by camylow 04 Aug 2009

she has a list of things of things she wants done before her time...One was a formal family dinner with just the kids and their spouses....It was a lovely dinner, we had elegant table clothes, candle aubras, beads gracing the tables, and her fine china....after dinner was the time to tell us all the situation at hand...She wants to go throu everything and get things to the wrightful owners, garage sales for others and let us choose things before the garage sale.....Mind you this woman does not throw anything away....She just gave me the baby blanket she brought my hubby home in...Its 52+ years old and coming apart...well to make the story shorter, because I am the CRAFT one supposedly, guess what is coming my way....you guessed it every straight pin, piece of scrap lace, button from clothes past.

Things started and never finished....What am I going to do with all this stuff....There are quilt squares hand embroidererd with the most gawsh awful material around them...The sisters told me she wants me to make something out of them before she goes...They were done up from their oldest sister which past away 1 1/2 years ago....I am hoping if I post those blocks, you guys will be able to help me out...I am at a total lost on these....I cannot combine them to make one quilt because there is JUST NO WAY to make it look good....I hope my FRIENDS here will be so kind to pass on there knowledge and eye on these...please keep an eye out and give me the best way to go about this deed that was bestowed upon me...

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by mops Moderator 05 Aug 2009

Oh dear, I see your problem is far bigger than the 5 blocks you showed. Seems to me Jerrilyn came up with a great suggestion. How are you going to fit this in with everything that's going on already?!

1 comment
camylow by camylow 05 Aug 2009

that my dear is something that when it comes to deadlines, I am a procrastinator and am very stubborn...I WILL get things done when needs be....(as long as she doesn't give me more) Thursday is my day to go over and spend going through things with her....MIL dabbled in everything that ever came out...she has just about everything imaginal...

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by shirlener88 04 Aug 2009

Oh dear one - I went through something like this - without all the help - I had all my Mother's things - no one to assist - to take things - there wasn't a bit of help - but I made a decision - that I had to help another with some of this - so I passed alot of things - that I really wanted - that I could maybe have used - on to the good will - we made alot of people happy - I know it. I know you will not be doing this - but I had to share my history of seven months ago - Hehehe!

2 comments
camylow by camylow 05 Aug 2009

well I am sorry you didn't have help...All my SIL are falling apart and each has a problem (car wreck, hip replacement needed, heart problem, shoulder-back problem, then the other is so high on her horse, she wouldn't stoop to help out...The last one is so bossy and tries to take control...Don't get me wrong they are good people, just not going to be much help....MIL has empty boxes of Kellog's corn flakes sitting on her shelf...they are the original first cereal box they made...OOOh I wonder if they would buy those back...Probably no one else has one around...She has absolutely almost everything you could ever dream of...not kidding either...yes the senior citizens center is going to get alot of material to do the cancer quilts the auction off...things are going to different places.......you know it is sad to see things have to be cleaned out knowing you spent many years collecting it all...BUT you cannot take it with you and nobody is willing to save things any more....

gerryb by gerryb 05 Aug 2009

You may have been joking about the corn flake boxes, BUT they may have some value if they really are the original boxes! I'd sure check it out before I threw them out!! MIL may just have a fortune in vintage (old) stuff in her house!! You can sell stuff like that on ebay, if you want to mess with it.

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by jacquipaul 04 Aug 2009

If you want a portable way to lay out the squares, put them on the flannel side of a plastic table cloth. They will sort of 'stick' to the flannel but the table cloth can be folded up with the blocks inside so it's not out constantly.
Remember that a flower garden has many, many, colors, but still looks lovely. Even garish colors look good to someones eyes.
Good luck with this project. Sounds like you are a good daughter in law.
Jacqueline

1 comment
camylow by camylow 05 Aug 2009

ooohhh thanks for that little tip....what a great suggestion, especially when my hubby comes home too early (hehehe)

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by jrob Moderator 04 Aug 2009

I will try and help you. Here is something that I have found. Purchase a peephole viewer- (they are only $2-3) Lay the squares out on the floor and look through the viewer. You get a big picture and not the startling effects of such a large project. Start moving pieces around until they are pleasing to your eye- still through the viewer. Leave them a few hours and come back and see if you still like it. (I usually move a few more). THEN, start sewing them together. Don't relook at them, don't second or third guess yourself. (Can you tell I have had to do this for someone else's scrap blocks.) I can tell you the quilt turned out very well. (at least the owner loved it!) I'll be happy to look and play a little chess with your squares if you want.;)

1 comment
camylow by camylow 05 Aug 2009

please have at it...I have posted them in the next link...one is really crooked and if I try to even it out, then it will be smaller than the rest...these blocks are 18"x18"....If I had my way, I would take all the material aroung the animal blocks and then make something out of just them...but not so the case, and my MIL will notice everything changed....

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by quiltgrama 04 Aug 2009

Many eyes will hopefully help. Maybe the material is not that bad?

1 comment
camylow by camylow 05 Aug 2009

I think so...

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by mpo14011 04 Aug 2009

Look at it this way, you have nothing to loose to get everyone here to see them and maybe come up with a suggestion.

1 comment
camylow by camylow 05 Aug 2009

welll I will definitely be waiting for your help also......

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