) attached as little corners. I am going to look for some dainty lace or something that may look better, for 4 little corners... that would let me use the two Walchsee hanky corners as small labels for the bottom of the quilt.

I have had some wonderful generous offers for hankies. You guys are angels, and I would be happy to pay for some, under one condition:
Any hankies that I receive from others, will become my dreamed of butterflies. Then I will use a fine-tip marker and label those blocks with the name & state from where they are from (i.e. from Angel in Seattle, WA), and I will have to explain this whole mess to Jess AFTER she opens the gift.

Let me know what you think. I am going to post a ISO post in the classifieds... so if anyone wants to help me salvage this and has some to sell :) let me know. I am determined to make this somehow happen, I cannot, will not let this deter me from spoiling my fave (only) neice, she's a great kid (she's a very loved teacher, 26 years old, and just got her own 2nd grade class in a small IN town this year. She deserves the world ~ can you tell I love her like my own?!)

Hey, this may be fate. Maybe you will find some gorgeous hankies and make something more beautiful than you ever imagined initially. Life is short and your niece will appreciate whatever you make. How about a couple of photos ironed on the quilt (maybe the relatives wedding photos) or a quote about marriage. There's lots of good ideas. Best of luck moving forward!! Make sure u post pics when done!

Sounds like you are making lemonade from the lemons you got!

sooo sorry...Try to salvage what you can...You can even use the corners...

here is our lonely little orphan we found... I had to put her against the black so the design showed up... I am going to embroider her... won't decide whether to leave intact or cut & reposition with ribbons yet, but I will definitely make a thread when I start getting more ideas. :)

I have some from garage sales and auctions, should you chose or want them, pm with address. They are embroidered, frilly edges.

Maybe you could save a few for something like this from LAB55?

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-104419-1.htm

That is exactly how I had planned to do the butterflies, they are sooooo gorgeous! I have satin fabrics, ribbons, trims and stuff in my stash, and will possibly have to add a lot of embellishments too. My hankies were going to make like 12" squares when they were all folded... I posted in the classifieds to buy/trade/PIF to try and make this quilt happen. :D

Have had this darn flu as long as you!!! It is a pain. Anyway, sorry to hear about hankies, can you somehow appliques something over them.

Hugs

Helen

I'm so sorry. I'm sure your niece will love and treasure any quilt you make for her, even if it's not exactly as you had planned.

Take heart, open your imagination' a corner of the original hankie to new or newer hankie use nice lace to hide seam be surprise how pretty it could be just need one presentation corner.

I think you are onto something....the butterfly idea is beautiful...can't wait to see the final project..

Take a deep breath, and see if any parts of the hankies can be salvaged. Even small sections of the hankies will have the same meaning as whole ones. Do your best with what you have, and I'm sure she'll be forever grateful! Blessings!!

I was having an insomnia night, and was googling lots of different things... looked up Ruching, may try and incorporate some ruched flowers with our centerpiece... I have satin ribbons that are very old that were in gram's sewing boxes... another way to add gramma back into my quilt! :)

Also came across ideas for fabric flowers ~ does anyone know how I can maybe use the orphan for that (somehow you make a little flower by gathering / puckering the center of the hanky, and it rises up 3-d from the middle? whole hanky stays intact from what I understand?

Fabric Whisperer

I am so sorry to hear that. I HATE mice, and to think that they did that to your hankies for the special quilt. Next mouse that my cat eats, I will tell my cat that it was probably one of your mouse's relative and to keep a good job on my cat's behalf!

TreeFrog

Well, all this talk about mice!! I start up the stairs in our office building to go to the ladies room this afternoon and a little grey mouse scooted across the floor. I just about fell it startled me so! I was almost level with the upper floor so we were almost eye to eye!

Now, I told my boss on Monday we had a critter somewhere because he used my credenza as his toilet ... apparently all weekend by the mess he made (the mouse not my boss - LOL) ... and my boss had one of the guys put out bait for the mouse. But I don't care if had been the cutest little Easter Bunny you've ever seen, don't jump out at me!

My boss called out to me earlier in the day that he had seen 'my little friend' as it ran across his office floor and it was 'just a little mouse'. (When did he become MY friend?) so he went out and bought traps for it at lunchtime. Now no one will believe I'm not afraid of mice! It's not the mice ... it's the 'surprise here I am!' that I don't care for!

Peggy
(thought you could use a little chuckle in the midst of things.)

I'm going to call my grandmother (who's 88) and see if she has any hankies for you. I know that she did at one point have her mothers and her grandmothers. Let me see if she still does.

I'm so so sorry for you. :(

I can offer u some of mine if u want, mine are from germany so as me :thumbup:

Thank you, Peggy, I needed that. Sometimes laughter is just what heals. I hope the little hairs on your neck are smoothed back down now, after your encounter. If it had been me, on the way to the facilities, I would have had a little accident!

When hubby & I were searching garage yesterday, we found lots of mice "evidence" ~ why couldn't the little booger have eaten the old books I have out there?!? We set traps, and are super grateful that our garage is DEtached from the house.

Someone brought up the idea of a possum... my husband said it could have been, but why didn't he eat thru the cardboard boxes that hold my outdoor Christmas wreaths & swags? I am a nature lover, but I absolutely do not like mice now :)

I totally understand where you are coming from. My family understands what my take is on mice and any other similiar vermin. Thank goodness we have coyotes in the area they really keep the population under control. My take is the only good mouse is a dead one and my family knows that I don't even like Mickey Mouse. LOL This said however hand wash everything and then cut very carefully to see what you have left. Also check with family to see if anyone still has any left. You might be suprised by the number that you find from family if you explain to them what they are going to be used for. The best thing is not to give up and not to start on the quilt while you are still under so much stress. Good Luck and promise to send pictures. By the way I work for a company that sells and repairs machines and I have had customers bring in machines that had obviously been nest for such critters you should have seen how fast I pulled away from the machine and refused to take it in for repair. LOL

Oh boy! See if you can use parts and/or pieces of the hankies. I know they are special and will mean a lot, even if not whole.

delma

ok, I just received a squishie ~ have NO idea who its from, but someone is hiding in Michigan (Caledonia) and sent me 11 gorgeous hankies... the crocheted edges on the orange & yellow ones are so beautiful! And the bridal lacey ones, oh, I cannot imagine the work to make something so pretty.

Whomever you are, if you're wanting to remain anonymous, thank you, danke, mahalo!!!

Awwwwww. I wanted to send you some, but remembered that I had sold all of mine to a friend. So happy that some one had some they could share with you.

I have a big collection of old hankies. I would be happy to donate a couple. Bet others on here would too.