Shirley's Day to Shine ~ The Christmas Quilt

Christmas Quilt by Shirley Funke 1988

Hi everyone! Christmas seems a lo-o-o-ong time ago, doesn't it, not just a few weeks. It kinda passed unnoticed, like Columbus Day or Arbor Day.  

But Shirley's Christmas quilt deserves its own post, if only to document its finish by me.

I sewed the last stitch in its binding as the Ball fell in deserted Times Square on New Yrears Eve, making it my last finish of 2020. 1988 to 2020---a real timespan quilt.

Over this past year as I posted about this quilt, it def got mixed reviews [no my feelings were NOT hurt!], from Dorothy saying the green makes her cringe [actually me too, more later] to Lori C my quilter saying the top looked like an awful 80s Joann's block of the month, using thin cheap poly cotton---to Nancy's positive comment that she loves that bright dark green. But green it is, and that is part of its charm? I was not deterred or discouraged, hahaha. I knew it would be darling and perfect for my stacks of cozy Christmas quilts.

I didn't think of replacing the green until the project was done. Would it have looked much nicer with white ground Christmas sprigged spacer blocks? Who knows. I'd not have tackled Shirley's creative seaming anyway! HERE .  I have my own Christmas quilts to sew.

And it was only $30.oo as I recall.

I have to admit that that vintage Christmas green was a shock, when seen in person. The FB photos showed a soft jade green, due to flash photography, I suppose. It's MUCH uglier in person too, sigh. True hunter green.

                                                   

So what captured my heart when I saw this on FB Marketplace? First of all, the clincher---the Kitty and Doggy blocks. Just darling! Notice how Shirley used a brighter green just for Kitty's green eyes. And black ground candy cane print for Kitty's body!  See how chubby she is? See her little feet and tail....adorable.

Especially Kitty, with her green eyes so like my friend the black feral Kitty who still comes to visit at sunset sometimes. [She's an indoor adopted cat now, but is let out for her post-dinner walk.]

The other 13 blocks are a sampler selection of  Star blocks. Only a few have names I know.

Oddly for all her unorthodox piecing, visible on the backside  [1/4'' is barely a suggestion and mostly ignored by Shirley], the fronts of the Stars and animal blocks are beautifully put together with sharp points and matched seams.

Once I received the top, I was also enchanted by the great diversity of tiny ---teeny tiny! Christmas prints used in the top.

A wonderful record of the fabric of that time. And after washing and softening, I think the fabrics are 100% cotton, not that it really matters.

Def a Christmas quilt! And a gem of its era, to me.

Lori C did a splendid job of quilting. I was undecided what to use, especially to fill those big green squares. Lori used a Dancing Christmas Tree motif. Just perfect.

For some reason I had my heart set on using this bias printed vintage look plaid for the binding. Prob a candy cane stripe would have been better. I wanted bias without the hassle of using bias, too.

And best for last--the top came with the original label!

The seller provided some carefully private history, only that he was  helping Shirley downsize as she moved to assisted living. Edit with more info at very end of this post, below. That tidbit gave me the notion that Shirley is quite an older lady but truly with assisted living age limits varying, she could be in her mid fifties or so! Wish I could ''meet'' her and show her her 1988 quilt as rescued,  finished and loved! 

Would she be pleased? Did she put the project aside because she too hated hunter green? If not why? Did the quilt police spoil it for her, criticizing her humble seams?  Was it her first quilt, her only quilt, did she take up crocheting instead? What other quilts did she make, if any?  Respecting her privacy, we will never know but I hope she would be happy, and approve.

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Another week has come and gone, it's Friday! The day is grey, darkness still comes so early, the wind is picking up. Mo's substitute walker has cajoled and bossed Mo outside, out from hiding under my feet here. Happy he was not!

Have a good weekend!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...

Our beach pictures today are from Nicky via Penny in South Africa. Isn't it glorious.

These are SA black Oystercatchers, never seen here at my beach. Apparently they do not migrate. And who would? 

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note I think I have found Shirley on Google. She passed away in 2019, in New Paltz NY. Her obituary says she was a talented quilter! So I think this is her. 1925 to 2019, 94 years old. Here is an excerpt from her obituary:

''Shirley was extremely talented in cooking, baking and craft-making. She delighted in making all kinds of foods and loved baking- especially Christmas cookies. She was a very talented quilter, and made dozens of quilts, both as gifts for family and friends, and for her own use. She made miniature quilts as Christmas ornaments. Each year she would make hand-made ornaments for the Christmas tree using old scratch off lottery tickets, cereal boxes, and any cardboard scraps that she could find. Shirley had a great sense of humor and always spoke her mind. She was quite the character and did not filter her thoughts or feelings.''

I feel like we know her a little bit now!

If inappropriate to post this, pls let me know?