Saturday, November 11, 2006

SURPRISE ! We may have had balmy 72 degrees in WI on Wednesday, and a mild 55 degrees on Thursday, but this is what we got up to Friday morning. Felt like we went from Sept, to Oct, to Dec in 48 hours! This morning brought us 20 degrees and the promise of more snow. But we were the lucky ones! About an hour south of me, Osseo, WI got 16.5" on Friday. Glad I live in the Valley...*VBS My car was in the shop Thursday and Friday so I stayed home.While I was out in the garage tying those quilts, I dug out a few more that I haven't shown here in Blogland. This is an "oldie" but goodie..*S* I purchased the top(as almost a twin) for $15 from an older lady who lived across the street from me. She had hand pieced it in her later years. Pretty much anything goes in this one, but I love it. And I hand quilted it with a thin batt, just quilting the diagonals in both
both directions. I was really "into" the "make do" mentally at that time, connecting with all the women who went before me and worked with what they had. I happened onto this backing fabric at a little antique store. Small evenly spaced holes told me that is had been a backing for a tied quilt. I washed it up, mending a couple of tears, patched a bigger hole, and used it for this trip around top. When I was done quilting, I took an older black cotton skirt of DD#1, discarded because it had washed out to a VERY soft black, and used it for the binding. Stella(the neighbor) passed away a few years later, and I was so glad she had parted with this top. She had also sold me a log cabin top, almost double, which I quilted and gave back to her for her birthday. It was the first hand quilted quilt she had ever owned...I was so proud to be able to do that for her. I still have one set of log cabin blocks that she made and just gave me, in thanks for returning her quilt top, quilted. No matter what you give someone, the true gift is the one your receive, the gift is in the giving. Think about that..*S* Posted by Picasa

15 comments:

Judy said...

Wonderful Story and wonderful quilts Finn!!

Tonya Ricucci said...

Brrr so sorry about the snow. Does Ebby ever go outside or does she just watch the snow from the window?
Love the Trip Around the World - it's got great energy. Marvelous backing for it too!

Libby said...

Hi Finn --
I love the make-do attitude. It adds so much to the background of the quilt. I'll have to think about what is languishing in the closet that can be put to good use *S*

Texan said...

I want to come and play outside just for a while :O) make snow angels on the ground!!! I could have some serious fun in that snow!!!!! :O)... alway a kid when given the opportunity to play in snow!!!

Anonymous said...

What a lovely quilt - and an even better story behind it. I especially like the backing. Snowing here toinght, too. Your weatherpixie doesn't seem to be dressed for snow!!

quiltpixie said...

lovely quilt story... the "make do" quilts always seem more loved as there are interesting stories to go with them

Fiona said...

What a lovely story, I love that you foung used fabric for the backing - so much better than putting on new fabric.

Silverthimble said...

Finn: I can't believe the weather change you experienced in your part of the world in just 48 hours! Yikes!

I loved the story about the neighbour and the "make do" quilt. It was this "make do" attitude that early quilters had that attracted me to quilting in the first place. Both my grandmothers lived through the Dirty 30's on the prairies and had that same "make do" attitude that they passed down to me! I think that is why scrap quilts attract me so.

KC Quilter said...

Oh, wow, your speedy weather changes are something! We do get some of that here in Missouri too. I am so not ready for snow. Loved the story behind the quilts and your neighbor.

MARCIE said...

Very nice story of your neighbor and her tops. I bet she loved that you quilted and returned the Log Cabin quilt. I notice by your Weather Pixie that it is 30 degrees at your house now. Find a nice quilt to snuggle under and stay warm! Take care!

Tracey @ozcountryquiltingmum said...

Now that's real quilting. Don't you just love turning something useless into something beautiful. It puts everything into perspective. It's fun to be a joyful giver, too.

Katie said...

Nice to see the pic of snow. Sunny and 80's here in FL today. So nice to remember the "gift" from giving.

Anonymous said...

Hi, Finn--is this your first snow of the season? What do they say--if you don't like the weather then just stick around for a few hours as it will change? I do not miss that stuff or freezing rain one iota!

I love the quilt and the story behind it. Your neighbor was probably thrilled to get the quilt back, hand quilted.

Did you get your tying done before the weather changed inhospitable?

Sandy Hatcher-Wallace said...

Yes, I agree with you...the gift you receive is the happiness you get from giving.

The weather is being very unusual this year. One day it's in the 70's and the next day the high is 40ยบ...quite a drop in temp.

I'm glad you missed the many inches of snow that they got further south of you.

((Hugs from an old friend)),
Sandy

sharon b said...

You are such a dear new blog friend. Thanks so much for comments on mine.. You are so talented .. You inspire me to keep quilting.. Love this latest post. Hugs to you too.. I'm sharon not susan.. But you can call me anything but late for dinner.. LOL.. You are a dear..