Holding onto the Past

It’s inevitable that as we move through life, we acquire more and more things—those we’ve picked up “for a steal” and others gifted to us. Each item marking our way through the different stages of our lives, serving as reminders of special events and memories of those we cherish. And if we’re really lucky, we have an item or two that have been passed down through the generations. These may include quilts that journeyed along the Oregon Trail with a great-great-grandmother, a christening gown worn by each new member of a family, or a baby blanket that protected your child on their numerous adventures.

As caretakers of these items, we want to continue enjoying and even using them if possible. These items should continue to be part of our lives and not tucked away safely in a box.

So what does that look like?

For quilts, it depends. A vintage quilt (typically from the 1930s - 1960s) can continue to be used on beds as blankets or an end-of-the-bed runner depending upon its condition. If the binding is worn or missing, or there are blocks that are tearing at the seams, these can be repaired, adding years to its life.

For an antique quilt (more than 100 years old), enjoying them becomes more about adding them to a room whether as a wall hanging (under glass or not!) or in a place of honor on a quilt rack. It’s a way of keeping past generations close to us…providing a gentle reminder of the women who came before us.

For baby blankets, it can be a complete restoration so your baby’s baby can use it or it can be a repair and restoration so the adult that baby grew into can reach out to it when needed. It can also gain new life as the centerpiece of a shadow box—similar to what I did with my wedding veil and my mother’s wedding veil.

The takeaway is that there are so many ways to continue to enjoy these keepsakes. The only real limitation is our imagination.

Antique Crazy Quilts as far as the eye can see!

Search ‘antique crazy quilts’ and you’ll find so many examples of how remnant fabrics and embellishments were used to create one-of-a-kind blankets or bedspreads.