Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Tuesday Tip - Lost Quilt found a Home

Last week I received a call from my quilty friend, Bernice.  She asked if she could stop by on the way to the grocery store to show me a quilt top she bought.  A short time later, Bernice knocked at my door with a bag in hand and started telling me her story.  Bernice had visited the local second hand store.  She had found a quilt top for sale and when she unfolded the top there was the additional fabric.  There was enough fabric for the binding and possibly to complete a pieced backing.  The top was very nicely piece and square.  It laid flat and was really quite the find!

The greatest thing was the label was also in the bundle of fabric. 
 
This label told us that the quilt was a round robin project with six guild members from the Marshall-Putnam Quilters Guild in 1994-95.
 
Bernice felt that this quilt needed to go home and that she wanted my help in finding out what happened that it ended up in a second hand store.  I made a color copy of the label.  Silly me, I didn't take a picture of the quilt.  It was a square lap size quilt approximately 50" x 50".  The center block was a quarter of a Dresden plate.  In other words the Dresden plate was in the lower left hand corner of the block.  The colors in the quilt were primarily blues, yellows, white, cream and a soft brown floral border.  There was cream lace framing the center block and the outer edge of the Dresden plate.
 
Bernice took the quilt with her and I headed straight to my computer to try to unravel the mystery.  First, I searched for the name, Mary Magnuson, who made the center block.  I found that she passed away on January 27, 2013.  Next, I started searching for a website for the Marshall-Putnam Quilter's Guild, but they don't have a website.  I eventually found a name and phone number of the Program Director of the guild and called her.  A message was left and I waited hoping to hear back quickly.
I left Bernice a message about my findings and that I was waiting for a call back.
 
I didn't wait too long.  About 5:30 pm I received a call from the Program Director.  She listened to the story and said she knew the ladies on the list.  She would make a call to one of them and see if they were interested in having the quilt.  I explained that if they didn't want the quilt, Bernice would go ahead with quilting the top and finishing it.  Bernice really had a feeling that this quilt needed to go home.
 
The next day, Bernice received a call from a lady on the label and sure enough she was so excited about finding this quilt top.  She was a new quilter back when the Round Robin project was starting.  The ladies had asked her to join their group and she was apprehensive because she was a beginner but she participated.  She was excited to have the quilt, so Bernice packed the quilt up and mailed it off to this new owner.
 
So today's lessons or tips are:
1.  Label your quilts with as much identifying information as possible. 
a.  The above label helped me search the internet and get clues on how to reach someone who could help me find this quilt's next home.
b.  In Washington, IL tornado zone, they are finding quilts that aren't labeled and having trouble finding who they belong to.  Labels should give names, towns, etc. that would help clue people where to look for owners. 
c.  Labels also provide the history of the quilt and add value.  For example:  why it was made (t-shirt quilt, baby quilt, wedding quilt, etc.), the inspiration, the quiltmaker, the quilter, the town and states of those involved.
 
2.  Tell your family what you want done with your quilts when you pass away.  You may want to include a list in your will on how the quilts are to distributed.  If your family has enough quilts, maybe you could donate your quilts to an organization to be auctioned off for a good cause.
Most of us would not want our quilts ending up in a second hand store.
 
Its so  much fun that this story had a happy ending.  Have a terrific Tuesday!!
 
Today I am linking up with Connie at Freemotion by the River, Fabric Tuesday-A Quilt Story,
Kathy with an E.  (Today 2/9/14- I have added an additional link to Confessions of a Fabric Addict.)
 
Yours in quilting,
Terry
 
 

29 comments:

  1. Wow! that is quite the story! with a very happy ending! And thanks for all the recommendations on how we need to label our quilts. Such a good reminder!

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    1. Thanks, quilt sister. I appreciate your support!

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  2. Great story with a terrific ending!! I bet that lady was tickled pink to receive that quilt!

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    1. Yes, she was. I would love to see how she finishes it and have a picture of it.

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  3. Very cool story with a truly happy ending and great tips!

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  4. Awesome story! Thanks for sharing it with us! :-)

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    1. Thanks Bonnie! Thanks for stopping by and leaving me a comment.
      Thank you for all you share and give to us.

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  5. What a happy thing that someone labeled their quilt and that you could find the owner. I talk about that on my blog also. I also have my quilt provenances on the blog. We need to keep reminding people. I'm another Terri and saw your link on Show and Tell Tuesday.

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  6. What a happy thing that someone labeled their quilt and that you could find
    the owner. I talk about that on my blog also. I also have my quilt
    provenances on the blog. We need to keep reminding people. I'm another
    Terri and saw your link on Show and Tell Tuesday.

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    1. Thanks for following the link and leaving a comment. You made my day!

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  7. Very happy that there was a happy ending for this quilt. :-)

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  8. Thank you for sharing this heart warming story. I have tried to be diligent about labeling, but ths hit home about more details!

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  10. What a neat story! So glad the quilt went "home". How special that is!

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  11. Great story, thanks for sharing and the reminder to label quilts!

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  12. This is such a great reminder -- THANKS! I knew but didn't do! I made a king size sunflower quilt made for my dau-in-law, Cheryl. She loved it so very much. It was big so finding a wall for it to hang was hard! However, it was hung with love in their bedroom. She said it made her smile every morning when she opened her eyes! All was well until the huge tornado hit Joplin, MO, May 22, 2011! Their house was in the central path of the 1-mile wide tornado. Their home was totally scraped off the foundations. I was only visiting because of end of school year concerts! Their family of five, 2 dogs and I went to the basement bathroom to obey the sirens. We heard all of the house being pulled apart, glass breaking, and many other events that none of us expected! No furniture was found, all bathroom fixtures seemed to just vanish -- however God protected us in the basement! We were not injured. Our grandson had his bedroom in the basement and he was the only one who had any clothes to wear; we had only what we had on our backs and feet! The quilt was never found! I'm guessing that a label wouldn't have made any difference, except that since there was NOT a label, no one knew who to contact. I made several attempts to search locally and posted on "Lost Quilt Come Home" on FB. Several responded w/condolescences but no one seems to have found the quilt. I think I'll try again hoping that someone who knows quilts can see that this was a special quilt made for a special person and has cared for it. Who knows, someone on this site may know about this quilt. Please contact me at JJPARKER14@att.net -- I trust someone can honestly help me find it. I have lots of pictures so I can replicate the quilt but it's not the same!

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  13. I am in the process of teaching 3 ladies the art of quilting. Two of the ladies are the children of the third and the youngest of those has already finished her little, simple, 9-Patch quilt, and on the back, in her own hand, she has signed it, identified it, and has already used it. I have instructed all of them to label, no matter how awesome the quilt is, or how ordinary, so they can have a record of their work. The younger girl is already working on her #2 quilt and planning what she will write on that label. I am so glad I learned that labels are an absolute part of ANY quilt that leaves my hands. Am so happy to see this one returned to one of the makers.

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  14. What a great story. Read about it on Bonnie Hunter's blog. So glad you guys cared enough.
    linsquilts.blogspot.com

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  15. Great story and Thanks for the question I have always ask, What do I really need on the labels. I will share this story at our next quilt guild meeting,

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  16. I found your blog post from Bonnie's Quiltville post. What a great story, with a happy ending!

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  17. What a great story! I know that I am guilty of not putting enough info on my quilt labels, but mine are mostly made to use and abuse and not likely to last long. lol

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  18. What a story. I can relate because as a newer quilter I took part in a round robin too. We each started with a central block and sent it on. Each person in the 6 person group added a border. There were three Canadians and three from California who shared their level of expertise. My central block was made by a Hmong member of my quild and she didn't get to see what I had done with it. I agree - LABLE, LABLE, LABLE!!

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  19. I am so happy you took the time to do the research and make sure that the quilt was able to find a home. And happy that you blogged about it to remind all of us the importance of labels.

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  20. But...... did you find out how this quilt ended up out of the hands of the makers?? I'm really curious!!

    This is a great reminder, and I, too, am guilty of not always labeling my work.


    Thanks for sharing this wonderful story.
    Liz
    boltonia55@yahoo.com

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  21. ...how wonderful that the quilt top found its way home! I'm sure it will be treasured!

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  22. What a wonderful story with a happy ending and a great reason to sign your quilts! Thanks for sharing.
    Freemotion by the River Linky Party Tuesday

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  23. Wow. I always put who its for and that I made it but never thought of the town. I can't even label my pictures. LOL. Thanks for the story.

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  24. I am so glad the quilt made it home. We go to estate auctions and I often wonder how those wonderful heirlooms end up sold to strangers.

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