Friday, May 15, 2015

Bloggers Quilt Festival Time!

It's time for the annual spring romp through quilters sewing rooms courtesy of Amy at Amy's Creative Side who hosts this fabulous party each year!  Thanks Amy, both for the tremendous effort in making all this possible and also for including my favorite category - hand quilted quilts!

My entry this time has a story to go with it.  A few years ago I attended a small local yard/estate sale in the community where I worked.  After loading my arms with a bundle of lovely vintage linens, I spotted a plastic zippered bag on the ground under a table, the kind of bag new blankets and other bed linens come in from the store.  All I could see in the bag was a bundle of muslin and a bit of what looked to be a colorful vintage fabric.  And this tag:
Well.  That bag was coming with me!  On the way out of the sale, I was chided a bit by a co-worker who happened to be there for hauling away 'that old thing.'   That old thing happened to be this:
Hand basted with quilting just begun, these gorgeous vintage bow-tie blocks all hand pieced, with a heavy polyester batting and a one-piece muslin backing!  At the time I was unaware that the yard sale was at the home of the widower of a lady who had previously worked in my office, who had passed away shortly before I began working there.  I think this quilt may have been one she started as a young lady and had never finished.  It was destiny that I was to finish it for her.
I worked on this off and on between other projects and completed it just before moving back to the east coast late last summer.  Here is the finished quilt:

And some of my favorite fabrics from the bow-tie blocks:

 The whole quilt:
I love the finished quilt, the fabrics washed beautifully after it was completed, the bow-tie background fabric, a heavy cotton vintage tablecloth-type fabric, whitened considerably, making the bow-ties pop wonderfully.  
Thanks for visiting, and good luck in finding your very own vintage yard sale treasure!


22 comments:

Kathy ... aka Nana said...

"That old thing" is a treasure! Good for you to find it and to rescue it! We're at the beach still, so I'm not sure that I'll submit anything in the BQF (especially considering that I'd be up against your fabulous bow tie quilt!). Good luck!

Debbie said...

Destiny! It was destined for you to be the quilter to give this one life. It is a real treasure and so worth your effort. I absolutely love it.

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

I just love this! Vintage at it's best ! :) What a wonderful quilt and story behind it :)

Kim said...

What a really neat story. I think things are meant to be sometimes. It is lovely. I am sure whoever started that quilt would be thrilled with the results.

SuperMomNoCape said...

You certainly did find a treasure. How great that you were able to find it and finish it.

Lee said...

What a wonderful find, and you finished it up beautifully.

Janet O. said...

What a super "find". I think it was destined to be yours and you have done the woman who started it very proud! I'm sure she approves. : )

Ruth said...

You are definitely a quilt "rescuer!" It is really lovely.

Stephie said...

What a heartwarming story - and a fabulous quilt to boot!

Plain Ol' Vanilla said...

I LOVE this since I too, find joy in rescuing vintage quilt tops. It's kind of like writing the last few chapters of their story. Beautiful work!
Joyce

Martha said...

A very beautiful quilt and story!! What a treasure!! I am so glad it went home with you :^)

belarmina said...

Es un tesoro!!!
me gusta mucho, mucho
gracias por compartir
saludos

Connie said...

I love this post and the fact that you saved this quilt and gave it life. It was just waiting for you to come around and find it . . . meant to be:)
Your newest blogging sister,
Connie :)

audrey said...

What a find! Such a great story and the finish is wonderful.:)

Wendy @ Wendysquiltsandmore said...

What a great find. Did you take it back to show the family once you'd finished it? I bet they'd love to know that it's finished and in use now. You've made it look beautiful. I'm a member of Celebrate Hand Quilting too.

Deonn said...

Wow, that old thing is fabulous!! So glad you rescued her - one man's trash is another's treasure.

Renee said...

What a sweet quilt, and how awesome that you rescued and finished it! I'm sure she would have been very pleased with the resultss.

Cathy said...

Lovely find. Great rescue. Beautiful finish.

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

a very nice treasure!

Writingmom said...

So pretty! Great job!

Anonymous said...

This turned out beautiful! I love the texture that made the bow-ties pop! What a bargain!!

Dawn said...

Omigosh, what a great find! The bowtie block is one of my all-time favorites. How wonderful that you were able to rescue and finish this quilt. You did a beautiful job on the quilting!