Back when I lived in Wisconsin, we would often take trips up to Amish country to take a break from city life. It was about a three hour drive away from our house, and we would have to wind through mountains and the see the most breathtaking scenery to get there. I honestly wish I could pack up and move there forever.
Anyway, I had seen the signs advertising Amish furniture. You buy it directly from the Amish… and they are SOOOO nice. And this was the same stuff I had seen in those high end stores where they were charging upwards of $3,000 for a set. I could buy it for $400!! And so I did. I got myself a whole new kitchen set (which I still have to this day) and a bunch of other little items.
But then, I spotted a sign that said “Authentic Amish Quilts”. I have always wanted to be one of those people who has the nice bedding and then the fabulously crafted quilt folded up at the foot of their bed; Something handed down from 100 years before - and will never ever happen in my family. So naturally, having something called authentic + Amish was the way for me to go.
When we walked in there were quilts everywhere in every color, size, design. It was amazing and I wanted to buy everything! We asked a lot of questions, and were told it takes 4-6 months to complete just ONE. We could custom order one, and they could put a rush on it but that would take 3-5 months. No way in hell was I going to wait MONTHS for the opportunity to turn my bedroom into a picture straight out of Better Homes and Gardens.
I looked around for almost an hour until I saw it. It was beautiful. Light green and ivory… the pattern was perfect for my bedroom… the colors looked like an exact match… I could not have asked for a better one to be made just for me!
I did a little dance of joy and squealed. I pointed like my tongue had been ripped out or something, all while making little insane noises. The DH told the young lady helping us in the search that we had found one (which was quite obvious by how stupid I was looking at the time.)
Now, no where in my enthusiasm had I asked for a price. We asked 101 questions but never what the cost might be.
And then she sprung it on me. My lovely quilt was going to cost me more than all the furniture and other crap I had bought COMBINED.
I looked to my DH for a sign. Of course he had lost all his color (he has so little so it wasn’t much of a change) and was staring at me like I should have all the answers.
So I said I would take it.
It would take me 2 months of working to pay it off, and I did not care. Mind you I was getting paid a lot less back then.
Fast forward about 13 years and the life of the quilt has been a great one. It has traveled with us to each of our new homes still looking brand new. It’s been oooohed and ahhhhhhed at. My mom has been dying to steal it from me for years which will never happen. It’s been fortunate to have only have been touched by two people. All from inside its cozy home inside of sterile clear plastic bag with it’s own little zipper.
It’s been used once.
And why has it been used only once? Because I am so neurotic that after spending all that money, I do not want it destroyed. I have cats, and dogs. I certainly don’t want them on it. I seriously have it in my head that when I finally move into a brand new house, I will put it out. That way I will be secure in knowing it’s safe and I won’t come home to discover it has been made into a new bed by one of my furry babies.
Ultimately, the true reason must be that I am in desperate need of therapy or an intervention. For real. I wouldn’t even take it out to photograph it for this post.
Hurry and send the men in white coats please.
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
If I come to visit, will you let me peek at it? If I sterilize my hands, could I touch it ever so carefully?
If not, then I’ll call the guys in the white coats. Otherwise, I’ll just join you in your happy insanity.
oh I can respect the special care you’re giving the quilt! it deserves a museum quality display and preservation unit. no men in white coats required, just some security guards.
chat blancs last blog post..Almost as good as Mythbusters
Uhm… you know I love you right? But if it looks anything like what’s in the picture then I don’t see it! I think it looks tacky, but that doesn’t matter because I don’t have to love it for you to love it. I just can’t be fake and tell you I love it when I don’t. We all have those things though that we love so much and have spent so much money on that we don’t ever bother to wear them… lol don’t worry hun. And I ditto what Kelly said… can I at least peek at it if I come to visit?
Having three cats of my own, I completely understand not having it out. That would be the first place they would run to if they had an urge to barf. If I could put my cats in plastic bubbles and vacuum those out on occasion, I would. I have been working on a quilt for 6 years and I figure I might just finish it before I die. I could not put a price on it!
beekers last blog post..The Girl Effect
You are too funny MoRE (your excited I must get the quilt rendition), but I understnad not wanting to get it ruined. Frank brought me a doll in full wedding dress as an anniversary gift and Henry could not get enough of it! He’d open the curio door standing there and talk to her lol, I was scared he’d mess her dress up.
Adas last blog post..Thank you…
Your excitement make me want to see it more … even begging you to let us take a peak or even a picture of it.
I suddenly remember a quotation upon reading your post, “There are many things in life that will capture your eyes but only a few that will capture your heart … goes for those!”
BKs last blog post..No Honey, No Haagen Dazs’s Strawberry Ice Cream
I had quilts made from some of my kids’ baby clothes, as well as ma quilt, afghan and lace tablecloth made by my grandmother. I have them hanging on the wall and the dog can’t reach them. They stay clean but I can still enjoy them.
feefifotos last blog post..Early Christmas Shopping For A Better Chance To Snag That Hot New Gift Item
which was should i send the men in white coats cuz i’m calling. lol
if i pay a lot of money for something, i wear it on the outside of my clothes or no clothes at all….just the item.
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wow. it takes a lot of patience when quilting.
Laarnis last blog post..pepperjamNETWORK just paid me $25
Um………
I’m very like you. Although I’m a mess otherwise, but there are those items… those precious items, well they never see the light of day.
Like your mom, my daughter is gonna try to steal them.
So, I understand…. GREAT story btw!!
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@ Kelly - I will have to wrap you in plastic wrap, and then MAYBE you can look at it. Maybe.
@ chat blanc - If I felt I could trust someone else near it, I might consider hiring some security guards.
@ fragile - LOL. It looks nothing like the one she is quilting. I have yet to meet someone who did not think mine was pretty.
Just like with Kelly, I will consider letting you have a glance at it once I wrap you completely in saran wrap.
@ beeker - And you know it! Every hair ball would find it’s way right on it, and then I’d have some dead cats and I certainly don’t want that.
@ Ada - I am not sure what I will do when I have a child near it someday. I think I will act like a mental patient and scar them for life.
@ BK - I am strongly considering taking a picture of it. Of course, I would have to banish everyone from my home to insure its absolute security.
@ feefifoto - I thought about doing that, but it’s HUGE!!
@ Natural - Send them south. I will be waiting patiently in my house guarding the quilt with my life.
@ Laarni - I don’t think I could focus on any one thing for more than a month, let alone 6 months!
@ Monica - I now understand why my mother was so hesitant to give me some of her precious items. Putting it off until later, later, later. I can see myself doing the same thing with my daughter when it comes to this quilt. Hopefully it will last generations.
I loved your story of the quilt. I can relate to you wanting to keep certain precious items safely put away. I have things that were my mother’s that I cherish. It’s great that you have this quilt and it can be passed down through the generations from now on.
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Chica, I can bring my own plastic wrap if that would be helpful. LOL
LOL, you are so funny! I can see spending that much money for it because it really caught your eye and you’ve been wanting something special. I understand you’re wanting to protect it from you pets and taking very good care of it. What I don’t understand is why you don’t use it, it’s a thing after all for you to enjoy. Your special “luxury” item that you splurged for. You have us all curious now so please at least take a picture of it on the bed for us. Go on, close the door to keep out your pets and spread it on the bed. It’ll be okay, trust me!
Karen, author of “My Funny Dad, Harry”s last blog post..Giraffe Note Holder - Craft Idea
My mom has made every quilt in my house and I can completely understand how precious they are. I have the quilt she made me as a child hanging on a wall.
I love your story and know how much that quilt means to you.
Just a suggestion, if you’re going to keep it inside a plastic bag, you may want to wrap the quilt in a white all cotton sheet. Plastic can leech chemicals over time that can be harmful to fabric and slowly break down the threads.
Lynnes last blog post..Bugs, Bugs and More Bugs
@ Dori - Hopefully my children won’t be as crazy as me, but yet keep it safe so that it does get passed on through the years.
I hope!
@ Kelly - Well now there is no way for me to say no now!
@ Karen - I am just really paranoid. lol
The house we currently live in is one story, the cats spend most of their time out on the patio which is a plus. However, when they come in they like to scratch and dig and I would go apeshit if they did that on the quilt. The same thing with the dogs.. they love to dig at blankets while they play. I really don’t want to have to murder any animals.
On the plus side, the house we are hoping to build will have special pet areas, and my bedroom is tucked away far from the masses. It will be put to use then… I hope. lol.
@ Lynne - OH NO! Now I must go buy some sheets to protect my quilt from the plastic which is protecting it! Thank you for the warning!
Oh no, not the one she’s quilting. The smaller one. With the pattern… I no likey *shakes head*. Saran wrap huh? lol you think that’s going to keep me away from it? I jest!! I jest!
fragilehearts last blog post..Time-out
Which mountains in WI??? Sorry, I love when people say we have mountains here, our famous joke is that the only mountains in WI are made of garbage. I know that there are some beautiful areas that in contrast to the flat praire areas look like mountains. I live in Oshkosh.
Now as to that quilt what you need to do, is get a wall mount quilt bar and hang it up to look at, but make sure it is not in direct sunlight to prevent fading. They are works of art that are meant to be enjoyed.
Funny, I drive to Indiana to visit Amish country rather than visiting my own state’s areas, now that is silly.
Sassy Mama Bears last blog post..Thursday Thirteen #44 ~ The Awards Edition
I am not the least bit interested in Amish-made anything. Did I ever tell you that my grandfather was Amish before he “jumped the fence” (as we like to say ’round these parts). My great-grandmother Emma left the order and became a Mennonite. Why is this important? Because I have an Amish quilt handmade by my great-grandmother in celebration of my very birth. Can you believe that shit? Mwahaha!!
At any rate, the Amish around these neck of the woods aren’t particularly friendly, but they make fine raspberry salsa. Just sayin’.
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