I'm glad you saved Aunt Gertrude's lovely quilt, it's too bad the DIL didn't appreciate it, but very lucky for you that you saw it. Beautiful!!

I am so glad you were there to keep the quilt in the family. That quilt was made with love.

I have a SIL like that. She sold all the cross stitching mom did for them. That my brother asked for, I might add. Needless to say mom was hurt. Ok, so maybe they didn't go with the way she wanted to decorate. She could have saved them for her kids. They might like to have something that grandma made.

Sorry for ranting. :oops:

Whenever I ask the kids if they know were the quilts are that I made them. My brother very quickly says yes. :lol:

I just can't believe someone would like would part with a treasure like that. I'm glad you were there to save it.

Glad you found your aunt's quilt before the sale.
Your Aunt is surely smiling now that it's in a place to be treasured like it should have been.
Some people don't realize the work & love that goes into a quilt!! :evil:

All I can say is thank goodness you saved this! I know when we gift a quilt we have to let it go but when I think about all the time, effort and, yes, love I put into a quilt when I am making it for someone the thought that it would end up in a trash heap, sallies (goodwill), or garage sale never even occurs to me when I am making it. Quite frankly, if it did I probably would never make another gift quilt and just keep them all myself.

Additionally, when I am making a gift quilt for someone the recipient is on my mind through the entire process, from picking a pattern and fabrics to that final stitch made on the label and I constantly think, oh I hope they like this as much as I. Every quilt I make for someone (mostly baby quilts) I think it can become a wallhanging later in life or I fantasize that it will become a family heirloom or a much loved "binkie" that will be worn out due to all the love and use it got.

So sad, but I am glad you spotted it and saved it. I think it is a great quilt.

Wow - it's just beautiful. That border is just lovely - and so are all those tiny hand stiches! And here I am, crying, remembering my Great Aunt Grace, whose quilted treasures were dumped at Goodwill before I could say anything about it. I miss her so much, and would have given a lot to have been able to keep something she made. I'm really happy you were able to rescue this lovely bowtie quilt from obscurity.

Some people just don't understand how much these things mean when we make them - and can't connect emotionally with quilts. (My sister confessed this past weekend she wishes she could "get it" but just doesn't.) I know, it's hard to fathom when you love quilting as much as we do.

I'm finishing up a baby quilt for my best friend and although I've never signed a quilt, I intend to this time. In fact, after your garage sale story, I may just do a little more than sign it, and put the story of its creation in the signature block on back. What I thought about as I made it, my hopes for the baby, why I chose the fabrics and stiches I did. Maybe if we put more background information, plain for non-quilters to see, on the quilts we give, they'll mean more and will be kept longer and with more respect.

This just breaks my heart! All that work, not appreciated. I am so glad you got there "in time"!

At the very least, you would think, that when having a garage sale, that contained items, made by a person, and not just a 'manufactured clone of a thousand others", that the person would ask family, does anyone want this?
I always ask my kids, if there is anything they want, when I have a box of charity stuff. I give decent stuff to our 'shop', but if it might be sentimental, family gets first dibs.
So glad you rescued it...I bet you could hear, Auntie, sigh with relief, and the angels smiled at each other :D

Congratulations on the saving of the family quilt. It's a lovely memorial item.
People who do not sew cannot appreciate hand quilting. For a simple reason. When you can purchase a 'quilt' from Walmart for $29.99 and for all intent and purpose it looks like the same thing - it's hard for a non quilter to understand the unique love we have for quilts which are made by us or even understand the whys for the amount of time spent creating something like this.
Ducky, what I would hope I'd do. Keep it quite, no need to further bring attention to your son about it. Whenever possible I'd place the quilt in a prominent place to be shown proudly for ANYONE who entered my home. It's a move to keep the verbal peace but expressing dissatisfaction of an event you found disturbing and if something from the other side should say something about your placement; it's one that cannot be said you made a big deal out of nothing by allowing you to be equally as ignorant of 'WHY' you placed the quilt so prominently displayed, you remember your Aunt and the love you had for her!

So glad that you were there to save the quilt. I have stressed to my kids the value of such things and they all get it but you know, I think that there are people who don't understand how much time and effort are put into a quilt. And in this case the obvious love that went into it for the lady in her 80's to make it.

I guess try and teach your DIL but in the meantime don't be giving them any quilts.

How can you not like the colors? It has all the colors in it. Is she one of those monochromatic persons, that only like black and white?

I'm so glad you saved this. I know you'll cherish it and the love that went in to creating it.

Ducky---I really believe that your dear Great Aunt was looking down and made sure you were there at that moment to rescue her quilt. Thank you from all of us. It is beautiful!

It may not be an heirloom to your DIL but we all appreciate the work and effort that went into that quilt. And, to handquilt it??? That in itself is a labor of love.

I agree with someone else's comment that maybe we had better think hard about the people we give our quilts to.

Wow, I wasn't expecting this many people to respond, otherwise I would answer everyone's comments individually. Thanks for all the input. Now I know my emotions were not out of line.

As to why my son didn't say "no" to getting rid of it -- he didn't know it was in the give away pile until I pointed it out. He has always told DIL he likes the quilt, but obviously, she doesn't. He felt really bad and didn't want to start an argument in front of me, which I can appreciate. I told him he just needs to choose his battles. He came to the house later (we live on the same block) to thank me for taking it, and I assured him I would be keeping it.

I do believe I was meant to find this quilt -- can't explain it, but that's how I feel. It was still just a tad damp when I went to bed, so I layed it over the other blankets on us and fell in love with it all over again. It looks beautiful on my bed, and I had such a comforting and satisfied feeling lying under it. This quilt will be used by me -- long and short of it. It will be given to GD at a later time. I know she'll have to appreciate it because I totally plan on teaching her to quilt.

Oh, and I thought the same thing about placing the quilt in a place where it could be seen by all. I do believe I will fold it and have it on top of the long couch when I have company. This way I'm not combative, but I'm still making a statement.

Final thing? I truly love my DIL. I don't understand her, but I really love her.

I'm so glad you rescued that quilt. I stopped making my grandchildren quilts because my DIL would sell them on EBAY later on. sigh!!

All I can say to this is :shock: :shock: :shock:

OMG!! You have very right to rant. Good save Ducky. :thumbup:

It is a beautiful quilt. At least it is in the hands of someone who will appreciate it. (I wouldn't be making her any quilts.)

I'm thrilled you found it before it was sold to someone else. I can see why you would be upset. It's now with someone that will truely love it the way it should be!

Great rescue! I think it's a beauty! Wish I would have seen it for $10! :roll:

It is a throw away society we have these days and the kids just don't know any different. I tell my boys when I give them something special, knowing some day a girlfriend/wife may come along and think differently of my gifts, to feel free to give it back to me if they don't want it any longer. I also try to make sure I explain history and importance when necessary. They can only learn what I teach them. The DIL may change her mind after seeing her quilt loved and displayed so beautifully at your home. And letting her know more about the labor and who made it, may cause her to have a completey different view of it. I think it's ok to pack something away for later years also. Maybe she won't value it or have a place for it until she is over 40 or 60. It could be a beautiful future gift for them down the road when they are older and their value system changes. Or mayge your grandchild will show interest and that would be very special to have something that was her parents wedding present. The quilt is beautiful, I love hand sewn quilts. It's a treasure period, good job for saving it.

Ducky, I am so glad that you were in the right spot at the right time to save the quilt. I can only imagine the hard work and love that Aunt G. put into it, and the thought of it being discarded is so sad. Save it for a grandchild, and make a label, and maybe even a little booklet about the Aunt and the quilt, so that future generations will have that information.

Good for you!!! And now YOU can enjoy the love in every stitch!

It is gorgeous!!! And if it does not have a label, give it one quickly.

Oh i'm so glad you recuse it my,my i would have loved to had something my hubby's aunt had made well like you said being from a family like that it hasn't register yet but PLS.keep it the Grand baby will one day want to have it Oh by the way it is gorgeous :roll:

You were definitely meant to find it... like everyone else I'm so glad you did! :-)

I feel sorry for your dil though, for not appreciating it. It sounds like she honestly doesn't realise what such a quilt involves, and means to you and your family. So maybe this is a good teaching opportunity! :-)


My sister is much the same, things MUST go with her decor, they must all be co-ordinated, and to a certain standard. I'm the opposite, for me it must have a story, or character. I keep it in mind whenever I make something for her, or give a gift. That's just how she is.

This story broke my heart....I would have loved to have a quilt with this kind of history....but then again, I've now reached an age that I appreciate this kind of "family heirloom".

I have a daughter who thinks antique furniture is just old stuff, quilts are "blankets", etc. Give it time, they'll get it eventually.

Thank God you rescued it before someone else walked away with a treasure!

Ducky: I wish I could say my children never heard angry words. We had some very rough days in our 26 years. I have always told the kids how much I love them, but I have one who may not believe me. The quilt is remarkable. Someone, someday with love it as much as you do.

It is just beautiful :-) Gwyn

Ditto :!:

Wow--I'm so glad you rescued it--what an amazing accomplishment for the creator.

I can't imagine what your DIL must have been thinking! Geez....

I think this is very good advice. Your DIL doesn't have to live with something that doesn't work for her and the heirlooms stay family heirlooms. BUT I try to remember that when I give something away, it's theirs to do with as they choose (very hard to do so I'm careful about what I give away).
Glad you resuced it.
Jo

Good save! Ah well, some people just have no idea. Thank you for posting the pictures. I love closeups of other people's handwork, not belonging to a group, it is sometimes hard to get a "benchmark" so to speak and it helps me on my everlasting learning curve! Your Aunt's quilt is beautiful, I must admit, I don't understand how someone could not love this...I am sure under this lovely work of art lies many a happy dream.

WHOA!
someone has had too much to eat!
That is a beautiful quilt!
I am soooo glad that you found it in time.
Sorry about your disappointment, but certainly understand the frustration you must feel. :cry:
Will it help your ducky ruffled feathers if I tell you that:
This too shall pass!
Five minutes <g> and then you must get up and do something nice for someone else! 8)
Of course, since I am way behind everyone and thing, you have probably done LOTS of things.
Good job!
And, congratulations on finding your heirloom!

I hope that this means that you WILL NOT be making a quilt for this DIL to disrespect. I am so very very happy that you were there to protect such a treasurer. I think I am as irrate as you must have been!!!

My house is filled with "things" from my family. Pictures that my husband's grandmother painted (water color) when she was only 12 years old. His great aunt's music cabinet, still has her sheet music in it. A lot of my grandmothr's dishes and her Silverware. There is a quilt in my closet that Aunt Mary said was made before the civil war. It is ragged and I some day hope to study the pattern and "re-create" it for my DD and GD. Today I am meeting my youngest brother to open my mother's house for the first time since she passed away last June. I am bring her sewing machine home with me. She and I did a lot of sewing together and although she was a hard pill to deal with, sewing is one of the things she and I did share. This machine was purchased after I left home, but she called me to tell me of that purchase AND I know it was a very special and expensive purchase for her. I think she paid for it by sewing pillow covers for a company who had home sewers making their pillows. I KNOW my dad would have never given her money to buy it. Since I am the only one in the family who sews, I could not bear to see it sold and my DGD will love it when I'm gone and she will always remember the day we went to get it. I am so glad that this board is composed of folks who think in terms of family memories and treasurers.

Thanks, again, for everyone's comments. You all are so very wonderful.

I like to think I'm a pretty rational and low-key person, and when I woke up the next morning after finding the quilt, I felt back to myself. DIL will be DIL, no matter what. Whether or not it was Divine Providence, I did find the quilt that is laying beautifully and lovingly on my bed. :D I spent Friday and Saturday helping DIL with her garage sale, and we had a blast. We both love crosswords, so we sat with a big book of puzzles working on them. I don't think we ever stopped talking. So all is okay --- she and I get along so well; I've let go of the bad feelings; and I have the quilt in my little paws, and it "ain't going nowhere!"

Good thing you were there or this family treasure would have been sold. It that were DIL I don't think she would be receiving any quilts in the near future.

That is just a beautiful quilt!!

I'm proud of you for showing such remarkable restraint toward your DIL -- I probably would have ranted and raved for hours :oops:

To kwhite , what is the name of the quilt pattern that identifies you. Im new to the site, but I sont think I have seen this pqttern before, It is beautiful.

Linda

While I would have been upset to see this quilt in the 'sell' pile, I also have to think about how blessed your DIL is to have become part of a loving, caring family. It sounds like she didn't grow up in a loving environment, and by marrying your son, she has an opportunity to learn what it is to value family. Just my two cents worth. (As one who also did not grow up in a loving, caring family but married a wonderful man and learned how to give my own children a loving environment.)

Renee

How nice of you to say that, Renee. I am happy to say that my husband and I have a very comfortable, loving home here, and I really worked hard to make sure my children feel that love. I can't say I grew up in a wonderfully loving family environment, either. I wanted my kids to have something different than I had.

Ducky, don't know how I missed this before, but so proud of you grabbing that treasure up and taking it home!
Her stitches are beautiful, and to have made it at her age is remarkable. Being a hand quilter, i so appreciate the work and love that went into it.
Someday when you have taught your grandaughter how to quilt, she will then appreciate what a treasure you have. We can't change the past, but the future for that marvelous quilt is great!