Sunday, November 6, 2011

i started making quilts in 2oo4. i had always collected fabric, and i'd noticed the cotton quilting batting at the fabric store. i was drawn to it. so i bought a little packet. my aunt lent me her sewing machine, i sewed squares together for a top and sandwiched it all with a piece of fabric on the back. i had to play around with the edging, sorting out what worked and what didn't. but i had figured it out. i made a few baby quilts, but the large bed-sized ones started in october. gala, our great dane, had died in july. and after a search we'd found a puppy (edgar) and i needed to pay for him. i started making quilts all day. i had little sales from my living room. my friend and i drove around to little gift shops and b&b's selling them. and that was the start. i only have a few of the early quilts. but, i'm exceedingly hard on them.....they stay out on the porch swing all summer. in fact, there are two out there still, in november. they get washed almost daily because of edgar slobber or kitty puke. so the early ones have faded. some of my favorite fabrics were in them, fabrics from the beginnings of my fabric collection that i bought purely because i loved them, not ever thinking i'd make anything with them.....i didn't think i knew how.
last summer i was doing a little tour of suburban garage sales, scoping from the car and moving on if all i saw was baby clothes and plastic toys. i stopped at one that turned out to be disappointing, until....i started to hyper-ventilate. literally. i thought my heart was going to explode. i couldn't talk. i don't think i've felt this way since i was 14 and the cute boy i liked was walking towards me in the hall. there was one of my very first quilts. never been washed. with the original little paper tag i'd hung on them. with my original price of $175. this was one of the quilts we'd sold to a little gift/antique shop. i usually take $60 as a garage sale limit.....it was all untouched in my pocket. there wasn't a garage sale price on the quilt, just my original price, in my hand-writing. but i lost my head. i found the proprietess, offered her $60, told her it was all i had. and she accepted. and i ran to the car, shaking.
this is a photo of our bed this morning.....the old/new quilt smiling in the sun, with all my favorite old fabrics looking fresh and bright and new. i love this quilt, even though it wasn't one of my favorites then, it still gives me butterflies now when i see it. and i smile.

15 comments:

  1. What an amazing story - I am so happy you found it and it is so beautiful too. I keep talking about making a quilt & one of these days I may just get round to starting one...

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  2. karen, if you have fabric, just start sewing your favorite pieces together. and then the rest will just happen. your first one doesn't have to be your opus.

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  3. i love this story.i adore your quilt and the comfy photo of it back where it should be.u gave me my smile for my heart for the day.

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  4. Talk about destiny and fate and a whole splodge of magic thrown on for good measure :-) Although I would have hyperventilated too if I knew I was about to secure such a special prize! Can I also just thank you directly for the Liebster nomination? What an honour coming from you. (Also I'm sending you, your family, your dedicated vet and of course dear little Crabby a whole lot of light and love. Xx)

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  5. What an amazing story!!! It reminds me of the little memoir I wrote and had a book binder publish a few of. I sent one off to a memoir contest (didn't win) and then about three years later, it was for sale on Amazon for, I believe $45? I still don't know how it got there!?! And someone actually bought it!!! I still go to amazon once in awhile just to see my name there - Deborah Payne Strauss- To Care for Orphans. I love your quilt story. What an ingenious way to start a business. And such a happy way to make a living, surrounded by beautiful fabric. So happy for your reunion with one of your originals. Your life sounds lovely

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  6. What a lovely story. I can quite understand your flutterings stumbling upon your quilt. Liz :)

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  7. That is a beautiful story--amazing too!

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  8. That is a wonderful story...very inspiring. You give me hope!
    Why would anyone who owned that quilt not want it? I don't know! It would be very much loved it is was mine.xxx

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  9. tcfo.....your story beats mine to bits. i read the review on amazon. amazing!!! i want to read it. maybe you could serialize your memoir on a blog.....give us a bit at a time?
    trish and liz....it's sure being loved now.
    jen and demie.....life is an amazing adventure.
    traci....i hope your day was lovely
    bpp....thank you for the crabby love.....we'll have a better idea of things in the morning.

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  10. Magical....sigh ;)
    Night night,
    Txo

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  11. What a wonderful story! Who would have thought that you would come across one of your handmade quilts at a garage sale. It is gorgeous!

    You really make a story come to life as I can just picture you staring in disbelief. What a great story.

    Kris

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  12. A beautiful story! It made me shiver! Was it a coincidence or was your quilt waiting for you! I think it is the latter! I like your picture of your comfy bed and the quilt is great! The red roses on the yellow underground is wonderful! xxx

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  13. I LOVE this story! I am so glad you got back one of the early ones and I am glad it is on your bed. I can't believe anyone would sell it! But I am so happy you found it. I mentioned you and your wonderful quilts on my post today. Hope you have a beautiful week.

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  14. What a great find Annette, I can almost imagine the emotion of getting your art work back1

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