True Thrifted Treasure
It was one of those moments when I actually couldn't believe what I was seeing in the thrift store bin. A beautiful, large, ancient crazy quilt for Two. Dollars.
This has the most elaborate embroidery I have ever seen on a crazy quilt. And all the fabrics are genuine--very fine wools and heavy textured cottons. A moth-hole here and there, nothing I'm going to fix.
The back looks like thirties cotton print. It does have a few rips I may mend. But since I intend to let the quilt sit out on the couch looking drop-dead gorgeous, I may not bother.
Thrifter's high for sure.
44 comments:
Oh what a beautiful find! Could you please please post pictures of the whole thing? Oh and is there a spider on it? I seem to remember that they would embroider a spider on crazy quilts, though I can't quite recall why.
Oh man! How beautiful! What a find! :)
WOW!! That is so gorgeous.
Wow! How lovely! I poked my head into a thrift store in search of some vases today... they usually always have some, but today they didn't have any of the type I was looking for. I am glad you had more luck!
beautful---what a find!!!!
I don't suppose you're ever going to let drop the name and location of this magical thrift store of yours? I'm thinking I would likely add it to my intinerary for the next trip across to the U.S....
Can you say pay dirt!!?? WOW!
You have the best thrift store, ever!
What a treasure!! I love the colors, and the embroidery is so beautiful!!!
Wow! I love thrifting and yard sales in the summer. And tho' I have found some sweet treasures nothing compares to your quilt!
Oh.My. What a treasure! We have a similar quilt, stitched by my husband's great grandmother when she was pregnant with his grandmother.
The date? 1890.
And yes, Ruth, it has spiders embroidered on it.
so pretty! very nice work, and at a thrift store? Blessings in small places!
christina
I just have to say that I am SO jealous!
Absolutely stunning! And the colors... well, earth tones have always been my favorites!
The thrift store nearest to our home never has things like that. Maybe I need to hunt out a new one!
Wow - you are fortunate, indeed.
Beautiful!
Beautiful! What a great find.
That's amazing! What a treasure.
It is like nothing I have ever seen!
Couldn't reproduce it if I tried.
I feel your thrill.
Thrifting bliss.
{{* *}}
I'm with Ruth (1st comment) - could you please post a picture of the whole quilt plus I being one who loves interior decorating would love to see some photos of your home - like the quilt over the sofa in the room where it will now live. Thanks! Barbara
That is one great find!
Could you please share how you would launder such a thing?
What a beautiful find! I have a crazy quilt from my great-great grandmother; best I can figure out from the embroidery, friends of hers made it for her as a wedding gift (around 1890). It has several different sets of initials, and a couple of first names. It has lots of velvets and is backed with satin, and yes, it has a spider with a web. It's one of my dearest family treasures.
No kidding!!!!!
I follow your blog to see your thrifted treasures. :) Today I am envious....but not in a sinful way. :)
I love it and someday I want to do tons of embroidery on one of my own quilts just like that! You are making me want to go to the thrift store Anna! What a great find!!
gorgeous!!!
Why is it that "you Americans" always seem to find things like this at junk and thrift stores! Our part of the country (canada) is far too young... :-) What a beautiful quilt! I must say, it sounds like 'thrift heaven'!!
"Some quilters believed that embroidering a spider on its web would bring good luck to the quilter. " from http://www.womenfolk.com/quilting_history/crazy.htm
Anna-
Thanks for rescuing and appreciating all these lovingly crafted pieces.
WOW. More pictures, please!!!
How lovely of God to give you such a special gift, Anna. Joy!
Well Anna,
You certainly scored! I love crazy quilts :) I'm glad you found such a treasure :)
Sharon
I enjoy thrifting, but I have never come across a treasure even CLOSE to that. I must be visiting the wrong types of thrift stores.
Obviously our 2nd hand shops are more savvy or more greedy....$2 wouldn't make a dint in the asking price over here, even in an Op Shop.
It looks amazing. What a blessing!
Oh, this post made me sad! My sister brought a quilt my grandmother made me as a child to a football game as "groundcover"...and left it there! When she went back, she scouted everywhere for it and couldn't find it. It took her over 5 years to finally tell me the truth, and she still feels awful about it to this day! I just hope my quilt ended up in good hands as this one did! Have a blessed day, Anna!
In Christ,
Dawn
Yes, you won the thrifting jackpot today! (And as a crazy quilter myself, I must say I'm impressed with the handwork on your piece! Congrats!)
Doesn't it just make you yearn for the story? I would always wonder what was going on in the life of the person as she
stitched.
That is the most beautiful crazy quilt I have ever seen! I want to go to your thrift store. You seem to fine the most amazing things! Bless you!
Kristen
What a beautiful find!
Absolutely beautiful. I love finding unexpected treasures like that.
Quilt Restorer's Tip: If you stitch a little bit of tulle (like from a bridal veil) over the moth holes and rips in a quilt, that will stabalize the fabric and keep it in good shape longer without being intrusive to the original work.
It sure is beautiful. My mom used to make them. I too hope that you could show more pictures, maybe the whole thing.....and maybe you could get to the bottom of 'the spider on crazy quilt' tradition and what it's all about. From a fellow blogger and fellow homeschool mom, I check in here now and then and enjoy your fine taste and your style of expression. thanks for being here.
~Jean
What a find!My heart aches a little for the maker of this quilt.It's a shame someone thought $2.00 was all her fine work was worth
STUNNING!
Such a delightful find! As a crazy quilter myself, I can really appreciate the beauty of this and have loved seeing the wonderful stitches on it. I've been back several times to look at the stitches, most of which appear to be unusal variation on the feather and fly stitch. Like others, I would love to see more of it!
Your blog is a continued delight to me and has become one of my daily "must reads". Thank you for all you do and share with us. I pray God's continued blessing on each member of your family!
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