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Sunday 13 December 2015

The Best Quilt of All

A recent visit to O'Leary, Prince Edward Island, to purchase material was an interesting experience of colour, texture, pattern, and design. The store sold material and wool but quilts as well. One could spend hours looking at the quilted items alone. 



The material, all displayed in shades of colour, caught the eye.



The wool did too, with skeins from the island woolen mill on prominent display. 



One surprise was phentex "wool." Who knew that man-made polyester "wool" was still in production? It warmed the feet of many of my family and friends years ago as everyone knit slippers. Today people are more concerned with natural fibers though this product is still available.

My favourite quilt was the black and white one on prominent display.



It was the most expensive of the ones we checked at $1600.00. However, there were many quilts which were more reasonably priced. 



As I looked over the beautiful handiwork, I thought of the old quilt which I inherited from my mother, made for her years ago by our family friend, Clara. 




This multi-coloured quilt is heavy, warm and made with love from pieces of clothing worn by her family over the years.



 It is the style of quilts made by our Newfoundland foremothers. Priceless!



15 comments:

Unknown said...

Marie,Imagine our foremothers had to make these beautiful works of art by hand,sometimes with only the light of an oil lamp.Loved your pictures of the fabric store.

sousca said...

What a gorgeous kaleidoscope of colours, you would be really spoilt for choice in that store.
I am sure the quilt you inherited from your mother will always have pride of place. There must have been so much work and time put into the making of your quilt. I wonder what the stich is that binds the many sections of your quilt together, is it blanket stitch?
$1600.00 for a quilt would be well out of my price range (by a long way!)

Marie Smith said...

That store is a place you could spend the day looking around at all the material, wool and quilted items. Just a great store!

Marie Smith said...

I think the stitch on the quilt is the herringbone stitch. The old quilt is very heavy and warm. It is a keeper, a treasured item.

Anvilcloud said...

Fabric stores are getting pretty scarce around here. None in our town, and the nearest one in Ottawa closed shop.

Shammickite said...

I've made quite a few large quilts, and recently have been making baby size quilts. I even won some prizes at the local fair for my quilts a long time ago. But my hand made quilts are put away now, I've got a lovely warm lightweight duvet instead!
Your "crazy paving" quilt is lovely, and yes that it herringbone stitch.

Marie Smith said...

There are two stores in this area and more in Charlottetown. Sewing is a way of life here.

Marie Smith said...

Thank you for the name of the quilt and the stitch. I hoped there was a quilter to respond. I bet you quilts are lovely. Did you ever consider doing or have you done a post about them?

Debra She Who Seeks said...

I was drooling over quilts this summer at a store in Souris, PEI. I didn't want to just make an impulse purchase though, so I restrained myself. I'd love to buy a quilt but the problem is . . . which one? WHICH ONE?

Mage said...

All those quilts are wonderful as are the fabrics. I love the scrap quilt best of all.

Marie Smith said...

So do I, though the others are lovely.

Shammickite said...

If you go to my blog, scroll down the right hand side until you get to RAMBLINGS, then look for the word 'quilt' and click it, all the quilt blog posts should come up.

Marie Smith said...

Your work is beautiful! Love every one.

Shammickite said...

Thanks for the kind words. I'll be making some more baby quilts after the new year, have some babies coming in the spring (not my family sadly) so have to get working on it!

Marie Smith said...

I bet they'll be beautiful.