Returned Quilt -- What to do with it??

Oh, that's hard on you all. Have a sympathetic ((((((HUG)))))).

I think saving the quilt for the granddaughter is an excellent idea, but I can't offer any help for the storage or display in the meantime.

Keeping for personal viewing/fondling/remembering is the best thing you can do for now. It will be loved, cared for, and it has a future with your DGD.

Karen, Queen of Squishies

I know this may sound a bit difficult for some here. However I went through a similar situation with a friend. She had me make her two identical quilts for her mother who was in a nursing home... they were patterns that her mother adored. Knowing her mother, it would have been next to impossible to have her give it up to take home to be washed, there for she had the two made so mom wouldn't notice the quilt being taken home. My friend was, like you, not overly fond of the choices her mother loved either. Mom lived what remained of her live in the nursing home. The quilts were tenderly kept in good condition. My friend then used the quilts to drape over her casket when she died instead of flowers. She knew how important the quilts were to her mom. Afterwards the quilts were given to each sister (my friend and her sister) and have been passed down for the next generation. Like you they required some safe keeping until the younger generation would understand the value of these precious gifts. But it has been well worth it according to my friend. The next generation knows just how much their grandmother loved them and even cherished them into her death. Now they have this very precious memory of their DGM.

juliasb

Tia Mary-remove nekoluvr to reply wrote:

if you really can't stand to have it around, what about donating it to a charity to auction or raffle off. Maybe one related to your MIL's condition? Otherwise, I think hanging onto it for your daughter is a good idea.

This is just a thought. Sometimes fabrics look different if they aren't laid out flat. I know, I know, blasphemy of not seeing the whole quilt hung out wide, but if you use it in more of a throw fashion on a chair, you'll still see the memories, and not so much of the fabric pieces that drive you nuts. Then you can keep it out and still save it for your DGD....

-- Dannielle from NY

their

Drag it to the regular fabric store next time you go, and see what it might look like through a purplish organza or georgette. Might be enough to tone it to your decor. You could either slipstitch the sheer overlay to the top, or make a "pillowcase", and perhaps tie through it.

their

it would be like snuggling up with grandma herself.

Oh, that's a beautiful sentiment!

kaila

Did the nursing home say she couldn't have it there? The nursing home my mother is currently in allows quilts and afghans, pictures on the wall, anything to brighten things up and make it feel a little more familiar to the patients. If it's not huge, the nursing home may let you hang it on the wall beside her bed as a wallhanging. Just another suggestion. Karen O

On 05 Aug 2003 04:06:56 GMT, in rec.crafts.textiles.quilting,

Yep -- when the nephew transfered Ma from her previous care facility he took the quilt. DMIL *wanted* that quilt with her. She is allowed to have photos and her teddy bears but the nephew was told not to leave the quilt. The beds do have quilts on them -- very colorfyl, scrappy ones too. In one of her more lucid moments, DMIL asked about her quilt and I told her it was safe and not to worry about it. I am sure that part of the problem is that she is in & out of the "here and now" and probably wouldn't be aware enough to keep track of the quilt. VBS -- makes me feel really sad -- think I will go hug that quilt a bit, even if it is all pink and flowery :-)). CiaoMeow >^;;^< . PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their WHISKERS!! Nothing is complete without a few cat hairs!

Could you make a replica of the quilt to give her? Maybe she wouldn't remember the quilt exactly and that would make her happy and if it goes missing, you still have her original one.

I'd ask what's so special about their quilts that they don't go missing? Is it something you could incorporate?

Is there any fabric left over somewhere? Maybe she could have a pieced pillow instead?

okay I'm thunked out now. :) Elena in Tx.

their

OOOO -- what a GRAND idea :-))). Yes, I have fabic leftover but I am not sure about a pillow. The facility she is in is for what I believe is called "third stage" care. All of the residents that I saw were in wheelchairs and not at all capable of caring for themselves. Makes you wonder just *why* the staff is worried about a quilt going missing doesn't it?!?!? What I just might do is to fancy up a sweatshirt for her with the fabric! She absolutely *loves* sweatshirts and clothing doesn't go missing the way other things do! Never even thought of making something else for her with the leftover fabrics. thanks so much for the suggestion. CiaoMeow >^;;^< .

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their WHISKERS!! Nothing is complete without a few cat hairs!

Mary: If your MIL uses wheelchair or walker, you could make her a tote that attaches to handle, to store tissues, eyeglasses and such. Use the 'special' fabric. PAT

Hullo Tia Mary Two ideas combined into one here. Following on from what Elena and you said in these last two posts. Not sure what you'll think about it, but here goes: You have some of the fabric left over, so perhaps you could make a miniature replica, or parts of the original quilt. Then if you want to pretty up a sweatshirt, appliqué those mini replicas onto the sweatshirt. She (or the nurses) might find it hard to use a garment which goes over her head, so what about cutting the sweatshirt up the middle, binding it and putting in an open-ended zipper? The mini replicas (or pieces) could then be put on the two fronts of the sweatshirt.? (I have done this to a sweatshirt many times. If you cut it only just before you put the binding on, it doesn't fray or distort.) . In article , Tia Mary-remove nekoluvr to reply writes

AHHH -- GMTA :-))). This is exactly what I was thinking of doing!!! I have made several sweatshirt "jackets" just like this for my VDMIL over the 30 years of my marriage. She still has the last one I made her about 8 years ago -- LOL! The original quilt is made of log cabin blocks. I can see them set on point around the "jacket" just below the armpit. Add some 1/2 blocks for pockets and I think it will be just perfect. I'll probably add a nice fabric collar and take off the lower band too. Since she stays indoors she might not need the zipper so I can either trim the front with some of the fabric or use the banding from the bottom. OOO -- starting to get a smile on m'face just thinking about her reaction when she gets it :-)))! CiaoMeow >^;;^< . PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their WHISKERS!! Nothing is complete without a few cat hairs!

I know what you mean about feeling really sad. My mom had a massive stroke in March. They tried rehabilitation, but it didn't help. She is completely helpless- can't even sit up, has a permanent feeding tube and is paralysed (sp?) on her left side. We tried taking care of her at home, but every time she came home she would get sicker. Now she is in a nursing home, and I guess we just have to adjust to the fact that is how it's going to be from now on. sigh........

I am making her a stained glass quilted wall hanging. Its a hummingbird and some petunias. I adapted the pattern from a stain glass book my DH has. I hope she likes it. Karen

Maybe the others thought it was his guard dog. LOL