Sunday, March 7, 2010

A quilt every few days or so #2

This quilt is the same pattern as Aunt Mary's Rose - but done in Christmas colors . . .


I liked making the other quilt so much, that I decided I wanted another - and a quilt to put on the bed at Christmas time was the perfect idea. I started working on this quilt in Southern California - after I finished the pink one (which didn't get quilted for several years).

I had run out of fabric for the inner red, print pieces - only needed a little bit more but of course I had gotten the fabric some time before and couldn't find it anymore. We had company visiting from Panama and we went to Thrifty Drug Store and there in the back of the store was a sundress of the same fabric. The same!!!! I grabbed it up and as we were checking out, our friend from Panama started to barter with the clerk - she said, "I'll give you 4.00 for that sundress".



I was amused, because our friend didn't realize we didn't barter at the stores here, and it was drawing some attention. The clerk really didn't know what to do - but I told her that I was happy with the price - I just wanted that sundress. I was able to finish up the quilt top and when I tell the story now, everyone tries to find the pieces of the sundress, since they are a tad different shade, but over the years you can't tell the difference.

I was quilting this top one day in SoCal when we got the news that the papers were ready to sign on our new house. I stuck the needle in the quilt, went to sign the papers and never did get back to quilting it after we moved. Then about 5 years later we moved to N. CA and one day I took out the quilt - the needle was still threaded and in the fabric, and amazingly enough, not rusted. So I finished it up and that winter it went on our bed on Thanksgiving night.

This quilt goes on our bed on Thanksgiving night and stays until New Years eve - when I change it for a different winter quilt. It is one of my favorites - because of the story, because of the colors and because it is just a nice friendly quilt.

Do you have holiday quilts for your bed?

10 comments:

Julie said...

Another gorgeous quilt! I love the stories that go along with your quilts. How interesting about the sundress and your friend! I do have holiday quilts for my bed, my goal is to have them for all the beds!

LINDA BYLSMA said...

I can just see your friend trying to haggle with the clerk for the sundress. What a kick.
My goal is to one day have ONE bed sized quilt.

Pat said...

Cute story about your friend trying to bargain with the store clerk! SOMEDAY I'd like to have holiday quilts, but I don't have any yet....in fact, I don't have even ONE bed-sized quilt yet. LOL

Barb said...

What a lovely quilt, I can see why it is one of your favorites....and the story to go with it...

Sharon T in Napa said...

I just love those surprises of finding unexpected treasure!
I do have some holiday quilts, but they are not big enough for my king sized bed. But I do find other places to use them.

Lili said...

That is so amazing that you found the same fabric in a sundress. I love reading your stories. You don't just make quilts you weave in the best memories of them too! I bought a starter mini quilt set at JoAn Fabrics 50% off a while back. I plan to try my hand at a mini project some time, but right now, I'm just enjoying looking over all your masterpieces. ~Lili

Lila Rostenberg said...

Iam just overwhelmed with all the quilts you are showing! And I have made many quilts myself! LOL!

Teresa said...

A pretty quilt with a fun story. You were sure fortunate to find that dress!

Sunny said...

What a neat story about the "sundress" quilt. I love it when stuff like this happens!

Crispy said...

Beautiful quilt Jo. It's amazing how different the quilts look with just different fabrics. That's pretty wild that you found a sundress with the same fabric LOL.

Crispy