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Charity Shop Quilts - What would you do?

I found 2 wall hangings this morning in a charity shop for silly prices

- one £2.50 ($3.80) and a smaller one for £1.95 ($3.00). I couldn't bear to leave them there 'abandonned'(!). They are in my Webshots album in Charity Quilts.

The larger one just needs the sleeve re-attching and a bit of the binding stitching down, and I think that where the sky suddenly changed in the bottom right corner I will applique a Makower lighthouse I have over that bit because the very white cloud which joins with a straight line really jumps out at me. I do like the border fabric.

The smaller one is fine except for the sleeve which again has come undone. However the Mariner's Compass is a bit of a disaster. At first I was just going to take that little square out and try to find the points, but now I am wondering whether to redo that square altogether. Some of the points that are there are fraying at the tip. The compass isn't quilted at all apart from the surround of the square so easy to remove. I do have about 1/2 a yard of the sky fabric in my stash so can blend the replacement in. The Compass really is over-dominating with the multi coloured fabric groing from red to spodgy brown to green; It looks a bit as though someone has spilt ink on it. The colouring of the plants at the bottom of the quilt is so much more subtle.

I'm drawing one out in EQ to see what its like.

What would you do?

Reply to
Sally Swindells
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Sally, I think you're terrific to be fixing these up and donating them! :)

I agree with you -- the other blocks look good, but that one sky bit is a real eye-catcher (not in a good way ).

Again, I think you're right. If you don't want to put "only" sky fabric in, what about a sun made of a very simple compass or other star-like block?

Good luck with these! :)

Reply to
Sandy

Thanks Sandy. I've drawn out a 'normal' Mariner's Compass (round) I think I will try it in soft yellow/yellowy creams and applique it onto the sky background. Somehow the red and greensquare one seemed very spikey - reminded me of little green men coming from the Red planet! At only 4" I can afford to play so will probably do a square one too as I know that will be easier to fix into the sky.

I keep wondering what their history is as they are so new - no label. The lady in the shop had no idea as donations go to a central sorting depot first.

Sally at the Seaside~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~uk

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Sandy wrote:

Reply to
Sally Swindells

Sally, what a great find! I'm not sure how to solve the design dilemma, though.

When we were in England this past spring I went to many charity shops. They are wonderful!!

Nann

Reply to
Nann

Without reading the other replies... First, would you be willing to undo the quilting and take them apart completely? I would ditch the compass. It's a nice idea, but as you say, too dominant. Looks like the aliens landed out at sea and are waiting for one of the boats to tow them ashore. If there has to be a compass up there in the sky, then it should be lots more subtle. Second, I would find a way to combine the 4 boats from the other piece and make one larger quilt. Their sashing is too busy, they need some help. Good way to incorporate your lighthouse, if you put everything into one. Maybe make 4 nice pointy compasses for the corners. Or use the 4 boats for the corners of a re-worked hanging. Or something.

Roberta >I found 2 wall hangings this morning in a charity shop for silly prices

Reply to
Roberta

I think Roberta in D has a good idea. I agree, the borders on the boats are way too busy for that small of a quilt. Even tho it looks as tho they were going for a "theme" quilt.

what about a small star instead of the larger, bolder one? and use the lighthouse quilt as a medalion center with the larger boats circling?

or just fix them up and raffle them off at a local church for charity.

amy in CNY

Reply to
amy in CNY

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