after the dentist

A few weeks ago, I went to the dentist (yes, that's really how this story starts. Bear with me - my voice feels a little scratchy after 30 days of quiet here).

And you know - it's the dentist. My dentist himself is very pleasant. We always have lovely conversations about books. (Or, at least  as much as one can have a conversation with their mouth wide open and someone's hands inside it. Maybe it's more accurate that I do a lot of listening about books.) Last year he convinced me to read all of Julia Alvarez' books, which I can't believe I had made it 32 years without reading. Wasn't I an English and Women's Studies major in college? Yeah, it just seems wrong that they let me get by four years without reading her. She's amazing.

Anyway, where was I? Oh, right. In the dentist chair where I was fantasizing what I was going to do with the rest of my solo Mama time that afternoon (because going to the dentist does not count as "recharging Mama time", even with the charming book chat). And I remembered a flea market nearby. Ah, perfect. Sometimes I love just slowly wandering around the stalls at an indoor flear market alone - in the quiet, surrounded by my own thoughts and a whole lot of 'old things' - some of them quite lovely. And the rest - well, I can see past a few baseball cards. 

And that is just about the longest way I could have told you - that I found this quilt there that day. There's never really any doubt when I find one of these, and it's reasonably priced, that it will come home with me. Despite the growing piles of old quilts around here ('that we can't even use!" Steve says, befuddled and humored. "But these ones are art!" I say, entirely serious).

It's actually a total cutter quilt. There's a big hole in the middle and the edges are really, really frayed. I have a few projects in mind for it that I'm excited about trying out. But...I'm not quite ready for the cutting yet. I want to stare at it just a little bit longer. Think about the woman who made it. The people it might have warmed. What their life was like. The artists who designed the fabric. What they were inspired by. And on and on. I want to study it, and dream about it, if you will.

And, I want to play Quilt Twister. "Left foot on yellow floral! Right hand on green plaid!" My children have such sweet tolerance for their crazy Mama. And I'm very grateful for that. And the flea market. And my dentist, too.

Comments

[jean]

i loved playing twister when i was little. so much nicer on a soft quilt.

[lera]

Great idea.

[Lila]

Hum? I guess that was not too bad of a toothache because there will be NO WAY you could play twister right after...
But, looking forward to see what comes out of that thrift-dental experience day.
A bientot,

[Brandi]

Lovely...good to hear your voice again. :)

[Neta]

I love this new quilt, and it's seems so funny the to play twister on it.

[jennifer]

such a sweet runaround tale of yet another necessary quilt. my husband rolls his eyes a bit as well, but he also knows that it most definitely brings me such glee. "recharging" is a perfect way to describe it, you little wordsmith.

[Ansley]

I love it.....Playing twister on a floral quilt! I have to get my quilts out of the closet and play myself :)

[asti]

Lovely find........they are not easy to come by here unfortunately. I'm wondering - are most of these quilts hand sewn or machine done ? I'm don't know too much about their construction...I guess old ones would be hand done ??

[Carolyn]

what a great find!

[asti]

I meant 'I' dont..... :)

[Eren]

He, he...quilt twister. I love it! And the quilt, and the story, and the author recommendation.

[Jenna]

So funny! I do "I spy" with my girls and quilt fabrics. "I spy a green gingham," or "I spy a rainbow tattersall".

[joetta maue]

do you know this miriam shapiro quote...seems like you would love it:
"I had to make the quilt to keep my family warm. I made it beautiful to keep my heart from breaking."

[Suzanne]

Yup, we have the same problem here. Heirloom quilts I buy that we can't use , my husband just scratches his head too:-) Great find!

[Anne]

What a lovely find, and Twister is the perfect game to play with it.

[Five Flowers/ Emily]

One of the things about living here in CA is that all the old quilts you usually find are like $350, if only I had an eye for that sort of thing when I lived in upstate NY!! What a great find!-- and fun!

[Rachel]

quilt twister. You have just invented the greatest game ever.

[tava]

Ugh, I totally have to use my only time away from the baby to go to the dentist. It's not at all recharge time.
And, while I was reading I was trying to figure out what you three were doing on that quilt and then I read down to "quilt twister", of course! How could I not have thought of that! Great idea.

[melody]

Great find... one of my most treasured possessions is an angel for the top of our x-mas tree made out of an old quilt...

[Nannette Spencer]

I see a quilt book in your future. I can't imagine a better person to do it! :)

[Caren]

I loved the 30 days project, but it's nice to have your "voice" back! The quilt is lovely, and the picture of your twister game is excellent--I love the camera angle! You really inspire me in my photography to change view points. Also, fabulous new banner!

[QALBALLAH]

I often wonder about the stories behind the old things we have acquired. My DH just doesn't *get* vintage; for me it's buying into a story, a her-story and it's so connecting and grounding to part of a larger whole. And when I make my own quilts and pieces I really hope they find a home years when I am gone and people appreciate them as much I as I appreciate the other women who made the things I love so much. In fact I hope all my handmade things find their ways into thrift shops eventually and find a home with someone who falls in love with them.

[Kate]

It's so nice to really hear your thoughts again, "scratchy voice" and all.
I love that quilt and I love your desire to know it's story. and the twist on twister is rather brilliant too!

[Barngirl]

I am a local reader. Very much enjoy what you have going on. I really love the craft blog world and so it was fun to find someone in my next of the woods doing great things.
Question-what indoor flea market? I know you mentioned loving the Arundel Market-definitely one of my favorite places. But where is the indoor??

[sara]

You just made me smile. I mean, I always do when I come by :)
The quilt is so beautiful and I can't wait to see your dreams for it in action!
A few days ago I went through the blog and many of your older posts with my mom and she was all "awww's" and owww's" at every vintage little thing. Although we're portuguese, she says it seems americans seem to have a lot in common with us in terms of crafting of generations past. It's fun to think of it.

[Crystal]

What a terrific find! I am always searching for old quilts, but hubby has said not to bring anymore home that can't be used. I found a great one a couple weeks ago that only needs minimal repair. So soft. I, too, look at them and wonder what history they hold. I wonder if the quilter worked on it at night after her babies were asleep or mabye on the porch with a glass of tea in the summer? It kills me that I'll never know. I wish there was some dating info that could provide personal quilt histories. -

"Dresden- Made 1926 by a brown haired housewife. She wraped her last 2 babies in its warm caress after their births, picniced on it by the river on Sundays, built forts with it in the winter to play in and spanked oldest childs butt when he took it outside and left it in mud. Saved from fire in 1935 when she threw babies out window to saftey and went back in to save quilt. (She had hand stitched it you know)

Great picture your family playing around. Your home always looks A-clean and B-warm and cozy.

[carole davis]

hey amanda...

Well the weather has been amazing in london for the last three days.. so saturday morning i went to portobello market : thrifting indeed ... dug out a wonderful patchwork 1950 's elasticated skirt.. made out of thirteen strips of horizontal materials dots, flowers, stripes : the gypsy look for £20 in very good condition .... i was in heaven...i wondered who was the woman who made it and wore it? i can totally relate to your necessity of giving a new home to another quilt.... maybe this the beggining of new series of skirts for me...

[Snippety Gibbet]

That's so sweet seeing the obliging baby there.

[Toni]

I love how the tone of this post is contemplative and then ends in a rousing game of twister! :)

[kendra]

It's so nice to have you back writing. I truely enjoyed your days of photos, but it's so wonderful to read your inspiring posts again. That quilt is a true find.

[Jessica Keith]

Now, THAT is an awesome game. I would love to know who came up with that one. I love how our kids don't think we're crazy. They just think people who aren't like us are boring!

[Amber]

I love cutter quilt! There aren't any stipulations----they are like a big piece of creativity!

Not as in love with a trip to the dentist, however---maybe I'd feel differently if I had a dentist that talked about books with me... hmmm.;-)

[Cindi]

I love your books! I've never commented before, but I come here often just for your book recommendations down the side of your blog. Then I put them on hold at my library and ENJOY! Thanks!

[katie]

beautiful quilt! and the tweister? now that sounds like fun. I found a tedddy bear made out of an old quilt like this, with no face. my daughter loves, loves it! i can not wait to see what you do with iy.

[Julie Roth]

Yes... it is SO nice to 'hear' you again, Amanda! And I'll say, too, it made me feel a little less anxious about my last long-winded email.
I think the lack of email for so long inspired a certain rare chatti-ness that day. (sorry) But it was most certainly due to you, dear, and the way you make everyone who reads your stories feel that they are one of your best friends, cozied up with you in one of the warm corners of your home.
With the first bits of this quilt's tale, I could smell the tea brewing... (with the visual from your new header - very nice!)

[meg]

what a fantastic idea for a game! much better than the plastic one. I have been thinking about upholstering a chair with a quilt (though I can't take credit for the idea, Jenna at springthinking.blogspot.com put the bee in my bonnet), but I haven't found the right chair yet. Or the right quilt.

[Lisa Z]

I remember when I was first a mom, with nursing babies, a trip to the dentist WAS a recharge. The first time I went after my firstborn's birth, laying in that dentist chair and closing my eyes felt like heaven. And this from a woman who gets sick to her stomach just entering the dentist's office! (And I do get that sick feeling again, now that my kids are grown to 8 and 10 years old and I now get more rest in my life.)

I do still hate when I'm in the waiting room with a magazine and the nurse or dental hygeniest calls me in too quickly. Now that I'm a mom, waiting alone somewhere feels like luxury.

[Ellen]

Your round about story made me laugh--thank you.

The dream of what the future holds for our goodies, our homes, our children, our selves, is so much fun. Loving the as-is is fun too. You do both so well.

[Jennifer]

That's a great find and quilt twister is an awesome idea!

I went to the dentist myself a few weeks back. You know that you're the stay at home mama of a toddler when the dentist feels like the spa...

[Jenny]

Well, finally...someone else who majored in Women's Studies and English! Would love to hear how your life today meshes with what you learned as a student of Women's Studies. My professors spoke volumes about having children, but very little about raising them. Still, I see myself applying what I learned then as a SAHM now. I'm guessing you are as proud of your degree as I am. (Was never introduced to Alvarez in WS, either... for me, it's Gloria Naylor who can't be missed!)

Jenny

[lissilulu]

what a find! Now I am thinking of things I could make with a cutter quilt...boy do I need one now. :o)
Lori

[ileana]

If only there were an antique mall near my dentist, I might be more motivated to schedule myself an appointment!

[Carolyn]

What a lovely find! I'm so curious about what you will do once you cut it. Can't wait to hear!

[Claudia]

Lovely quilt and very creative idea! Your kids are really lucky.

[mithrilsea]

what a find! I can't wait to see what you do with it.

[Mary]

Quilt Twister! That is inspired. What a lovely find, though. And nice to "hear" you again. (Although I have much enjoyed the photos.)

[Abby]

I do the same kind of vintage quilt dreaming..... but QUILT TWISTER.... that is hilarous.... i love it...
luv Abby

[ellen]

I know exactly what you mean about "unusable quilts".....I rescue them from garage sales and take them home to be cherished. They are definately works of art.

[Carra]

Thanks so much for all your inspiration! Checking your page is part of my morning routine. (I look forward to it almost as much as my cup of coffee:) And your book list, combined with interlibrary loan, is a large part of what's getting my little family through this winter!

[Stacie Make Do]

Can't wait to see what you make with your wonderful find!
Oh, and it sounds like your dentist is a "find" too.