I have TWO wedding quilts to do this year, and was just getting prepared to start the one for my neice... my only neice. I had a whole nice bin of my mom's hankies & grandmother's and great-grandmother's hankies... talk about family heritage!

A mouse somehow chewed thru the plastic to get to the ribbons that were in the same container. Mouse poop, chewings, total destruction. I am just totally heartsick and had to cry on someone's shoulder who understands.

Jess's wedding is in June, and I was going to gather everything now that I am over this stupid flu (I've been sick for nearly a month). Her older brother is getting married in September, and his quilt will be much easier, just purple and crimson. That I can do out of anything. But her quilt was going to really be special memories of the matrons of the family, she is my brother's only daughter.

Maybe its my early menopause hitting, or just sick of being down with a tooth pull & then a horrible flu... this just has me totally in tears. Thanks for letting me vent.

OH NO!!!! I'm so sorry for you.

Take a deep breath maybe it's not too bad and parts of the hankies can be used. I hope it looks better tomorrow!

I am so sorry that those critters ruined your plan for a quilt!!!

I feel your distress, I would be heartbroken also. Hope you feel better soon.

Stupid mice!!
Maybe if you shake out the nastiness and throw them in the washer you'll be surprised at how many hankies survived. I've got my fingers crossed.

this box (plastic Sterilite bin with snap closures) got put in the garage somehow... I have never seen plastic chewed like that! Everything is a mish-mash of threads and fluff... the further I dug into the bin, the harder I cried.

The biggest salvagable pieces I can get are a couple corners of one my mom got in Walchsee in 1990 when she treated herself to a trip there (we are of German descent). I cannot even tell if they were all in there, I am saying a prayer that I may have kept some separate, and they will be found safe.

Family already knows I'm stressed out from being sick for so long, they know I'm going to tear this house apart to make sure there aren't a couple hidden. I already checked the linen stack in the BR closet, none. Checked my undie drawers, none. I have been planning this butterfly hanky quilt for her, nothing else will be the same in my eyes, this was going to be a part of gramma, and great gramma's. My nerdy non-crafty brother was even involved in the planning, and though it would just make her day.

I'm off to bed, hopefully tomorrow will be a better day, it's nearly 1:30 a.m. here, and I'm finally out of tears.

Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear what has happened. I've never heard of them going through plastic containters.

I know it wouldn't be the same as from the family pieces but there are places to get old fashioned hankies. Maybe you could get some newer ones. I seem to remember seeing some in a catalog somewhere. Also what about sending out requests to any of your other quilting friends and guilds. Check with some local knick knack, antique and thrift shops. Put a request out on craigslist asking for old hankies. You never know what response you might end up with. You could then add the few pieces from your family that you have left into a special part of the quilt, the center, part of the label etc. Just a few thoughts I had that I wanted to share. Good luck with your search of some replacements and your quilting project.

Pam M

I am so sorry about your hankies, I would still be in tears too. I love vintage things like that. Hope you find some in another place.

I agree with milp 04! I could prob find some hankies to add to it. Ask the board here to help! Good luck!! I was going to make a hankey quilt and never got around to it!!

Oh I am so sorry. I hope you find some elsewhere that you can use. Any chance you could try to wash them (maybe in lingerie bage) and see if anything could be saved? I hope you feel better.

Soooo sorry! {{{{HUGS}}}} I hate mice! OK, can you selvage any of the stuff? If so, go with a plan B. Just because its not the original idea, doesn't mean you won't be able to still utilize and make a beautiful heirloom for her.

I am crying with you! After you get over the shock, take a deep breath and you will come up with a solution I am sure!! Sorry to hear of your health problems. The menopause I can totally relate to!!! :)

BTW, call an exterminator!!! They will be back!!!!

Oh, no! I can so relate, living in the country. They can chew through anything. I am sending hugs!

I am so sorry. My thoughts and tears are with you.

I cannot find any hidden ones anywhere, so I am thinking they were ALL in that stupid container. I did peek on eBay, looks like lots of people sell "lots" of vintage hankies... any advice with not being able to see the actual hankies and feeling them (meaning by buying online) ~ I have never bought something like this, and I don't have time to mess with icky ones... its going to take a month for me to at least wash / fold / iron / applique the butterflies... then time to piece & quilt... wedding is June. Any suggestions? Anyone on the boards have some extras I could buy? I don't know what else to do. I am getting ready to list a lot of my outgrown / extra fabrics later this week (had to wait until my 90 day mark)... So i've got some goodies to trade or I can buy outright, don't have a huge budget, but still feeling the pull to make this bfly quilt for this sweet kid. I don't think I will feel right making any other design for her, ya know?

Me Too!! So very sorry!

{{{Hugs}}} I am so sorry. I would be upset too. :-(

So sorry for the destruction, maybe you can salvage a few if only pieces of them. Just for info before storing anything if you add dryer sheets( can be used ones too , bu twill take more) it will deter mice,I must say alot nicer selling than mothballs

Sending a big hug! I bet if you take bits and pieces of all it's going to be just beautiful! Make it a challenge, you can do it!

I have a few If you would like shout back i'll send a pic and if you like i'll share with you

This is tragic and I feel so sorry for you. If I had any they'd be yours. . .

http://www.ecrater.com/p/7769857/set...intage-hankies

http://www.ecrater.com/p/7769945/set...intage-hankies

http://www.ecrater.com/p/7769563/set...intage-hankies

http://www.rickrack.com/ha1.html

http://www.rickrack.com/white.html

http://www.atticshoppe.com/hankies/js1120.htm

So Sorry about your loss! :(

Wash them in a lingerie bag on gentle cycle. Lay them flat to dry. Then iron with starch. You maybe can use what is left as embleshment. Or part of a block. Good luck and God bless.

I know it does no good to say you can use substitutes, but what you may have had was a possum, rat or something much bigger than a mouse - it sounds gruesome - I've never had a mouse chew through plastic containers like that - but my suggestion for the hanky quilt is to make visits to many thrift shops, auctions and garage sales; you may just come onto old hankys that could be used to provide hankys for a quilttop to show your intent and include a little message with the quilt as to what happened to the originals, but that the gift was meant to be a commemorative

I'm so sorry for your loss as I have too a supply waiting for quilts to be made out of also - hope I do not have some of the same happen... but they are also garage sale, auction, and thrift shop finds along with some of mom's hankys.

What a disappointment. *When one door is closed , a window is opened*. Deep breaths...look for it.

If there are enough pieces of each hankie you could still do a crazy quilt
type into google.com under images, and then type in "Hankie crazy quilts"...maybe there's still a way to preserve them. I collect hankies just to do this very kind of quilt....
I will post pictures:

Look at the link above for "rickrack". Expensive but IMHO special.

I am so sorry this has happened to you. I know that nothing will truly substitute the original hankies. Hopefully you will find a solution that feels right in your heart.

Do you have enough of the hanky pieces to do a center block, using the "hankie crazy quilt" or some other special design? I think making what you have of the special hankies into a special center focal point will give them the honor you intended for them. Then with hankies you find online, at thrift stores, collectible/antiques stores, etc., do your butterfly blocks around the special center block.

All may not be lost, you may be able to soak them in Oxyclean or a similar solution and cut around the damaged parts. The smallest section of your gram's hankies in a quilt will always be special.

Can you fold them into the butterfly hanky quilts I saw on here (don't remember when or where)???

I am so sorry for your terrible loss. I know how shattering it can be to have something all planned in your head and then find it is ruined and will not be. We built a new house and off course mice were here the first year. I had a beautiful cotton sweater my husband gave me and when I went to pull it out of storage, there was a large hole shewed. Along with a stock pile of cat food. Found cat food in lots of drawers along with ruined items. It took awhile before the cats finally caught them. Try not to dwell on the things you can't change. It's hard, I know, but you're a quilter and you are strong and you can!!!

So sorry this happened. Surely better days are ahead!

Sew sorry for your mousehap. Who would have thought they would chew through the plastic. Do you have any pictures of Grandma and Gr. Grandma? Maybe you could include pictures of them with pieces of the hankies? Hope today is a better day for you. (((HUGS)))

((hug)) :(

Were any of them NOT chewed? If so perhaps they can be come a special feature/medallion for the center of the quilt?

Wash and press the largest of the remains. Are there enough to do a square or two of a crazy quilt design that could be added to any quilt you make? Good luck and let us know what you decide.

I am so sorry for your shattered dream quilt. I have a bunch or old hankies that I got at an antique auction that I would be happy to send you. I know that they would not be the same, but they may be in the same era and if you have even a little bit left of the ones you had they may be able to suppliment what you have and the quilt can still be done as you had planned. Please PM me and I will be happy to send them to you. It will still be a memorable quilt because you made it especially for her and I know that alone will make her love it.
kashu

I'm so sorry, hopefully you will be able to salvage some of them....