Wednesday, November 5, 2014

A Thrift Shop Find…

Is it a treasure… or did they see me coming?

I found these hand stitched blocks in a Ziploc bag at a Thrift Shop…the bag was stapled shut and the price was $5.00.  I could tell that there were several blocks inside and thought what the heck…$5…the price of a Mocha Frappuccino Light! Go for it!

This is what I found inside…16 blocks…They look gorgeous from a distance…

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But up close…

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…not so much!  The workmanship isn’t great…see the points..ugh!  Will they even withstand a washing?

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So what to do with them?  Should I bother to sew the blocks together and then quilt the heck out of them in the hopes of holding them together?  Or should I call it a day and put them out of their misery?  They are all hand stitched…someone put a lot of time and effort into them…and they do look pretty from a distance….

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What would you do? 

I think I should have had that Mocha Frappuccino Light….

Thanks for dropping by…I hope you have a wickedly wild Wednesday and Happy Stitching!~P

33 comments:

  1. I would put them together and quilt them. Someone put a lot of work into them and who knows , you may love it once it is done. Or you donate it to a nursing home or shelter. The quilt police won't come and burn your house down over the points! LOL!

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  2. For me I would have the coffee! ;-) But, for you since you have a quilting machine, you could finish it and give it to a charity. Keep us posted on your decision.

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  3. Machine button hole stitch around them! Or try a decorative stitch on your machine. Think: In memory of a quilter!

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  4. you could run fray check along those points. I would imagine the fray check plus quilting would hold it together.

    You could always use them for other projects that won't be washed as often, like Christmas stockings

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  5. You know i'm not a quilter, but it's going to be a cold winter for a lot of homeless people. If I did sew, I'd do the best I could to put it together and then donate it to a charity that gives to those in need. Then go get your self a frap :)

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  6. I would frame each one, include a note telling how the unknown quilter put so much time and effort into the block and give them as gifts at my guild meeting or for my quilty friends. What better way to remind us of the hard work and countless hours of effort someone put into making the blocks even if they're not perfect. Also a good way to remind us that every quilter starts out making blocks that aren't perfect but with enough practice our seams are straight, points match and only we can spot the imperfections.

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  7. Put them back in the bag and donate them back to the thrift store. :)))

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  8. I'd have paid the $5 and ran as fast as I could before they figured out they were worth more.

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  9. Lol - I'm with Karen - they're beautiful. I'd have gladly paid $5 for them! Plus postage if you decide that you don't want them ;)

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  10. Well, that looks like my hand applique...wonder what happened to the original owner. Did she die? Did she throw it out? Did her kids give it away because she went into a rest home? I can just imagine some old, old lady who has trouble seeing and arthritis in her hands working on those blocks. Makes me want to cry....guess I relate. Wonder what will happen to all my ufo's...? Yikes, I'm going to go finish something right now....

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  11. I had a similar situation. I quilted the heck out of them and made it into a shower curtain out of it. I love it.

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  12. The thrift store's here on Long Island never have anything as nice as that. I'd put them together and like you said "quilt the hell out of them". WOW! Great find, good luck what ever you decide to do. ;-> Toni Anne

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  13. I would sash them together and quilt them Paulette.

    Then I would display it over a rack or hanger folded to showcase the best blocks.

    Enjoy the spirit of the quilter.

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  14. All is not lost! These are very nice blocks and with some extra stitches to stabilize those points, it can be just fine and useful. A good hand stitch project for this winter?

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  15. I am sure you will be able to make them into a very nice quilt, then you can either keep it or donate it to a worthwhile charity

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  16. Sure would be nice to know the story behind them. I am with everyone else who said to finish them and donate them to a charity. I recently took a class on this Swoon block and was quite frustrated trying to put it together using stripes. My second, no stripes, was much easier. Looking forward to seeing what you do with them.

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  17. Finish the quilt and donate, you will feel as warm inside as the grateful soul who receives your giift .

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  18. If you don't want them, send them to Bonnie Hunter @ Quiltville. She loves blocks and quilts that aren't perfect.

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  19. Sash them and YES! Quilt around the pieces and Keep it. Lovely Castle Wall Blocks

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  20. They lnearly look like SWOON blocks! You scored! No matter the workmanship you have awesome possibilities for these blocks! Frame your favorite one! Hold on to them and scour Pinterest for ideas! Also, if you do quilt them...you'll love the look way better!

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  21. I like the idea of fixing the points if you need to, really beautiful blocks and a lot of work in them. If you make it into a quilt, then tea stain it, it will look like an antique quilt;)

    Debbie

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  22. Well, like Pam, I would be happy to pay postage for those blocks! I love the colours and the design.

    I think I would open up the stitches to repair the points. You could round them off so there would be enough fabric for the seam allowance. Maybe a good travelling project? Have fun!

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  23. Someone did her best, quilt it up and if you still don't care for it, donate it to a nursing home, women's shelter, etc. I think you got the find of the century! ;-)

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  24. Personally I would rather spend my time working on my own quilts. I don't have enough time or energy to expend on fixing someone else's imperfections. Maybe that makes me a quilting snob but I really prefer my own fabrics, designs, and even mistakes over another quilter's.

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  25. Whew! Finally home so I can add my two cents worth! These blocks are so sweet and they do look very similar to the Swoon blocks that everyone has be gaga over for the past couple of years! I agree with all above who say do what you can with buttonhole stitch or even a fun sampling of decorative crazy quilt stitches or do it by machine! Who of us hasn't had to come up with a way to cover up a boo-boo?!?! Then unite them all with a fun sashing, maybe even on point...quilt it and love it. Drape it over an old wood rocker or a babies high chair...or use it to upholster something fun! Whatever you decide to do, you rescued them and you've given me the nudge I need to take another look at that bag full of my Grandmothers blocks that nobody else wanted...Those blocks that a little 12 year old girl latched onto when the aunts were going through Grandmas things. Hmm... Grandmas old wicker bench needs a new seat...

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  26. I just have to add that the comment from Crickets Corner is so thoughtful, sweet and endearing. She has a good heart.

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  27. What a fun find! I'm sure once sewn together and quilted well, it would make a beautiful quilt for someone to love. Someone did put in a lot of time, even if the effort wasn't perfect, the blocks deserve to have a home.

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  28. Your find was a good rescue of somebody's work. If you have the time, I'd go ahead and finish it and see what you think then. Somebody would like it. Then go and have a treat.

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  29. Either quilt the heck out of it and then keep it yourself or donate it, or make placemats or something like that from each block with a label on the back about how they're handmade and you couldn't just throw them out, and give them to other quilters as gifts cos they will understand the imperfections.

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  30. From here...Virginia that is...looks like you could loosen up those points refold stitch down again. Yes some hand work or maybe use machine and stitch around the design. May change up the design a bit but so what! Course you could also pass on as a gift to one of your super quilt gal pals at the Sands this winter...;-)
    Hugs,
    Lola

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  31. We all have so many projects we WANT to do, I wouldn't waste my time on them. Unless you want to practice some machine quilting skills, then I'd machine sew around the tips (small zig zag) quilt it, donate it, never to be seen again.......

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  32. They sure do look pretty. Can you take them apart and resew them? I think I would sew them together and love the quilt.

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  33. Well I would fix them....find some way to fasten those points down. I really do love rescuing old quilts! I have some here that need some TLC, and I think this is the winter for it.

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