Ever Seen Anything Like This?

A few days after my last post, I decided to empty three cedar chests and sort the contents.  Mixed in with lots of beautiful crochet and embroidery, there were a couple of pillow cases crammed with odd crochet and embroidery pieces, and even some with tatting, all of which came from my mother's to my sister's home, and mine.  Most of the items were damaged, and had been bagged by my sister just in case she or I ever wanted to use portions to make something else someday.  When I got my sister's things, I glanced in the pillow cases and then stashed them in my cedar chest and forgot about them until a few days ago.

I was in awe when I came across the piece pictured above mixed in one of the pillow cases! Except for a two-inch long damaged place in the crochet edging on the flap at the top, it is in near perfect condition.  I had never seen it at any time in my life.  It is a diaper bag, with an inset on one side of a stork holding a baby, as you can see.  I'm told it is filet crochet.  It has flaps at the top on both sides, edged with crochet, and the "handle" is crocheted round and is strong but soft.  I'm really not sure whether it was intended to be carried, or to hang on the wall.

 I have no proof, but I'm almost positive my aunt, who did beautiful crochet, made it for my mother when my brother was born in 1925, or maybe for the birth of my sister in 1928.  There's no one left I can ask.  Neither of my siblings had children, so it would not have been given to them.  It had a slight stain at the top, and I was able to remove the it with care, and now it is beautiful.  A friend suggested my aunt might have filled it with new folded cloth diapers to give to my mother.  In any case, it is a treasure to me!  It won't be going back in that pillow case with damaged goods!  

When I got everything sorted out, I totally filled the cedar chest, made and given to me by the firemen when I retired,  with nothing but crochet made by my aunt --- three bedspreads, three full tablecloths, 4-5 afghans, and numerous doilies, dresser scarves, etc.   Then in the cedar chest that had been my grandmother's, made by my uncle in 1916, I packed away family keepsakes, like crocheted baby bonnets made for my sister and me, and even some things I've kept from my sons and grandsons; that chest is full too!  Next, I put all my Christmas wallhangings and table mats, and lots of embroidery pieces, mostly done by my aunt, my mother, and some of her friends, in a cedar chest that had been my aunt's.  It too is full!  At least, now I know where to find the things I want to get out; before I had to look through everything!  All that took the better part of thee days!

This past week, I finally got around to quilting on the stack and whack quilt.  Eight blocks are finished, and I still have four more to go before I can start on the borders.   It's not perfect, but it's looking pretty good to me so far.

I also worked in the yard almost three days while the weather was cooler a few days in Texas.  The heat is on now!  100 degrees, plus! 

The week before that, I got the binding on our church group quilt; I didn't do much of the quilting, but I always put the binding on.  It is really pretty, with hand-embroidered 16" cross stitch blocks, alternating with pieced blocks.  It is king sized!  It should bring in a tidy sum for the youth program in the Fall.  Here's the two kinds of blocks. 

 My grandson will be coming Tuesday to stay a few days.  If he still wants to, we may start on the quilt he thinks he wants to make.  We'll see.  Not sure yet what we might do for sure. 

Hope everyone had a great July 4 celebration.  I think this is the first year I didn't finish a patriotic quilt on July 4, but I had recently made that table runner, and decided that was enough for this year.  At least I got them out all over the house!

Happy quilting, and stay cool ---- or warm, wherever you are!

---"Love"