During this very long winter that has now become a late spring I had been tiding up projects that had been started in times past. I cannot believe it, but that job jar has been emptied with the completion of the afghan that my friend, Martha, labeled as the “flame afghan.”
The rose quilt that has warmed and
served many over the decades.
Digging in the linen closet I spied with my little eye a storage bag that had not been visited for some time. One of the lovelies within was a quilt my Dad’s sister, Corrina, had handcrafted before I was born. I only have the information that my Mom had given me — and as I have just celebrated my 70th birthday — I have no documentation as to just how many years prior it had been made. The roses are appliqued on bleached feed sacks. At one time the pure pink and green colors were brilliant and now they are a wonderful, muted soft color attesting to the wear and tear the surface of each block has experienced.
During yet another rain shower yesterday, I took my treasure and went to Sherburn, Minneosta, to the Old Alley Quilt Shop for some advice. Some of the blocks have actual holes worn and many of the thousands upon thousands of hand quilted stitches have long ago disappeared. As Sharon and I enjoyed a cup of coffee, mulling possibilities, there was only one solution: no repair, no replacing of hand stitches, and no new fabric to be added to this treasure.
Just as the scar I have on my left eye from falling head first into the brand new outhouse my Dad had built when I was five is a part of me, so are the small worn spots a representation of how much this quilt was used and loved. Putting anything new on this treasure would take away from the simplistic — yet grand display — these stitches represented.
I did come away with Vintage Textile Soak especially for antique linens to brighten up the yellowing that has taken place from previous use and also from being in storage. The cleaning process will wait for a brilliant sunny day. The quilt is to soak in this textile wash for 24-36 hours in the washing machine. After it has been rinsed with clear water and spun to remove the weight of extra water, it will go into the clothes dryer for just a short time and then air dried outside. Finding a spot in the backyard I will lay it flat on several bed sheets to finish the drying process. Hanging it on the clothes line would put too much pressure on the seams. I can imagine I will need to take a pot of coffee with me to ward off any birds in the direct vicinity.
This wonderful work of art will find a spot on the quilt rack my Dad had made for me. I won’t be putting Corrina’s quilt back in storage for the time being. I want to be able to peek at it as I walk past or periodically put it on the bed to brighten up the west porch as the sun streams in. I had anticipated putting in a lot of hours on this rehab and have now come to realize that I am open to start a brand new project. Hmm.
I really think it’s time for me to be able to be out in the gardens getting my fingernails dirty and leave the fabric projects behind for a bit. This afternoon we had peeks of the sun and the temps reached 57 degrees. I took my Weed and Spray and bent down real close and personal and let a multitude of dandelions have it with both barrels. The dirt in the gardens is far too muddy to do anything but make a mess, but I am not so desperate for flowers that I will encourage the dandelions. Warm spring days are just around the corner and I am ready, willing and able to take those days on. Even Dennis is getting the bug to get the rider lawn mower ready. Life on Stauffer is sweet.
