Wednesday, September 13, 2006

A good reason to clean

Once, in a faraway land (read: sewing room), a quilter made a beautiful fall quilt. Lots of pretty fall colors and swirling leaves and acorns that were all hand blanket stitched because she did not have a fancy machine. Then she made her first attempt at echo stitching around all the appliques on the machine. And she was pleased that she had gone another step in her quilting. People admired her quilt and wanted to borrow it. Since it was a good friend, she agreed. Months went by and when she went to find her quilt, it was nowhere to be found. Did the friend still have it? No, said the friend, "I returned it long ago." Years passed and she thought fondly of that quilt of the past, wishing she had it.

Cut to the present: Deciding that the hall closet could literally not hold ANOTHER coat or box or thing, it was time to do a little purging. What's in this big box? Oh, the chandelier we bought to match the rest of the new lights we installed in the house. Ceiling too high for hubby to get to it, so in the closet it went. Asking the contractor who was there for another job if he could kindly put it up. Yes and a half hour and $20 later, it was done! What's in this other big box? Oh yeah, all those Precious Moments we packed up so we could move the secretary they were displayed in to tear down wallpaper. Hmm, how many moons ago? Too many years to count. Well, now either I get rid of them or wash them and put them away. And my--what else is in the box? MY QUILT!!!! I had grabbed that quilt to wrap all my precious goodies and forgot about it! I'm sure glad I didn't give my friend a hard time! Do I have egg on my face, or what? What's funny is now that I look at it, many years later, it doesn't look all that great! I still like it, but I did a self binding on it and it's just okay. And the quilting is okay, but I would like to think I have improved since then. What a difference about 8 years makes! I guess that's why we keep our older quilts, we can see how much we have grown. But I'm glad I found it, now I can go back to saying that I have only had ONE quilt taken from me. Unfortunately, I know it was taken. I had done a trunk show featuring all sorts of Memory Quilts and since I had taken so many, when I put them away I didn't count them. Well, a few days later when I unpacked them, it was missing. Too many people to even begin to think of who might have done it and I didn't know them. I'm not sure how that person can even enjoy that quilt, first of all, it contained MY memories and then knowing she took it from someone else. The only thing I could figure is that she liked the idea and wanted to copy it? I could have gladly told her how to do it. Oh well, life goes on and we can't worry about other's conscious.

20 comments:

Linda C said...

Glad your long misplaced quilt showed up and way too bad about the other one still missing. Cute quilt and you can see the progress you have made over the years in your quilting and applique.

Like me and my Santa--I can do much, much better now.

Tazzie said...

It's a very sweet quilt, I can understand how you missed it. I don't understand how anyone can steal a quilt from someone else, as you said, they can't enjoy it, it's just wrong. I don't understand how some people think.
*hugs*
Tazzie
:-)

Melzie said...

That is beautiful :) Since its way beyond MY abilities I think its purty darn good ;) xoxo melzie

Nancy said...

I'm glad you found your quilt! And you might think it doesn't look that great but from here it looks wonderful. :-) And you've found it just in time to display it this fall. What good timeing!

quiltpixie said...

its amazing what you find when you stop looking isn't it :-) I've found more than one item I was sure was lost for good in a cupboard tucked away carefully

Jeanne said...

Oh, it's charming! The acorns are cute. How nice that you found it again!
Jeanne :)

Evelyn aka Starfishy said...

Ah, the rewards of cleaning out the closet - your found quilt!!!, having the light put up, more space in the closet? A wonderful discovery, to be sure - I really like it! Sorry to hear about your lost quilt - always a sad day when one goes missing... my Nana's cousin still hasn't received the comfort quilt I mailed the end of May...

Cheers!

Evelyn

Gail said...

Its funny how good it feels to find something you were living without just fine-and it looks like a good job from here!

Anonymous said...

It's a beautiful quilt. It makes me smile looking at it. I'm glad you found it.

Melanie said...

What a great quilt and a great story. It's almost like a present to yourself. I get so mad when I lose things and just as overjoyed when I find them. Have fun today---Enjoy the Fall.
Melanie

Darlene said...

You found a friend - must be a friend you have some great memories of that friend. It doesn't matter whether or not it's perfect in your mind - it's your friend; enjoy your reunion!

:-)

Susan said...

And it is made from my favorite little nine patches.......Such a happy quilt...

Anonymous said...

That is a nice quilt! I think the blanket stitch is perfect for the fall - kind of like a hand made scarecrow...

Silverthimble said...

I loved the story about the quilt that was "lost" in the closet. I think we all have such a closet holding "treasures" we have forgotten about!

Bonnie said...

It may be 8 years old, but it is still a very nice Fall quilt. The colors are great and the leaves are charming with that blanket stitch.

Mary Johnson said...

Very cute - I do all my applique with the blanket stitch by hand and I love fall quilts.

Cynthia said...

what a lovely quilt. I like the applique you did on it.

Anonymous said...

How wonderful to find it again!! It's lovely.

Angie said...

I LOVE this quilt!!! Kept meaning to make the same one, and just never did. Now, seeing your's, I must put it BACK ON my list!!! Lovely Fall piece.

Shelina said...

I'm glad you found all your goodies. I think this is a beautiful quilt. It has such lovely fall colors, and beautiful blanket stitching, and pretty quilting. I like the checkerboard effect of the ninepatch and the pretty applique. Tastes change over time, and I'm sure that you'll get to love it again.