Friday, August 10, 2012

Goodwill Rescue


The other day I was driving, and had the strong feeling that there was something special at Goodwill.  This feeling is not uncommon for me, but often it's just a bluff.   I'd imagined some lovely old bark cloth curtain panels, just waiting for my rescue.  I started looking in the curtain aisle.  Nothing there.  





I was about to leave when, just behind me, an employee rolled in a rack of bedspreads.  I turned around and there was this quilt!





It's about 80 x 80 inches.  





Made mostly of lightweight wools and a few silky fabrics.





Hand sewn, hand embroidered, hand tied.




I just love that patchy spot near the circle.  




And the pieced and crinkled back.  

Want to know what I paid for it?  $24.95!

Does anybody know when this might have been made?






And look what showed up in my mailbox today!  I joined the Quilt Alliance, thanks to Victoria's urging last week.  I must say, these are VERY NICE people.  They sent this pack of Tula Pink Prince Charming fat quarters and a hand-written note!  Amy Milne, the Executive Director, says I can call her anytime.  Geez!  I've never been treated so well by an organization.  If you haven't become a member yet, click here for Victoria's post and click from there.  Super easy.  I only wish I'd joined years ago!

44 comments:

Laura said...

That is a fabulous find! I love that it called to you (you just thought it was curtains-silly).

Anonymous said...

If I had to guess, maybe 60's or 70's. It's a bit hard to date because I am not seeing it in person. The colors look early 70's, are the fabrics all cotton? It is a fabulous find, congratulations!
-Laura
love2quilt@gmail.com

Chris said...

Fate? Divine intervention? Magnum P.I. used to call it his "little voice", whatever it was, aren't you glad you listened to it?! Lovely!

smazoochie said...

What an amazing find! I'm so glad your heard it calling & will give it a loving home. It makes me think of one from the Kentucky quilt project.
I've been seeing the Quilt Alliance recently, what do they do? (besides being very nice to new members)

Vicki W said...

I haver NEVER seen such a treasure at a Goodwill store!

Sujata Shah said...

LeeAnn,
I am so glad that quilt found such a good home! I get teary when I read about a quilt so well made, some one's hand work ending up at a Goodwill shop! Glad you were feeling it. It is beautiful!
I will check out Victoria's post. Thanks for mentioning it.

O'Quilts said...

Wow...u got very lucky...it was meant to be for you.

Scarlett Burroughs said...

So good you found each other! Great find, and rare, if not NEVER like Vicki said.

Elaine M said...

Lucky you. Thanks for sharing with us. Almost seems like someone at a suit factory made it. Looks like you can see the batting, maybe that can give you a clue about age.

Julie Fukuda said...

How lucky for that quilt that it was rescued by you! I hope someone can help you put a bit of history to it.

Paulette said...

That is amazing! I am happy it found its way to you!

heartsofhampshire said...

Fantastic find! I would say it is pretty old vy the style and the composition but the person to ask is http://debrowden.blogspot.co.uk/ - deb rowden collects and talks about thrift store quilts and is quite an expert, I follow her blog.it would be worth trying to find out about it!
Heather x

Kathy said...

Goodwill hunting was good and timely, too, as this quilt was just being put on display. Thanks for showing it!

Rachaeldaisy said...

You are the perfect caretaker of this treasure of a quilt!! It's absolutely stunning!!

paulette said...

SCORE!! It was meant to be!! Thanks for sharing!
P

Nancy said...

Great find! And I'll check out the Alliance. Thanks for the tip.

Tonya Ricucci said...

woohoo, fabulous quilt! that is an incredible find, congrats!

Sandi said...

You lucky, lucky girl. Beautiful. There is just something about finding something old and handmade and knowing there is a story behind it. So sad we can't know the story.

Marie said...

Good thing you listened to your instincts! This is wonderful,

Victoria Findlay Wolfe said...

Great find!! So glad you are a member of the Alliance, Saving those stories is very important!! We all love a good quilt story!

Nat Palaskas said...

I'm glad you found it. I just read about it on Quilts-Vintage and Antique. What a great find. It inspires me to make a quilt! Thanks for sharing - Hugs Nat

Ruth said...

What a deal! The quilt reminds me of a log cabin quilt that I saw at the Texas Civil War Museum last week that had the same stitching along each piece. It was made in the 1840s. I don't know much about dating quilts, but yours looks like it could be at least from the civil war era.

Janet said...

It was mant to be yours, it's a real find!

liniecat said...

Incredible! Yup.....Fate!

YankeeQuilter said...

My first reaction was circa 1910...hard to say without seeing it in person. Great quilt though! Glad it has a good home!

beth said...

wow! That quilt is MORE than amazing! YOu were in the RIGHT place and RIGHT time! Or.....You have "quilt radar"!!!

Sharon said...

Wow, you have incredible timing! And thank goodness you listened to that little voice in your head, huh? What a super find!

This quilt reminds me of a comforter I have that my Grandmother made, which would be sometime after the turn of the 20th century until approx. the 1940's. Mine is also made with lightweight wools and some silky fabrics and has the same sort of stitching on the seams and the same sort of ties on it. How interesting!

pratima said...

What a beautiful find! Looks stunning!

Sharon said...

What a neat old quilt you found at goodwill. The primitive patchwork is fab.

Ada Plouvier-Kopitopoulou said...

Beautiful quilt. I love old quilts. I use shirts, skirts, whatever in my patchwork. Vintage material which I find in old shops here in Greece.

The rocking horse lady said...

I was at a car show in Burr Oak, Michigan, years ago. Went for a walk down the main street and find a used merchandise store. Stopped in, looked over everything. Spotted a plastic bag with maybe 24 or 25 blocks of hand embroidered cardinals in a wreath of leaves. The owner said "mother did them and I don't sew. You can have them" I have used them to make 3 different lap quilts. Just passed the last 4 or 5 to nice lady at my garage sale. Hope she can find a good use for them, too.

Alice said...

You were born under a lucky star, weren't you:)

I'll look through my quilt books as that centre sun/carwheel looks familiar.

Wow! Is all I can say.

Clare said...

Talk about being in the right place at the right time! What a find!

Ann Champion said...

I've heard that little voice in my head before too. I'm so glad you listened and checked it out. The quilt is gorgeous. I'm so glad it went to a good home. :)

Theodora quilts said...

Hello Leeann No I didn't fall of the earth I had been very busy with my mom helping her adjust and some home repairs, I haven't had any free time to blog,but as you can see I have started pinning just a few minutes of my free time I miss my free time to quilt so much , I love your lovely find and your feeling came true on your way to the goodwill ,as they say it was waiting just for you it was meant for you to go there that particular time, I also like the fabrics you got in the mail made it a very special day for you take care. xoxo theodora

Quilteuse Forever said...

This quilt is so typically "you", it had to be adopted only by you!
Great found!
Katell

Victoria said...

Wow-wee! You hit pay dirt with that BEAUTY!! Good for you! Hard to say the age...my guess is anywhere from mid to late 1800's up to the 1930's. Oh, don't you wish it could talk! What stories it could tell!

MulticoloredPieces said...

What a find! Great intuition. Now have you had any déjà vu as well? Will you be predicting the future soon?
best, nadia

meli B said...

Total find! Good sniffing!

Unknown said...

Egads!! I can't believe that you found that at Goodwill... what timing and what a quilt!

Michele McLaughlin said...

Looks like turn of the century to me. I would think about 1900=1920. It is a stunner! Always listen to that little voice!
:)
Mickie

cinzia said...

i little piece of history rescued!

sallgood said...

Incredible find!!! I love it. And I loved the show at BAM too. Must go back this week- this time, without my four grandkids. They did really well, but I had to skip reading most of the info about the quilts.
And I Love your inspiration piecing too. :D

fiberchick said...

Unbelievable!!! I hope you bought a lottery ticket on the same day...