Sunday, October 05, 2014

Don't go there

But if I do go there, should I bring scissors?


Last spring, I went with several HMQG-ers on a day trip to La Grange, Texas. If you are ever anywhere in SE Texas, you really should make this trip. La Grange is a charming, old-timey Texas town. It is also home to the Texas Quilt Museum. The museum, begun by the organizers of the International Quilt Festival, is housed in what was once 19th century retail space & has been beautifully restored to a new purpose -- that is displaying quilts.

When we were there, the special exhibit was butterfly quilts -- beautiful quilts in a beautiful space! I was standing in front of a quilt with another Guild member, um, a 'mature' woman like myself. This quilt had a large variety of fabrics, not just cottons, but satins, brocades, velvets. I don't remember who said it first, maybe we said it together, but we each had the same thing on our minds -- cutting up our wedding dresses! Both of us in happy marriages, for years we've lugged around our dresses & allowed them to take up space. Neither us see much likelihood of anyone ever wanting to wear our dresses. We told the rest of the group what we had been thinking; the more recent brides looked horrified, the ones with more candles on their anniversary cakes looked intrigued.

I loved my wedding dress! I remember like it was yesterday shopping with my Mom, putting on mine & immediately knowing, "this is MY dress." But now what? No daughters, my nieces either have different bodies or are already married. I'll never again be able to zip the tiny thing, so I can't even wear it as a Halloween costume! Yes, I could sell or donate it, it may be getting old enough to be considered vintage. :-} Or I could incorporate the fabric in patchwork -- kind of a have-my-cake-and-eat-it-too approach.

A few years ago I stumbled upon Cassandra Ellis. I liked this quilt & I really loved her attitude & approach to quilts & quilt-making. She has transformed my thinking about fabric & combining fabric in quilts! Chunky hunks & precious slivers of treasured fabrics make beautiful, meaningful &nurturing quilts. The old & the new; silk, cotton, velvet, wool -- all together in one quilt. I have dear bits of very old family clothing, many of them rayon, with which I have long wanted to make something. Ms. Ellis may be my Muse.


I'm not there yet, but if I go, I may bring scissors.

8 comments:

leslie said...

do it! think of it not as destruction but transformation.

O'Quilts said...

Wow...I am thinking about lots of that lately. Keeping or ditching or repurposing...Like who wants any of it. That is some dress...You were are some stunning chick!!

Nifty Quilts said...

Ooh, I'm intrigued and cringing at the same time. It would be fun to have the wedding dress fabric in something you could use every day. Better than having it in the attic where you never see it. You and it were a gorgeous pair!

Heather A said...

Thanks for putting such a bug in my brain. I feel the same way about my wedding dress. It would be nice to still enjoy it in some format other than photos. By the way, you DO indeed look beautiful in your wedding dress.

Rachaeldaisy said...

That photo of you as a bride is soo wonderful!! I think it's a great idea. You've got the memories and the photos so give your wedding dress a new lease of life.

Quiltdivajulie said...

I tried repurposing my wedding dress but the fabric was NOT having anything to do with my plans. NO NO NO it screamed. So, I cut three runners and Chris quilted each of them differently - they're my keepsake. The rest of the trimmings? Gone. If you are even the least bit inclined to go with your inspiration idea, GO FOR IT! It is WAAAAAY better than a dress hanging in the closet!

Sujata Shah said...

You look gorgeous in that wedding dress! I wish I still had my wedding sari, I would make a quilt in a heartbeat and cuddle up with my husband every evening. I do believe it is better to have it out and used than tucked away in a closet.

Carla said...

Unfortunately I don't have that option
The dress and hat were tucked into a cedar trunk that my step father had in his truck one day moving storage units and someone stole his truck. Out of the trunk they took my wedding dress and maternity clothes. I guess they were pregnant and needed to get married quick. LOL