Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Red Hat Happy...

I know the picture is a bit fuzzy, but it is the only one I took, so it'll have to do. This is what we made using that cool 9-patch sew, cut and flip method that I showed you a few weeks ago. This was a commission piece- something I rarely- read that NEVER do, but... I was charmed into it! One rainy morning at the quiltshop- just before Thanksgiving, a man comes in. (This is a fairly rare happening. We don't see many men. Maybe the UPS guy...There is this one guy who rides a Harley...) But this other guy- who happened to come into the shop on the same morning as "Mr.Harley" was a different kinda guy. He looked mystified, but on a mission. I think he took courage from "Mr. Harley" and asked if we knew of any little old ladies that might like to make some extra money for Xmas... giggle. It was real hard to keep a straight face. I could see where this was going... He thought he had come into the shop with plenty of time to spare to have a quilt made for his wife for Xmas... And Tanya just about shut him down with a quote about what it would cost. ($700) We explained that we just can't compete with Malasia. Usually folks leave right there and then, but he kinda lingered. I could see he was flabbergasted but still determined to come up with an original gift for his wife who... is a real enthusiastic red hat lady. Tanya returns to her conversation with "Mr. Harley" and I take the charmer in hand. (He reminded me so much of my Uncle Tommy. Uncle Tommy was a bachelor and he would spoil us kids crazy with candy and new winter coats. He would visit near Xmas each year and bring a trunkload of oranges from Florida. He bought me a new wardrobe when I graduated high school- even helped me pick it all out- he had very good, and expensive, taste. Every child should have an Uncle Tommy. He even helped me with some college tuition. He has a big heart.) Well, this guy reminded me of him... And he loved the red hat fabric that we had. And I said that maybe it didn't need to be a bed-size quilt... now what was I thinking? I don't know, but he left with me promising to call him when I had a total rung up for a throw-size quilt that would fit very nicely into her spare bedroom that was decorated to the nines in redhat! Tanya decided we could do it, if we kept it very simple. She made up the pattern, we figured yardage, batting, quilting fees, labor... $275!! I called him, nervously, and he only says, "It'll be nice, right? You get what you pay for. OK." So she cut and pinned and I sewed. Tanya peiced the back- her specialty(Which I could kick myself for forgetting to take a picture!) I quilted it and she bound it. it was really a joint effort and then she called him up and she made him this incredible label that included 2 pictures of him and his wife together and a poem he had written for her!!! "...you're my best chum, you're my sugarplum." was the last line and I knew that even though we were a little stressed out about getting it done during this busy season, it was worth it! How sweet is that? I can't wait to find out how she liked it, but I know that there won't be another like it- shew!




Eva's feast...

was a couple nights ago. Eva...understands things. I don't have to explain much when it comes to people. She just knows. She's 7 going on 70. She is very sympathetic and authentic. I love her easy company. She made a spaghetti dinner for the family. She had orange wedges for her appetizer and chocolate milk to drink. Her dessert was sundaes with all kinds of topping- chopped candy bars and cookies, sprinkles and cherries, syrup and whipped cream- making sure to tell the boys that they are NOT to squirt it into their mouths. She decorated the room by making tons of paper snowflakes and DH Bill hung them from the ceiling using string. It was really lovely. She draped my scrap batting over the backs of the seats and across the children's bench- like it was snowing, she said. We had a runway of red glass votives sitting on paper snowflakes down the length of the table. Her gifts were a great find at the dollar store- puzzles. The big boys' puzzles have 500 peices and a couple of them have already been completed. The smaller children had simpler puzzles, even a wooden one for Abe the babe. It was a really great feast.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful little girl and to go to so much effort - I'm glad it was a success for her. The quilts are great!

quiltpixie said...

sounds like Eva has a future in the hospitality/catering sector -- maybe a party planner :-)

The red hat quilt will be sooo special to both the recipient and her husband. A real gift that you've made...

teelduo said...

The quilt is lovely. My mom would LOVE it so I think his wife will too. Seems like them red haters love anything with red hates on it. LOL Ya'll were sweet to help him.

Eva's feast sounds scrumptious and beautiful! Tell her I think she is grand.

dot said...

The red hat quilt is wonderful. I don't quite get the red hat thing but others do. I love your feast night idea. You have very creative kids, but then again their mom is very creative. Merry Christmas.

Melanie said...

*I love the Mr.Harley story. Something good will happen to you for that. Good things always come back tenfold for people whose heart is in the right place...

Pamela (Peni) Teel said...

That sweet Eva! What a great "snow party!"

I think I'll copy the red hat story and mail it to Uncle Tommy. :)

Love you so, Mom

Tonya Ricucci said...

What a sweet gift, esp the bit about the poem on the back with their pics. The kids' feasts all sound marvelous. Merry Christmas.

Darcie said...

I love hearing about your Christmas feasts! You've got the coolest family! And I can just see your little Eva's eyes being lovingly stern about the boys' directions for "what not to do with the whipping cream." Her personality shines with the pic you've posted of her.

Happy Red Hat Commission Quilt to you and Tanya! What pleasure you are surely bringing that special couple this Christmas.

Hugs and Happy Friday!

bingo~bonnie said...

I absolutely love this idea of feast days with your family! What better way to spend one-on-one quality time with each child and at the same time let them be creative with their planning and have such fun doing something for their siblings?

I can’t wait to hear more about the rest of the children’s feast days – is this something you just do at Christmas time? Thanks for sharing! Merry Christmas ~Bonnie

Judy said...

Sounds like a perfect feast for Eva! Love to read about them all, and the quilt turned out so well. Good ladies to help him out and make it work for him!

Quilts And Pieces said...

Boy I want to come to Eva's feast next year! mmmmm!