Monday, August 07, 2006

Another Quilt Saved...

from the depths of a basement. My Mom found this quilt in my Aunt Shelia's basement. Covered in sawdust and destined for the garbage. It is in need of a good soaking in maybe some Oxyclean or some such stain-lifting potion as there is a huge water spot on it- at least I hope it is a water spot. The red dye has eaten through the fabric. But still quite a nice quilt and I am tickled to have it living in my house. What's that Irish song...? "Ach, there's always room for one more..." Of course they were talking about people and not quilts...but around here, that's true of both.

On a more personal front, I haven't left the house, except for church, in nearly a week. Been playing alot. We canned 21 more quarts of beans and then, the corn come on at the last minute and there were 6 bushels gleaned... at 4 pm. Hardly the ideal time to be processing corn. But the boys were real troopers and we had all 6 bushels in the freezer in only 4 hours. Pretty cool. Had a regular assembly line of shuckers and washers and cutters and stirrers. And one pepperer too many, but nothing we couldn't fix.

I have been dreaming about this color wheel thing I am hoping to do with my hand dyed fabric. I am pretty pleased with it- so far. I am thinking it will be a wallhanging- which always leaves me conflicted. I like wallhangings. Whenever I see one on someone else's blog, I think, "I'd like to do that." All the quilts that hang on my walls are large, full-size quilts. I have huge walls and they seem to fit. I do have a couple smaller, wallhanging quilts... but they were all gifts. People somehow think I like quilts. Go figure. But I have a very strong sense of the practical and it runs through my mind, "Who would that keep warm?" But I am going to stop at a wallhanging with this one. It looks good vertical.

Now, I am working on a fabric book of the children. Got 5 of them printed up and now the printer is giving me grief. Well, I'll work with what I have. I have been wanting some mindless hand work to do and since I can't find my giant crochet hook... this will fit the bill. I used a light weight stabilizer on the back of the photos- to keep the dark batik from showing through and to give them some body. I am stitching the photos down with a running stitch. I would show you, but then I'd have to kill you. Ok, not really, but I know I do have a hard time sharing projects that aren't finished. Silly I know. My DSister was always one that would break your knuckles with the wooden spoon if you dared to taste something she was cooking... I'm not that... what is that? Anyway, I just can see it in my head and sometimes I figure you probably can't. Not that you are deficient- far from it. I really don't expect anyone to see things the way I do. But I guess that is just part of my personality where I want to be understood. Ya don't have to agree, just try to understand. I am thinking I might do some bead embellishment and put some fibers together along with some lightweight batting to give it a quilty look. Maybe use the paintstiks. I'm liking it, so far.

9 comments:

sewprimitive karen said...

Oh, the Indiana life; you're killing me! All the wonderful canning and freezing and Quilt Finding. I'm so homesick!

Tonya Ricucci said...

I can't believe how lucky you are to have all these amazing quilts in the family. Hurrah for another beauty saved.

Walls need to be kept warm too! I think they make a home much cozier.

Melanie said...

I love the quilt...even if the stain doesn't come out, it'll still be wonderful folded just right to hide it and lay it over a bench.

Your kids are growing up helping and sharing...they've done it all their lives, it's something that will be instilled in them...
Melanie

Darcie said...

Oooh! I can't wait to see your fabric books. All of those ideas stirring in your head...how wonderful! But do share, please!!! We love the *process* as well as the *project* you know!

What a treasure now living in the perfect home, Nines! You'll have to let us know how the cleaning goes.

quiltpixie said...

hope the quilt comes clean without too much work :-)

Saska said...

Isn't it wonderful to find treasures like you did. GOod luck on getting the stain out.
ALL--the new concentrated stuff works pretty good too.

McIrish Annie said...

don't know how you find the time to do quilting, but luckily you have little helpers. i'm a city girl and find your country life a little overwhelming. Love the quilt found in the basement..good luck getting the stain out. i'd keep it one way or the other..

The Bashams said...

Oh - another beautiful quilt for your home. I wouldn't stress too much if the stain doesn't come out completely. I have found that creative folding does wonders for the appearance of some quilts! We are deep in the canning of tomatoes around here. Salsa, tomato juice, soup tomotoes, you name it we're canning it.

Granny said...

You are so busy! Are you finished with the veggies now or will there be more?

Your quilt find is beautiful. Have you washed it yet?

Judy L.