Save the Quilts (whales are on their own...)

Recently when my mom and dad came to visit we spent an afternoon "bummin' " (as mom calls it) around some antique stores. I have been very good about not acquiring any more "junk" (as everyone in my family calls it) since I did the giant giveaway of everything that won't fit in my tragically small house.

In fact, I think I have only bought one antique since then and it was on a trip with my mom and dad. It was a really good thing however and I had to have it as you can see!

Obviously I need to stay away from them because while we were bummin', I saw a lot of things that I wanted to buy but I was very good and didn't buy any of them except for this one quilt. I don't know why I couldn't pass it up. I passed up so many other wonderful and beautiful things. Maybe it was that the backing was an old flannel blanket that reminded me of the blankets that used to be on the twin beds in the American Fork house (see previous post). Maybe it was because there were some incredibly cool fabrics in it and also some incredibly ugly ones. Maybe it was because it was so dirty and falling apart that I just wanted to wash its face and wipe its runny nose.

For whatever reason, I took it home. Gary was appalled by how dirty it was and told me I couldn't sit on the bed to work on it because he didn't want to get cooties. He was certain I would get lock jaw or some dreadful disease from it. And I may have if I hadn't found the giant rusty open safety pin that was sewn inside it before I stepped on it. But, I sewed up all the holes and even made him help me inspect it to make sure I got all of them. Then I put it in the tub to wash it.

OK, the first wash cycle was absolutely disgusting! The water was the color of "brown juice" (a family color produced when you mix all the leftover juice/kool-aid drinks together in one pitcher in the fridge). There was actual dirt residue left on the bottom of the tub. The second wash cycle was definitely better but still very colored with a little less residue.The third cycle was much better and the two rinses were almost clear. Of course it has many stains but it has definitely been given a new life and you could actually use it without fear of disease. Even Gary agreed that it didn't smell too much anymore. So I guess it has found a home in my stack of old quilts. Please just keep me from bringing home any more strays!